Guide To Hosting An Incredible Wine Party in 10 Easy Steps

by Anthony Zhang

Throwing a wine party is a fun way to bring a group of friends or family together and introduce your taste buds to some incredible wines.

You can tailor a wine party to suit any occasion — from celebratory moments like an anniversary, engagement, or a bridal shower to more casual gatherings.

This article will walk you through the steps you should take when planning and executing a wine party.

10 Steps to Host A Wine Party

Here’s what you need to know to organize your next wine party:

1. Decide On The Theme

Setting a theme for your wine party can help make the event more focused, kickstart interesting wine conversations, and will get everyone in the right mood!

Here are some wine tasting party ideas or themes to consider:

Wines from a specific region: Pick different wines from a single region to understand how the terroir influences their taste and aroma notes. For example, you can sample a selection of Napa Valley Sauvignon Blancs or South African Chenin Blanc wines to explore their similarities and differences.
One wine style from two regions: This wine tastingcompares a single wine style (like Cabernet Sauvignon) from 2-3 different wine regions (like Bordeaux and Napa Valley.)
Grape variety tasting: Here, you pick wine based on the grape variety. For example, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Malbec, or Merlot.
Vertical tasting: With a vertical wine tasting, you pick one wine style but from different vintages and assess each bottle. It’s a great way to discover how the climate of different years plays a role in the wine’s characteristics.
Horizontal tasting: A horizontal wine tasting lets you compare different wines from a single vintage. It helps you gain insight into the vinification styles from different winemakers.
Blind tasting: A blind tasting is a fun way to get everyone’s taste buds working overtime! The labels are covered, so only the host(ess) is in the know. The blind tasting can be as straightforward or as complex as you like. A simple alternative is to have a comparison of wines under $20 and wines over $50. The wines are revealed at the end after guests taste and rank each wine.

2. Make A Guest List

Limit the number of guests to 6-10 people. It’ll keep the wine party intimate and easy for you to manage.

Plus, everyone will get involved in the activities and socialize better.

3. Figure Out How Much Wine To Stock

Once you’ve determined the theme and guests, figure out how much wine you will need. A 750 ml wine bottle is equal to about five standard glasses. So, for a group of 10 people, you will likely need two bottles of each wine.

You can get the wine bottles yourself, but consider a potluck wine tasting to keep costs low. With a potluck, everyone (host included) contributes with one to two bottles of wine based on the theme.

4. Decide On Location

You can have the wine party at a winery, bar, or any other location. But, if you prefer a relaxed and more casual evening, host the wine tasting party at home.

Make sure the space is well ventilated, with ample lighting and without noticeable odors. Any weird or strong smells can affect the quality of the wine tasting.

5. Gather The Supplies For The Tasting

Prepare all the supplies you will need for the wine party. And have everything ready ahead of time.

Here’s a handy checklist of what you may need:

Wine opener: Have at least a couple of wine openers on hand.
Glassware: Set aside about two wine glasses per person and have a few extra on hand in case some break. Alternatively, rent the glasses for the dinner party.
Wine charms: Wine charms will help guests identify their glasses as they mingle.
Water bottles: Water acts as a palate cleanser, so have plenty of it available for all wine drinkers.
Bag or foil covering: This is primarily to hide the wine labels for a blind tasting.
Scorecards or tasting sheets: You can buy or make your own scorecards (search for a template online) so guests can take notes of the wines they’re tasting.
Other stationery: Arrange some pens, pencils, and erasers to go with the scorecards.
Spittoon: You need a spittoon for guests who wish to spit out the wine during the tasting. Guests can also use it to dump any excess wine they may still have in the wine glass before moving on to the next one.

With a lot of wine to drink, you have to make sure there’s plenty of food for guests to enjoy throughout the night.

You can make the finger food yourself, partner up with another guest, or order in and split the cost with all the guests.

Here are a few general wine pairing tips based on the wine you’re sipping:

Red wine: Have some meat dishes like mini meatballs, kebabs, chicken tenders, and cold cuts.
White wine: Pair this with light food such as grilled vegetable sticks, bruschetta, or sushi.
Dessert wine: Serve this with food that has a strong flavor, like blue cheese.
Sparkling wine: Caviar, nuts, olives, and smoked fish are great options.
For most wine styles: A cheese board with a few cheese options, fruit (like grapes, berries, dried peaches), jams, and nuts will pair well with just about any wine. Crackers and bread act as a palate cleanser, so have some on the cheese board.

7. Set The Mood With Music, Lighting, And Decor

The music, lighting, and decor will set the tone for the entire dinner party.

Music: Start by compiling songs based on the theme of the wine tasting party. Alternatively, hire a DJ or musicians for some live music if you have the space and budget.
Lighting: Make sure the lighting is just right. It should be sufficiently dim to set the mood and suitably bright to see the wine color. If you’re lighting candles, it’s best if they’re unscented.
Decor: If you’d like to add a few wine related decor pieces, here are some options to consider:
- Use empty red wine bottles as candle holders.
- Make a large cork vase. First, collect as many corks as you can — ask family, friends, and bars for wine corks they no longer want. Then, cut them in half or arrange them whole into the vase.
- Recreate the feel of a vineyard by renting wine barrels that can double as a place for guests to keep their wine glass and food.

8. Plan Out How The Wine Tasting Party Will Go

Create a schedule for your wine party and the order in which guests will sample the wines.

A few wine tasting party tips to remember:

Have a welcome drink, like sparkling wine, ready for guests to sip on until everyone gathers. Once all the guests have arrived, you can proceed with the tasting.
Start with white wines, working your way from dry to sweet.
Once you’re done with the white wines, move on to red wine. Start with light-bodied wines and end with full-bodied wines.
Finish the tasting with dessert wines, if any.
Set aside about 5 minutes for guests to taste, evaluate, and note down their thoughts for each wine. Then, add another 10-15 minutes to introduce the wine and encourage group discussions.
Depending on the theme, you can incorporate a wine tasting game into the party. Charades, Pictionary, or Wine Bingo are popular games. If you want to include two or more games, space them out in between the tastings. You can even organize small prizes like wine based gift cards or wine accessories.

9. Serve The Wine At The Right Temperature

For all the aroma and flavor notes to come through, serve the wines at the proper temperatures.

Here’s a quick guide:

Sparkling wine: 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit
White wine: 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit
Red Wine: 55-65 degrees Fahrenheit
Dessert wine: About 55 degrees Fahrenheit

10. Store Leftover Wine Properly

After the wine tasting, if you have any leftover wine, tightly secure the bottles with the wine corks or wine stoppers. Then, keep the wine in the fridge and drink it within three days.

Sip, Sip, Hooray!

A wine party is a fantastic way to gather loved ones for a fun, intimate evening while sampling a bottle or two of good wine. It’s also a unique way to celebrate milestone moments like an engagement, bachelorette party or bridal shower.