|
Total Views:
87
|
Wine Tasting Party Secrets
Most wine lovers, at some point, have taken the opportunity to participate ina wine tasting. In many cases, the tastings were sponsored by a commercial
winery. Sometimes local merchants who sell wine will have a tasting. Even
cruise lines have wine tastings on many cruises. However, did you know that
it's quite possible to turn your home bar, or wine bar, into a very
professional wine tasting event! Of course your wine tasting doesn't
necessarily have to be "professional", but i'm sure you'd like it to be
authentic and fun. This article will provide some keys to a successful wine
tasting.
Home wine tasings should be rather small gatherings. Anywhere from 4-8
friends is perfect. Tell your friends to each bring a bottle of wine in a
specific price range. Now, there are two schools of thought on the types of
wine to bring. Some wine tastings feature all of the same type of wine, a
Merlot, for example. Other tastings feature a variety of different types of
wines. The single type of wine tasting is not as challenging to the taste
buds, and therefore a better choice for an amateur event.
Certainly, you want your wine tasting to go as smoothly as possible.
Consequently, preparation is the key. Definitely have a quality wine opener
on hand. It's well worth the investment to purchase a heavy duty commercial
opener. They are fast and effortless, and seldom damage the cork. They also
are much more durable then standard corkscrews. A good, modestly priced
opener has two prongs that slide down the cork and help ease the cork out of
the bottle has you twist. Also, make sure you have a wine bucket handy with
ice, or an electric wine chiller, in case one of your guest brings a wine
that needs chilling. A wine cart is a terrific way to present all the bottles,
and even serve the guests as it moves around the room.
Make sure that you number the bottles and disguise the labels. Have
appropriate stemware on hand for the type of wine you're serving. Instruct
your guests to evaluate the wines using a 3 step process. First, have them
look at the clarity and color. Wine should have an appealing look.After all,
presentation is everything! Next, they should smell the wine. Try to get your
guest's first impressions, as they are always the most accurate. Wine aromas
change the longer they meet with the air. Have your guests inhale deeply and
describe what they smell. Finally, have them taste the wine. The glasses
should be no more than 1/8 full. Have them roll the wine evenly around their
mouths, taking in a little air. Air can enhance the flavors.
It's interesting to note that when evaluating the wines, your guests will
seldom show a consensus on which wine is "best" .Remember, this process
demonstrates that we all have different tastes. There are no "right" or "
wrong" judgements. The rating system is simple. The wines are scored on a 1-
10 basis, with 10 being the highest. Add up the scores for each wine and
divide it by the number of tasters. The highest average wins.
Wine tastings at home are not only fun, but they give you the opportunity to
show off your wine furniture and wine carts. Also, they keep you
experimenting, and this process will always introduce you to new "favorites.