A tasting party is a great excuse for people to have fun together and learn about wine at the same time. Following are a few tips to make your party a success.
Guest List -- Send invites at least two weeks in advance, and let them know whether they should bring a bottle, or if you're supplying all the wine.
Wines -- Six to 10 wines provide a good range for a tasting; any more than that and your guests will likely lose track of which ones they've tried. At 2 ounces per tasting, there are about 12 tastings per bottle.
Theme -- While you could randomly choose your wine, it's more enjoyable to make a selection around a theme -- for instance, one wine each from several different regions in Italy -- or from several different California grape varieties. It's a good idea to taste from dry to sweet with white wines and progress from light to full-bodied with reds.
Glassware -- One glass per person will do the job. It's a good idea to provide a dump bucket to pour excess wine into so that people don't have to drink everything in their glass (of course, they probably will). Choose nice, all-purpose glasses suitable for tasting both red and white wines.
Serving -- Serve white wines lightly chilled (about 50 degrees). An hour-and-a-half in the refrigerator or 30 minutes in ice water will suffice. Red wines should be served slightly cooler than room temperature (about 65 degrees). If it's a hot day or a warm room, it's OK to put red wine in the refrigerator for 20 to 30 minutes before serving.
Tasting Cards -- Make a tasting card listing each wine with room for comments. It's also helpful to have some background information on each wine, including the price, where to buy it and any interesting facts about the vineyard or grape variety.
Food -- Serving a variety of hors d'oeuvres is always a good idea. Stay away from spicy dishes which kill your taste buds. Breads and cheeses are good choices; consider food from the same region as the wine.
Water -- Provide bottled water so your guests can clear their palate and prepare for the next wine.
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