Start Wine-ing!

Do you want to entertain more this year?  Here's a really simple idea for you.  Have a wine tasting party!  Oh no, it's not as complicated or as expensive as you think.

Of course there are many different ways that you can have a wine tasting party but we like to keep it simple.  Have all your friends bring a bottle of their favorite white or red, or a bottle of a wine that they want to try.  Ask that guests also bring an appetizer to share with your group (you can always bring a nice cheese, for those non-cooking folks!).  You will also provide a bottle and an appetizer as well.  If you have one near you, Trader Joe's has a fabulous selection of inexpensive wines (and they have some good cheeses as well)!

Depending on how many people you invite, you can set up all the food and wine on one table, or set up the white and some food in one room and the red and some food in another.

Do you ever go to wineries?  Well finally there is a use for all those glasses!  I keep mine in boxes in the attic and pull it out just for the occasion.

Here's an easy trick!  Grab a few Sharpies (in wine colors, of course) and folks can write their names on the base of their glass, to help them remember which one is theirs!


Decorations can be really simple.  Save up some empty wine bottles and just set them around, along with wine corks.  Throw in some plastic grapes and vines and you are all set!  There are lots of cute wine related napkins and signs (I got the one above at Christmas Tree Shops) available at many stores.

One year, we bought some star stickers and had everyone put a sticker on their favorite white and red and whoever brought the winning bottle got a prize.  But mostly, I found my guests just liked sampling different wines and weren't really worried about rating them or anything of the sort.  I guess we are not intellectual drinkers.

We have had as many 40 people at our house for a wine tasting, but this party also works with just a few as well.  We have one annually for my hubs birthday, but no excuse is necessary for having folks over.  It's always wine o'clock!

Wine a little sometime soon!
K