As if you really needed an excuse to try a few new wines, here's one that is instantly credible. Invite your friends to a wine tasting party. Whether you set your tasting party up as a blind tasting or just let everyone bring their choice for mutual enjoyment, a tasting party is a great way to spend time with friends.
The difference between a formal tasting and what we're proposing here is that in a formal tasting, you can't swallow the wine. The intent is to 'taste' rather than to drink. So you get the taste and the fragrance, but there's definitely something left out. Your informal tasting doesn't need to adhere to the formal rules, so in an effort to conserve the efforts of so many wine makers, let your guests fully enjoy their tasting by finishing the task, and drinking their wines. Be sure you can make arrangements for those who may have one or two extra tastes, to be able to get a ride home.
Just to make things formal enough, here's what you need:
Clean glasses (obviously one for each person)
White tablecloth
Candles - for viewing the wine through the clear glases
Dump bucket - just in case someone really doesn't want to drink the wine
Pitcher of water - to wash the glasses between tastings
Cork screw
Napkins
Small plain crackers
Chocolates (depending on the wines... or just because you should always have chocolates)
I recommend asking your guests to bring their own selections of wine. Depending on how many people you've invited, you may need to ask each to bring more than one bottle. The rule of thumb is one bottle per person... but two is nice... and three is even better.
Prepare your wines for tasting. If your guests have brought wines, you may need to uncork them as soon as they arrive, and chill the whites and blushes. If any of your wines need decanting (not likely for many younger wines), decant them and let them stand for a while.
Another item you will want to have for your guests is paper and pencil. Have one set available for each participant to take notes on their experiences. Be sure to have them write the wine information at each taste. It's very easy to get confused, and forget how each wine tasted.
If you have not set a particular theme, such as Cabernets, Viognes, etc, be sure to start off with the white wines first. If you start with the more complex red wines, you'll miss some of the flavors of the whites later on.
When you get to the actual tasting steps, follow the steps here.
Before moving on to the next tasting sample, get your mouth ready. Take a sip of water, then an unsalted cracker. This gives your taste buds a fresh start.
If you've decided not to follow the formal rules, and to actually drink the wines (our preference), you'll likely find that you'll be having more fun toward the end of your tasting party. But be sure not to skip the wrap-up discussion where you compare notes and attempt to come to a concensus on which wine was best, and for what reasons.
You may find it necessary to schedule a follow up tasting party that narrows the selection, and concentrates on the type wine that came out on top. Or maybe the opposite - bring selections of the least popular wine in order to find at least one that your friends can enjoy.
However you procede, you'll have a great time.
Cheers!
Scott Koegler is the publisher of Wines of Yadkin Valley. He lives in Wilkesboro with his wife Donna Marie and their dogs. Scott and Donna Marie visit the wineries, interview the owners and staff, and do their best to understand what makes for good wines. Their work has taken them to meet many friendly faces.
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