How to Host an Exceptional Wine Tasting Party

Choosing a Theme for Your Wine Tasting Party

When planning your wine tasting event, begin by choosing a theme. The theme will inform your decor, glassware, and food selection. Here are a few ideas:

• Single Varietals – Serve Pinot Noir from France, Oregon, and California, or Sauvignon Blanc from France, New Zealand, and South Africa. You could also narrow the focus by serving the same varietal from different producers in the same region, or different years from the same vintner.
• Style - People generally prefer crisp, white wines in summer and bold reds during colder months. Sparkling wines are a good choice for events during warm months and holidays.
• Region – If you’d like to serve a wider variety of wines, choose a selection from an established growing area (Napa, Burgundy, etc.) or an up-and-coming region such as Canada’s Niagara Peninsula or Hill Country, Texas.
• Old World Vs. New - Invite guests to compare a varietal from Europe with one produced in the Americas, Australia or elsewhere. Setting up a blind taste test can add an element of fun. Can guests tell a Chilean Merlot from a French one?

Select a minimum of five different wines to suit your theme, but don’t overwhelm guests by serving more than seven. Ensure you have one bottle of each wine for every ten guests; one wine bottle contains about twelve 2 oz. “tastes,” but some guests may want to sample a wine more than once.

Wine Tasting Party Essentials

A wine tasting event requires more than just corkscrews! You’ll also need tasting cards and pens for each guest, and a vessel where guests can discard their tastes. Here are a few other items our event experts recommend:

Glassware Specific to Your Wine - Use wine glasses specific to the varieties you’ll serve. The right wine glass enhances aroma, flavor, and preserves temperature. Only use clear glassware, because assessing the color is an important aspect of wine tasting.

Marquee has a wide selection of Riedel wine glasses for rent. Ask one of our helpful event rental consultants to ensure you have the right glassware for your wine tasting.
 

Carafes and Water Pitchers - Each wine should be decanted before serving, and glasses should be rinsed in between each tasting.

Round Tables - A round table allows guests to converse freely about the wines they’re enjoying. Be sure to choose a table large enough to accommodate your food pairing.

Small Plates and Serving Platters - Serve light bites that pair well with your wines and invite guests to explore how different cheeses, nuts, or even chocolate bring out different flavors in the wine. What trend are we loving this year? Grazing tables. They’re a delightful way to showcase delectable dishes.

Wine Tasting Event Design & Decor Ideas from Marquee 

Examining the color and opacity of wine are important aspects of wine tasting. With that in mind, our event experts recommend string lights or candles in addition to white linens. The linens provide a neutral background while the individual lights allow guests to illuminate the contents of each tasting. Classical music, old-world paintings, tables draped with greenery, and books about wine can further enhance your theme.

The event rental experts at Marquee are dedicated to helping you create the perfect wine tasting event in Chicago, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Austin, Dallas, or San Antonio. We rent chairs, tables, and other party essentials for any event size or budget. Contact us for a complimentary consultation, and let us know how we can help you achieve your event goals.