Nurturing my inner... annual fall wine tasting

This is the third time I've hosted an official wine tasting.  It started a few years ago as "Wine 101: Introduction to the Basics."  I had lots of friends who either didn't drink much wine because they didn't know what made one better than another or people who did drink wine and just wanted to be introduced to new varietals and styles.  They were excellent little students and it was such a great time of learning, people asked me to do it again.  Here's a little sample of what we covered:

101 began with an introduction of how to see, smell and taste wine.  We talked about "legs," aka the glycerin or sugar content and how to describe the flavors, such as hints of pepper, citrus, mineral or wood.  I took the predominantly white whiners (ha!) and brought them into the illustrious world of reds with some tried and true light-bodied cross overs, and brought red wine drinkers back to the light with some dry and delicate rosés.  Even had them take a sip of a rich red, then eat a bite of dark chocolate and try the wine again to show how the flavor profile changes with food pairings.

201 brought a selection of regions and comparisons of similar wine types made in different countries.  Paying special attention as well to some of my very favorite wines: 2005 Riojas from Spain.

301 featured wines I had picked up in recent months and particularly enjoyed.  Sometimes it's just that simple.  Serve what you like.

The night's options on my friend's buffet.
Love her lamps.

I've figured out what makes a wine tasting great.  This is what I do:

1.) I put together a small excel spreadsheet of the wines we'll be sampling that evening and give a copy to every guest.  Organized by Wine Name, Type, Region/Country, Year, Price and then I leave an empty box for Rate.  My method of rating came about when I used to go to Balducci's wine tastings on Saturday mornings when they had a store in Reston.  (I was DEVASTATED when they closed some years ago and am still recovering from that local loss.)  I found that when there were 60 potential options, I wouldn't remember which ones I liked.  Or didn't like.  So I developed a code to make it foolproof.  I put a . (dot) in that space near the wine if I tried it, a - (minus) if I didn't like it, a check if I liked it and a + (plus) if I loved it.  That way, by the end of the tasting, I was clear on who the real winners were.  (Hiccup.)





Simple wine grid.

 
2.) I have everyone bring an appetizer.  You can also add up the wine and divide the cost by the number of people who will be sampling, which I did the first time.  But decided this year it would be my treat as the substitute for my Christmas party, since parking is an issue where I live.  (That's why my friend offered to host.  Don't you love her wonderful table decor?  You can get more great, and financially wise, decorating tips from her blog: http://ahomeblog.blogspot.com/)

Like out of a cozy home magazine. Love
those apothecary jars.

Everyone brought amazing dishes.  I am always impressed how the girls go all out for this.  The tastes and presentations were so professional and made for a delightful evening from start to finish.



Appearance is as important as flavor.
You eat with your eyes first.



3.) And this is the part they all love.  I shop year round (at places like TJ Maxx and Home Goods) for bargains on fun little items: small cookbooks, dish towels, Christmas cookie plates, candles, soaps, mini cutting boards, small colanders, colored pairing knives.  I put some of them together in little bundles wrapped in colored cellophane.  When the girls arrive, I put all their names in a small basket and then throughout the night I have someone draw a name, maybe every 30 minutes, and they get a surprise bundle.  They are always so full of anticipation, waiting to see what little treasure the next winner will receive.  Not everyone wins something, but that's part of the fun.  Maybe they'll be a winner next year.  (Though one friend won again this year and I had her in charge of writing the names down, so maybe she wrote her name down 10 times!  I guess I'll have to watch her more closely next year.)

I have as much fun shopping for the gifts
as the girls do winning them!

The wine tasting is always such a fun-filled night, that we decided to make it an annual Fall event.  It's a fun way to kick off the holiday season and get all of us together before everyone gets so busy or is out of town.  My friends enjoy a girls' night out (thanks to the husbands for watching their kids - you guys are the best!) and then each has some new wine options to include at their seasonal dinner events.  Not to mention clever appetizer ideas.  How's that for a good time!  (I already started picking up gifts for next year's raffle even.  I know, I can't help myself!  Might have to start having an annual Spring wine tasting too!)