Host a wine tasting at home
Wine tastings don’t have to be formal affairs with clipboards and whispered opinions. The best ones are relaxed, and centred around good bottles, good food and good company. Here is how to host a wine tasting at home that’s fun not fussy.
1. Keep the numbers small
Four to six people is perfect. It keeps conversation flowing and means you don’t need to open a ridiculous number of bottles. If it is just two of you, that works too - a mini tasting is still a tasting.
2. Choose a simple theme
A theme gives the evening shape without overthinking it. A few easy ideas:
One grape, three styles (for example, a light red, a richer red and something aged)
A tour of Italy in three bottles
Old World versus New World
Reds you can drink slightly chilled
Three or four bottles is plenty. Any more and no one remembers what they liked anyway!
3. Serve the wines in the right order
Always move from lighter to heavier:
Sparkling or white first
Then lighter reds
Finish with fuller, richer reds
This keeps palates fresh and helps each wine show its best side.
4. Don’t skip the snacks
Wine tastes better with food, and people relax when there is something to nibble. You do not need a full meal - grazing works beautifully.
Think:
One or two good cheeses
A cured meat or two
Olives, nuts or crisps
Bread or crackers
The aim is balance, not a showstopper cheese board.
5. Set the scene, gently
A few small touches make it feel special:
Decent glasses (they do not all have to match)
Water on the table
A notebook or card for jotting down favourites
Low lighting, candles if you like
Music is optional. If you do use it, keep it quiet enough for conversation.
6. Taste, then talk
Pour small amounts and take a moment before everyone dives in. Smell the wine, take a sip, then chat.
If you want prompts, try:
What does it remind you of?
Would you drink this with food or on its own?
Would you open this again?
There are no wrong answers. If someone just says “I like this one”, that is perfectly valid.
7. Finish with a favourite
At the end, go back to the bottle everyone liked most and enjoy a proper glass. It is a nice way to round things off and takes the pressure off constant comparing.
8. Make it easy on yourself
The golden rule is this: your guests are there for the company, not a masterclass. A relaxed host sets the tone for the whole evening.
If you would like help choosing wines that work well together - or want deli bits that pair effortlessly - pop into the shop and have a chat. We love helping people put together evenings that feel thoughtful, unfussy and delicious.
Sometimes the best nights are just a few good bottles, a table full of snacks, and nowhere else to be.