You don’t need to be a sommelier—or own a collector’s cellar. Hosting a wine tasting at home just takes a bit of planning, a few well-chosen bottles, and attention to detail. Whether it’s with curious friends or for a special evening, the goal isn’t to “judge” the wines—but to discover them.
And if you manage to surprise someone with an unusual grape variety or a clever pairing, even better.
Choosing the Wines: Few but Well-Selected
First question: how many wines? The ideal number is between three and five. More than that becomes confusing; fewer might feel like a dinner with a few extra toasts.
You can choose different tasting themes:
- Same grape variety from different regions (e.g., three Primitivos from different areas)
- Different styles from the same producer
- Comparison of white, rosé, and red from the same region
You could also include a “mystery wine” served blind to spark conversation.
Temperature and Serving Order
Each wine should be served at its ideal temperature. You don’t need a professional wine fridge—just some planning:
- White and rosé wines: 8–12°C
- Young red wines: 14–16°C
- Full-bodied red wines: up to 18°C
If serving all wines in one session, start with the lighter ones and build in intensity: sparkling wines, dry whites, structured whites, rosés, soft reds, full-bodied reds, and finally, dessert wines (if included).
Glassware and Details
Ideally, one glass per wine—but if that’s not feasible, at least one clean glass for every two wines is a good compromise. Avoid decorated or tiny glasses—a standard red wine glass works for everything.
Don’t forget the basics: still water, plain bread (even salt-free country bread), napkins. Avoid flavored breadsticks or strong cheeses between sips.
How to Guide the Tasting
No need to lecture. Just offer a simple guide and let people explore and discover the differences themselves.
Encourage guests to observe the color, smell slowly, then sip without rushing.
What do they notice? Fruit? Spices? Flowers? Something salty or toasted?
Open-ended questions work better than technical sheets. The magic is in hearing unexpected descriptions.
Don’t Forget: Food, Atmosphere, and Freedom
Even if it’s a tasting, food matters. A simple board with cold cuts and cheeses, light focaccia, olives, or even a warm bite if the evening stretches longer.
Atmosphere is key. No blasting music, but no library silence either. A wine tasting isn’t a test—it’s just a different way of enjoying the table together.
And most importantly: make space for everyone. Some will want to talk, others will just sip and listen. What matters most is that no one feels out of place.