A wine tasting party is a great way to get some friends together, teach each other about some wine and have a great time. As you are attending functions over the summer or visiting people, bring up the subject of wine. If you get a few bites, write down their names and ask them if they would interested in doing a wine tasting. You are going to be surprised at how many people will be delighted to have a night of nothing but wine.
Once you have your guest list together, make sure you set a budget. For the party to work, everyone is going to have to bring a bottle of wine and tasting notes on the wine with them. There is no need to go crazy, as there are plenty of great bottles that are under $15. Besides, setting a tab too high defeats the purpose and will scare people away. We are not talking about a Halloween style theme, but a region or type of wine. Pick something that offers a great variety and inexpensive pricing. Right not Chilean wines are very good and very cheap. This is also a great way to explore a lot of different new wines without putting that much money out of your pocket. Tell everyone that they have to pick a bottle and break it up so some are bringing red and some have white.
When the day finally comes, have everyone drop off their bottle and tasting notes and then get your dinner table organized with them all. The only real expense that the host will have is some cheese, fruit and crackers for everyone to cleanse their palate. Let everyone have a taste of each bottle, write their notes and then everyone can compare to see which wines are the best. You can even play games to see who gets the most characteristics of the wines correct. Wine parties are a great way to learn about new wines. As the host, you will have some expenses, but it will hardly cost what a regular party would. If the party is a hit, it can become a regular thing with everyone taking a turn at hosting. There are quite a few people around the world that have learned a lot about wine by merely attending parties just like this.
A good wine menu has all kinds of information about every wine listed. You would find the name, manufacturer, country of origin, wine description, vintage and meal suggestions. If you have guests, it is a good idea to get their wine preference. Courtesy dictates that you should let your guests choose their meal and wine combination. There are people who have particular taste for wines. Their choice may not suit a particular dish but let them enjoy their wine and meal.
However, if you are asked to order the food and the wine, it is good to know how to order wine in a restaurant. Red and white wines are perfect for main courses. When choosing a white wine or red wine, it is best to get a heavy white wine or a light red wine. Now, if you are not familiar with how a wine’s name is pronounced, it is best to leave it to the sommelier. Do not attempt to guess its pronunciation or you could end up embarrassing yourself. Learning how to order wine in a restaurant does not end with learning how to match wines with meals. You should also learn how to choose the right wine that is within your budget.
Usually, before a wine is served, you will have to go through the wine approval process. The sommelier will bring your wine to your table. If you don’t know what to do with the wine, you would likely just stare at it and nod your head. What you are expected to do, however, is to get the wine and check it. You need to check the label and see if you are being served the right wine. You should also check its content. You also need to check if the cork is intact, so you would know if you are being served a properly stored wine.
The server will then give you a wine sample. Do not just drink it. What you should do it to check the color of the wine. Vintage wine should look brown. This is the wine’s clarity. You should also check the smell and check for a vinegar-like or a rusty-like smell. If your wine smells like vinegar or rust, you should request for another bottle. Chances are your wine has undergone oxidation due to bad storage or cork problems. Now, if all these things are okay, you can then taste the wine. If the taste is up to your liking, you can then give your approval. The server will then bring out the wine and the rest of your meal. The whole wine approval process can take about half a minute or more depending on you. Ordering wine can be intimidating if you don’t know what to get. It is best, therefore, that you learn how to order wine in a restaurant. Once you have learned this art, you will enjoy its benefits time and time again.