White Wine Tasting Party

Keep the tasting table simple and crisp with shades of white from table linens to flowers.

• Choose a white tablecloth. White is the classic choice for wine tasting; the thought being that a colored background can interfere with the wine's color.
• Give the table an elegant touch with a white floral arrangement, but choose flowers that do not have a strong scent, which could potentially influence the "bouquet" of the wine.
• Orchids are a great choice with their light aroma, such as this gorgeous Martha Stewart White Phalaenopsis Orchid Bouquet available from 1-800-Flowers.com.
• Place the flower arrangement on one end of the table and fill in the around the base with unscented votive candles to create a nice ambience.
• Consider placing a framed menu of the wine that you will be tasting on the other end of the table to balance it out and add a few votive candles to complete the look.
• The center and remainder of the table will be filled with elements for the wine tasting.
• Make sure that there is enough light in the room for all to read the tasting notes and check the color and quality of each wine.

Invest in a nice set of white wine glasses for this tasting. You don't have to offer a new glass specific to the varietal for each pour. (The varied wine glass bowls and rim widths can make your head spin when shopping for high-end glasses.) My personal favorite is Riedel's Chablis glass, around $20 each. I find it to be a nice reasonable size for tasting white wine, plus I really like the lightweight of the vessel and the feel of its expertly crafted sheer rim as it rests on my lips; perfectly perched for a sip.

• Choose 4 - 6 wines for this tasting, such as the ones suggested in 5 White Wines for a Tasting.
• Decide the order in which the wine will be tasted, most usually start with a light-bodied or dry wine and progress to fuller bodied, sweeter wines.
• Line up the bottles in their tasting order, right to left or vice versa, along the backside of the table. By backside, I mean where the host or wine pourer would stand.
• Place a wine glass for each guest along the front side on the table.
• Place a pitcher of purified water and a discard bucket, such as an ice bucket, on the table for guests to sip or use the water to rinse their glasses before trying a new wine.
• A basket of water crackers can be placed on the table as well. Crackers can serve as a palate cleanser or nibbler.
• Create nice postcards with winemaker notes as well as descriptions from wine connoisseurs for each bottle. Some guests like to have an idea of what they are tasting before they sip while others like to discover the wine for themselves and then compare their findings to the pros.
• Consider a notepad and pen for each guest to take their own notes.
• Include essentials such as beverage napkins and a wine opener.

For Wine Tasting Tips and Techniques Read:

• Wine Tasting in 5 Easy Steps
  
• A Sensuous Wine Tasting Party
  

This elite albeit eclectic list of white wines encompass those made from classic producers for specific varietals who have a reputation for excellence.

I feel it's also important to note that this article was written in 2010 and the vintages may need to be updated depending on when you read this.

The wine is listed in a suggested tasting order and you'll find winemaker notes on each of these producer's website or by searching them online.

These wines range in price from around $25 to $50 a bottle.

2007 Lucien Crochet Sancerre, Loire Valley, France (around $28)

• Many Americans know "Sancerre" as Sauvignon Blanc, but the French are arguably the masters of this varietal and the legendary Crochet estate is one of the very best producers. Wet stones, vibrant citrus, pollen-perfumed florals, and a lovely mouth-feel grace each glass of this pale yellow wine. Tastings that begin with Crochet's Sancerre are off to beautiful start.

2007 Villa Sparina Gavi di Gavi, Piedmont, Italy (around $21)

• Have we all had enough of Pinot Grigio yet? Switch gears and move up to "Gavi" made from Cortese grapes. This delightful Italian wine is creamy, a bit oaky, and fruity with notes of apples, pears, and a medium golden color. The Cortese di Gavi is centuries old and perhaps this charming passage from 1798 by Count Nuvolone, the deputy director of the Agrarian Society of Turin, will prompt you to try it, "The Cortese variety has rather elongated clusters and somewhat large grapes. When they are ripe, they become yellow and are good to eat. They make good wine and in substantial quantity. And it keeps well.''

2007 Trefethen Vineyards, Chardonnay, Napa Valley, California (around $25)

• I really struggled with choosing the ideal Chardonnay producer for this list. Rombauer, Cakebread, and Sonoma-Cutrer are all go-to Chardonnays that I consider for every occasion. However, a recent tasting of Trefethen had that perfect palate Chardonnay trifecta (for me) of buttery, oaky, and a lingering finish. It's really as simple and pure as that.

2007 Dr. Loosen Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany (around $25)

• This award-winning producer offers a classic Riesling for a great price. The "Kabinett" style of this varietal is very light and delicate vinifed from ripe grapes picked early in the harvest. You'll enjoy honeyed stone fruits with a touch of mineral in each glass along with a nice, balanced acidity.

2007 Chateau La Tour Blanche Sauternes, Bordeaux, France (around $50)

• End your tasting with a classic dessert wine! This supple, full-bodied, golden wine has baked-good notes of cinnamon, citrus, and a lovely sweetness with tones of fruit like apricots and pears to tantalize the palate .

After your wine tasting has concluded, consider serving up a tasty meal by preparing some these recipes.

• Artichoke and Sun-dried Tomato Nut Ball
• Caramelized Apple Brie En Croute
• Chardonnay Risotto Primavera
• Chicken Piccata
• Spanish Almond Cake