Determine what type of wine tasting party you would like to host.  There are as many types of wine tastings as there are wines and you are limited only by your imagination!


Determine the size of your guest list and send out invitations at least two weeks in advance of your wine tasting party.  My favorite way to send out invitations is http://www.evite.com because it is time efficient and free!

You don’t need a lot of guests to have a great wine party; in fact it can be difficult to keep things moving along if there are too many people.  I find that a group of four to twelve people is perfect.  Be sure to have a contest of some sort and give away a free gift for added suspense!  For example you could give away a book like The Art of Wine Tasting.


Design a Wine Tasting Card that specifies the type of wine, the vineyard which produced it, the production year and a brief description of the wine.  You don’t have to drink the wines in order to write a description, just refer to the description found on the wine’s label which is sufficient to get things started.  Encourage your guests to record the distinct appearance, aroma and flavor of each wine on their tasting card and to comment on how well each wine was paired with a particular food.

If you prefer a more casual approach, simply supply your guests with a pen and paper for them to jot down their impression.  It will be interesting to see which wine your guests liked best, least and why.


Unless the theme of your wine tasting is “Which Famous Food Critic or Wine Snob Am I?” the atmosphere should be relaxed and unintimidating so that your guests can have fun and bask in the warmth of the wine.  

In the movie Bottle Shock the famous challenge to decide whether the best wines were produced in France or California, the wine tasting was held in an outdoor courtyard on wooden tables covered with white table cloths in a setting which felt very old world and classic.  The focus was on the wine, not the décor.

The theme which you select will determine what wines you pour for your guests.  If your theme is “Twigs & Berries” then you might serve our Oregon Wild Blackberry, Plum, Pomegranate and Cranberry wines.  Our Donna Rosa Red Wine would be a perfect start for “Italian night” since it goes exceptionally well with pasta.  Our rendition of a Baco Noir would be a great kick off for “Ribs & Wine” because the finish is tannic enough to keep up with barbeque to prime rib.  

Themes like “The Great Italians” and “Italian Reds” are traditional favorites as are “Great Wines of California” but you can also tie the theme of your event into local traditions such as the annual “Oregon Civil War” held between the Oregon Ducks and Oregon Beavers college football teams by holding an “Oregon Civil War” of your own pitting the wines of Northern Oregon against the wines of Southern Oregon!


There is a famous saying which goes “First the wine, then the menu!” and alas, it is true.  Once you have determined the theme of your wine party and selected four to six wines which compliment your theme, then it is time to select appetizers and food choices which will compliment the wines selected and support the theme.  The focus of the event should be upon the wines and not the food since it is a “wine party” by definition… Without a doubt, selecting the wine comes before selecting the food.  Trust us, we know that the chicken came before the egg!

If your theme is Wines of the Loire Valley (Garden Valley) of France then be sure to serve “hors d'œuvres” instead of “appetizers” and select appropriate varietals such as Melon de Bouregogne, Chenin Blanc (known locally in the “Garden Valley” as Pineau de la Loire or France Blanc), and Sauvignon Blanc. The primary red varieties are Cabernet Franc (also known as Breton), Gamay, and Cabernet Sauvignon.  You can even order some travel and wine related posters of the region to hang on the walls for your event!

Appetizers which compliment wines are usually cheese, fruit and unsalted crackers.  It is imperative to have a loaf of plain bread on hand because it is used to cleanse the palate between wines. 

Be sure to have plenty of room temperature bottled water on hand and optional spit buckets available for those who want them…

When all the wine tasting is done, you might want to serve your guests coffee and dessert; this is a perfect time to introduce your guests to dessert wines such our Oregon Fruit Wines or perhaps an Ice Wine.


All right, the prep work is done and it’s time relax and enjoy your wine tasting party!  Here are some tips for a successful event!

To experience the full pleasures provided by different wines, it is important to serve them at the correct temperature.  Here is a basic guideline for wine temperature: