Start With Atmosphere!
Music and lighting play a big role in putting people at ease. Whether you’re indoors at night with muted lounge lamps or outside during the day, under softening canvas, you want a relaxed ambience where the wine can shine. In terms of layout, you need some sort of table and space that allows comfortable conversation and guest interaction.
Swafka believes wine tasting parties are all about entertaining and education at the same time, so get the balance right with an engaging environment.
Wine Curation
Next thing to consider is your wine lineup. These could be grouped around a theme. Are you sticking to classics, or going more adventurous or premium? Wines like Te Koko or Te Wahi are great to share as an extra-special touch.
Swafka recommends a wide range of wines, up to six, with a selection that includes something everyone can try for the first time and a varietal they enjoy. Your range could span from dry to sweet wines, light body to full body. Start with the light-bodied wines and work your way to the full bodied and sweet wines.
Please note, it’s crucial to serve each wine at the temperature it is supposed to be enjoyed. Pelorus and our white wines are served chilled. Pinot Noir and Te Wahi are usually served at room temperature, however in warmer months, Pinot Noir can be chilled – an experience your guests may not have tried before!
The Tools of the Trade
For a sophisticated tasting, glassware is very important. Swafka stresses that the enjoyment of wine is maximised by the correct glassware. She recommends the Riedel glassware range for how they deliver the aroma, taste, texture and finish of a wine. But with any wine glass, the trick is to hold the stem, below the bowl, so the warmth of your hand doesn’t affect the wine.
Remind your guests of this, and as the host, be careful not to overpour. You want your guests to enjoy and savour each of your selections. A spittoon is handy when your guests are changing from white to red wines or if they want to pour any out. Don’t forget to have glasses of water available for your guests to sip in between wines too.
“If you’re feeling especially adventurous, black coloured glassware is a particularly dramatic way of presenting a blind tasting. You can simply just hide the bottle, but it’s interesting just how much hiding the wine from sight gets people to focus more on the smell, tasting notes and textures.”
Swafka
Do Your Homework
Finally, a bit of investigation prior to your tasting will make for a truly enlightening event. You can read up about your wines on our website. Having some knowledge and facts to share will make the whole experience extra-rewarding for everybody.
Wines for entertaining
We’ve also got a lot of information about food pairings, so if you’re offering simple pairings like cheese or charcuterie, or putting together a full dinner menu, we’ve got the recipes to complement your selections.
