Throwing a Wine Tasting Party

Okay, so maybe not 80, but the explosion of wine in recent years makes a wine party a very popular option! This theme involves touring many different countries through their wine. Even if you don't know anything about wine, you can still pull off a terrific gathering, and maybe learn something in the process!

Beverages: Obviously the main focus! The idea with this theme is to select wines from a variety of countries. You can find many affordable and delicious options by opting for wines from places not yet popular for their wines. A very budget friendly and fun option would be to have your guests each bring a bottle of wine from a different or obscure country-you might consider giving them a specific country on their invitation to avoid getting several bottles from one country. Another spin on this option would be to have a contest for the guest who brings wine from the most obscure country or the best tasting wine under $10. Prize options could be a wine opener, wine glasses, a wine stopper, wine charms...you get the idea!

As a basic rule of thumb, for those of you will little to no wine experience, red wines should be served at room temperature (actually around 60-65 degrees), and white wines should be chilled. Red wines are traditionally served in glasses with larger bowls. If you don't have many wine glasses, ask your wine-drinking friends if you can borrow some. As a wine drinker myself, I am often given them as a no-brainer gift and have more of them than I know what to do with!

Food: Fruits and cheeses make excellent companions to wine. In addition to standards like strawberries, blueberries, melon and grapes, consider some unusual selections: star fruit, kiwi, or mango. Use moderation with these unique offerings however, as the prices will be considerably more than the traditional fare. The same rule applies for cheeses. Cheddar, Monterey Jack, and even Bleu cheeses will provide a starting point. Delicious wine complements include fruit infused Stilton, smoked Gouda, Brie, Port salut, and Boursin. Supply a variety of crackers and baguettes to go with the cheeses.