A Wine Tasting For All Reasons
Feb 01 '00
Tasting wine is done in all settings and can be for alot of different reasons. The 2 main purpose groups are 1) educational purposes (learning more about wine), and 2) recreational purposes (a party excuse). Breaking those down you get to 1) learning more about established wines, new wines, domestic wines, foreign wines and 2) mixed-group party, wine-people party, a party with food and wine, a party with just wines and snacks, a formal, sit-down wine dinner (which is whole different breed).
I started a wine club here in Lake Havasu in 1994 and I've been the club president for some time. Alot of wine tastings, dinners (formal & informal), and wine parties have been attended. We also have serious wine people who buy and collect alot of wines. We have all learned as we have gone along and, this opinion is not without alot of 1st-hand experience.
The first rule: WINE IS FOR FUN!
The person hosting the party should, I suppose, be qualified in knowledge to host the type of wine party they are hosting. A bad situation develops when the host pretends to know more than they really do about wine - among people who really do....bad idea...
It also helps to have a homogeneous group where the wines are concerned, anyway. That is, invite people who are pretty much equally knowledgeable about wine. Try not to invite "wine snobs" - people who have very biased opinions about what they like and don't like (their mind is made up - don't confuse them with facts!)
Basic accessories for a wine-tasting: 2 glasses per person (1 white, 1 red), individual note pads, a dump bucket (for un-wanted remainders), chilling for the whites, palate-cleaners between wines (bites of bread, wine crackers, etc). For strictly wine-tasting parties, don't over-do the food (simple, well-prepared, small quantities, and complimentary to the wines). Remember, the focus is on the wines - not the food. The last thing you want at a wine-tasting is someone bugging someone for a recipe!
Include the guests in the wine selection only if: they have the expertise to choose wines, and if they will accept price parameters for purchasing. Very embarrassing to have someone show up with high-dollar, fine wine and someone else bring a jug wine. If that could be the case, do it yourself.
A great idea that always works: A BLIND TASTING! (The wines are concealed in bags or sox so that no one knows exactly what wines they are tasting.) This really bugs the know-it-all snobs! Always remember to have a "ringer" (a wine that everyone might think is not fit to drink) and ask everyone to RATE the wines being tasted (1 to 5 rating or something). Have about 3 whites and 3 reds (maybe 4). After everyone has tasted and voted (rated), then you expose the wines! Be sure to have all different prices, qualities, and popularities of wines. Many surprises can happen here!
Being a wine enthusiast, I have my own opinionated views which I will not expound on here. I will leave you with my best wine 1-liner:
GREAT WINE IS LIKE THE TRUTH.....
IT ONLY COMES OUT LATE AT NIGHT - AMONG GOOD FRIENDS.
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Epinions.com ID:
davea888
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Member: Dave Andrews
Location: Lake Havasu, AZ and Lahaina, Maui
Reviews written: 87
Trusted by: 36 members
About Me:
That woman knows how to rob a train...
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