01/16/06 Monday question - Wine tasting party

Welcome to Vine to Wine this is your host Linda Moran and on today's program we are answering email questions. Recently a listener wrote to ask "What is your recommendation for a wine tasting party that isn't too serious but that we could organize as an evening's "entertainment"?" Focusing a party around a wine tasting need not be a pretentious affair. In fact if your goal is to have fun then you can accomplish that and perhaps taste some wines that are not familiar to you and your guests. First of all - inventory - find out how many wine glasses you have or can borrow. That will help you to determine how many people it is possible to invite. I recommend four glasses per person. The glasses should match at each guest's place setting. Next - determine the number that will fit comfortably around your table. I tend to think that eight, including yourself, is plenty. Now select four wines that you are curious to taste. Two whites and two reds are nice  but, if everyone is fascinated by a wine like Syrah, then purchase four from four different regions. Now either take the descriptions from the back of the bottle or go onto the internet and find a published description of one or all of the wines. Provide a copy for each of the participants. Pour the wine ahead and don't let anyone see the bottles. Spend the evening tasting wines, laughing, and trying to figure out which wine matches each description. It is great fun. Remember to send your wine questions to Linda at Vine to Wine dot net and thank you for joining me on today's Vine to Wine.