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Host Your Own At-Home Wine Tasting With These Pro Tips

April 29, 2016 by

Having a wine tasting in the comfort of your home is an inexpensive and simple way to find new wines you might love. Invite a few friends over, gather a group of bottles, a cork screw, and maybe some food to pair with the wine, and you’ll be good to go. Follow these simple tips to help host your next get together!

  • Gather a white tablecloth, big wine glasses, spittoons, crackers, and some coffee grounds to use as an odor neutralizer between wines.
  • Prepare your wines to their ideal temperatures. Serve white wines at around 50 degrees and red wines at around 60 degrees. Open the bottles at least 30 minutes before you plan on serving.
  • If you’re planning on serving a variety of different wines, be sure to start with the least refined and work your way to the most refined. You should always start with the lightest wine first.
  • Pour the glasses an inch below the equator, or the widest part of the glass.
  • Don’t rinse the glasses between servings, as water can dilute the wine.
  • After tasting all of the wines, discuss with your guests the aromas and tasting notes of them all and your likes and dislikes.
  • After listening to everyone’s thoughts, re-taste the wines to see whether they have changed with aeration.

How To Have The Perfect Wine Tasting At Home [The Huffington Post]
How to Host a Wine Tasting Party [Real Simple]
How to Host a Wine Tasting [Food & Wine]

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How to Pour Wine Like a Pro Sommelier

February 20, 2015 by

You don’t have to splurge on a $100 aged Cabernet Sauvignon in order to seem like a real wine expert; all it takes are a few smart tips and some essential wine-serving tools. Follow these simple steps to impress your guests the next time you serve them a glass of red.

  1. Maintain the proper temperature. A surefire way to come across as a newbie wine drinker is by serving your bottle at the wrong temperature. Light or sparkling white wines should be served at 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit to maintain their fresh flavor, while fuller whites and lighter reds should be 50 to 60 degrees. For full-bodied reds, stick to a warmer 60 degrees.
  2. Stock up on enough wine. It could be embarrassing to run out of wine before everyone has their fill, so as a general rule, imagine that each bottle serves approximately five glasses.
  3. Invest in good wine glasses. They don’t have to be expensive, but having real wine glasses does add to the experience. Also, be sure to wash the glasses by hand and dry them with a clean linen towel to ensure that they don’t affect the flavor of the wine.
  4. Fill the proper amount. As a general rule, fill the glass to just below its widest point. This will make you look like a true sommelier and make your guests feel like wine aficionados themselves.

How to Serve Wine 101: Tips on the Perfect Serving Temperature [Wine Spectator]
Frey Organic Wine Serving Tips [Frey Vineyards]
25 Tips on How to Serve Wine [Bauduc Blog]

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Wonderful Wines Under $15

May 16, 2013 by

Wine can get expensive, but one of the more heartening trends in food and drink has been the rise of delicious yet relatively inexpensive wines. If you're seeking something perfect for a trip out to a new BYOB or a great dinner party gift, Food and Wine has compiled a great set of lists of some of the top wines you can find for just under fifteen bucks. Here are some of their lists:

For more guides on finding the best wines and the perfect pairings, visit Food and Wine's website.

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