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Wine Tasting Party Ideas
What could be more fun or easy to throw than a wine tasting party? The winery has done all the work. All that's left is to choose some grapes and flavors, tasting techniques and a few complementary bites. Hosting a wine tasting or a wine and cheese party is an excellent way to discover new wines, show off your wine knowledge or learn about tasting techniques. Cheers!
Barbecue Beer and Wine Pairings
With beautiful warm weather upon us, it's time to dust off those barbeques and get grilling. But finding the perfect wine and beer to pair with BBQ food can be tricky, and isn't usually common knowledge. Lucky for all you kings of the grill out there, we've prepared a handy pairing guide that will get your wine cellar and beer fridge in top shape for barbecue season.Barbecue Beer and Wine Pairings: Beef
Barbecue Beer and Wine Pairings: Chicken
Barbecue Beer and Wine Pairings: Seafood
Barbecue Beer and Wine Pairings: Ribs
5 Tips for a Wine and Cheese Party
Wine and cheese parties are a great way for guests to mingle and try new things. The nice thing about these parties is that they are so versatile - they can range from sophisticated and upscale to super casual, and are a cinch to plan.
Top 5 Rose Wines
After years of wine connoisseurs snubbing White Zinfandel, Rose is making a triumphant return. Crisp, light and simple, its refreshing flavor is perfect for warm weather parties. So put down the snob card and join the legions of growing Rose fans. If your Rose knowledge is a little rusty, read on for food pairings, wines to try and tips for getting in on the growing trend.
Wine Tasting in 5 Easy Steps
You can certainly review many books written on the subject of wine (and there are plenty!), but the best way to truly enhance your understanding is to taste the wines themselves. While reading covers the more academic side of wine, tasting is more enjoyable and practical. In truth, a little of each will do you the most good.With that in mind, it is our goal to help you learn how to maximize your wine tasting experience. You may wish to read this section and follow the suggested steps with a glass of wine in hand (tough duty!).
In considering how to pursue your tasting education, we'd like to make a couple of suggestions we've found valuable in our own continuing education. First, we highly recommend you conduct "blind tastings" by using paper bags to cover the bottles you are tasting in order to remove any outside influences which can come from knowing the winery label, vintage, appellation, etc. Second, we encourage you to form a wine tasting group. The more palates there are, the more perspectives on a particular wine you'll have and the better you can increase your awareness of a wine's complexities.
We will begin by breaking down wine tasting into five basic steps: Look, Swirl, Smell, Taste and Savor. These are standard steps for wine tasting, but throughout this section we have sprinkled personal thoughts, suggestions and practices of those of us at Ambrosia. As you taste the wines, remember this most important and basic tenet: Have fun!
Perfect Wine Pairings for Picnics
Few things are more relaxing than a leisurely picnic in the park. Only one thing can improve on the great outdoors, clear skies and delicious food: a great bottle of wine. Here are some tips on finding the perfect match:Salami & Cheese (Brie or Manchego) on a French Baguette and Wine
White Wine Tasting Party
Glory in a glass; that's my definition of white wine. Now just keep your corks on all you red wine holdouts. There are amazing white wines available from sea to shining sea and the 5 listed for this white wine tasting promise for a spectacular evening of sips and chatter about grapes. And for those who have never hosted a tasting before, this article has got you covered to help you throw a simply sophisticated White Wine Tasting Party.
For those who love their reds, check out my Red Wine Tasting Party article.
White Wine Tasting Party: Types of Wine Tastings
White Wine Tasting Party Tabletop Decor
Red Wine Tasting Party
Red wine reminds me of a child that needs to be nurtured and then reaches this incredible maturation that blows your mind. (Only a woman would write this way, I know!) Frances Ford Coppola, god of cinema and Bacchus doppelganger of modern wine once wrote about his children, "...they grow up to be the most interesting people you've ever met." Such is the case with red wine. So many write about the lushness and ruby qualities of red wine. Those that parent a red grape from vine to glass are epicurean adventurers, risk takers, and ones to be admired. Host a red wine tasting that appreciates an array of varietals and those that make the appreciation possible.
For white wine fans, check out my White Wine Tasting Party article.
Red Wine Tasting Party: Types of Wine Tastings
Sparkling Wine Tasting Party
A Sparkling Wine Tasting Party is a chic occasion idea for those who've gone through the roster of typical red and white sips and swirls. Any time a bottle of bubbly is served at a party the elegance jumps a bit and the atmosphere feels more festive. Along with some basic terms specific to sparkling wine and Champagne, I've included a list of 5 wines for your tasting party and some tips on how to enjoy all things effervescent in the glass.Be sure to take a peek at my Red Wine Tasting Party and White Wine Tasting Party articles for more ideas!
Sparkling Wine Tasting Party: Basic Sparkling Wine Terms
Organizing a Wine Tree Fundraiser
I asked my husband, "Have you ever heard of a Wine Tree?" His response, "No. Where does it grow?" Hmmph. I thought he was paying attention to all those charity events I chaired! And, I thought this fundraising idea was right up there in popularity with Silent Auctions, but apparently not.
A Wine Tree is an activity at a fundraiser where bottles of wine are donated to be an auction or raffle prize. Or, a Wine Tree is basically a wine potluck to help support a fundraising event by defraying the beverage costs with donations. The potluck idea is a no-brainer and an economical way to pay for the bar. However, organizing a Wine Tree for a fundraiser prize can be a great moneymaker.
Wine Tree Fundraiser Basics: Get the Word Out and the Wine In!
For Big Money Fundraisers: Complete Wine Tree Collection Prize
For Moderately Priced Fundraisers: Wine Tree Prize Categories
For Added Value to Your Event: Continuous Wine Bottle Raffle
Girl's Night Wine Tasting Party
With such a wide variety of wines on the market, learning the differences between them and finding your personal preferences can be quite a task. Sure, it's nice to try wines one at a time, but why not grab a few bottles, a few friends, and have yourself a wine tasting party? With a little pre-planning, you can host a wine tasting like an expert!
Wine Storage
We would all love to have a temperature and humidity controlled wine cellar, but space limitations, expense or too little wine can make it difficult to justify. If you are lucky enough to have space for a wine cellar, bravo, you're a step ahead and probably don't need to read the rest of this. But many of you just want to know what you can do to prevent your wine from turning to vinegar without going to a lot of trouble and expense. Read on.There are three important things to remember before selecting a proper wine storage area, location, location, location. Wines are fragile and need certain conditions to give them a chance of surviving.
The Basics for Stocking a Small Bar
An excerpt from Fete Accompli! Workbook - The Ultimate Party Planning Guide by Lara Shriftman and Elizabeth Harrison.If you have a bar in your home and entertain often, its a good idea to always keep your bar stocked with the basic necessities. But what are the basic necessities? In addition to having your own favorites on hand, here is a list of the liquors, garnishes and mixers every at home bar should never be without.
Red Wine, Cheese, and Grapes: Pairing Tips For Your Party
Without leaving the confines of your abode, great wine and cheese combinations can take you all the way around the world. Try out some new cheeses and pair them with delicious wine to get an out-of-country experience!Smile and say cheese!
Making Your Selections for the Wine Party
Fun and Fuss-Free Party Advice
Noshes, Nibbles & Palate Cleansers
Matching Food & Wine
Contrary to popular belief, there are no hard and fast rules for matching food with wine. The best way to learn is try any wine with any recipe. Look for how the food complements the wine or doesn't complement. If the food overpowers the wine, then obviously that isn't the right match.
Budget Wine Tasting Party
In France and Italy, you can pick up a delicious bottle of wine for under $10. Here in the U.S.A., many wine lovers may have certain labels and price points in mind for what constitutes a palatable glass of the grape. But what if you want to have a get together on a budget? Embrace the spirit of wine tasting without breaking your wallet, and host a party with these cost-effective wines and ideas for a thrifty soiree.
Wine Tasting on a Budget Tabletop Decor
Wine Tasting on a Budget Set Up
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