Your First Wine Tasting

Wine tasting events can be an entertaining and astounding experience, especially when it is your very first one. Unfortunately, there are many people who will never take the plunge and partake in one because they are afraid they won't know what to do, wear, or say; they are afraid of the unknown. Wine tasting is not something to be weary of; there are just some basic things one needs to know before showing up to one of these events.

First, you should expect for the women to be served before the men; this is completely normal. When handed a glass of wine, it should always be handled by the stem of the glass so the temperature of the wine is not affected. Often times, there will be bottled water and different basic snacks such as crackers offered between tastings. This is offered to normalize the flavors in the mouth, clean it out, and prepare to fully experience the flavor of the next wine.

The wines are always served in crystal clear glasses to allow a complete review of the wine, including the colors. Table cloths are a simple white to further enhance the ability to examine the colors. The name of a wine does not always correctly describe them, so never assume anything from their name. More advance wine tasters will likely be seen gently swirling the wine around in their glass. Swirling the wine is not an odd fascination, or people being weird. It is common because doing so lets the wine release the full aroma and flavor that it is intended to provide. Wine is carefully aged, and can be stored for very long periods of time.

There is a sort of ritual that unfolds during a wine tasting, and it is well proven to be effective. When tasting at these events, the wine should gently be handled by the stem, and be carefully observed by sight. Next, the unique aromas that abound from the wine are thoughtfully inhaled. The aroma of wine is an integral to the overall enjoyment, and full experience of tasting wine. Before taking that delightful taste, it should be gently swirled around in the glass.

Finally, the wine is ready to slip onto the taste buds. Tasting the wine is an art in itself. It should be swished around in the mouth for a few seconds because it needs time to effectively awaken both the taste buds on the front of the tongue, and in the rear. After it is swallowed, it's amazing how the true flavor is still finding the way to all the senses.

It should be apparent, but before going to a wine tasting, there should be as much research as possible as to the types of wines that will likely be served. This will aid in understanding what to look for in the wine. Fear should not prevent anyone from attending one of these extraordinary events!

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Setting Up a Successful Blind Wine Tasting Event

There is nothing like an evening at home with friends and one good way to make the party truly memorable is to have a wine tasting. You do not need to have a very elaborate set-up, and if it is your first attempt at having one, then it might be a good idea to start small, just until you get the feel of it and how it works. If you are a regular wine drinker, and have hosted wine tasting events in the past, then you may want to look for a new twist on the tried and tested, and one way to do that is with a blind wine tasting.

The set-up for a blind tasting event and the only real difference is in what you do with the wines that you are presenting, which we will get to in a moment. The items that every wine tasting event should have start with plenty of water and soft drinks for the guests, as well as snacks like crackers and mild cheeses, as well as other food items that will help cleanse the palate between each wine. You will also want to make sure that there are buckets where the guests can spit out wines that are not to their tastes. Do not be alarmed if this is your first attempt at hosting a wine tasting, as the spitting out is actually a common practice. You can offer a bucket or a spittoon, which is the official piece of accessory used in tasting events.

If you are offering wines that are of different types of taste for tasting, then it's best to start with the white wines first, before moving on to lighter reds, and finishing up with the boldest of the red wines. It is also a good idea to have paper and pens available for your guests so that they can take notes on all the wines they taste. You can then all compare your thoughts and feelings about each one, keeping in mind that everyone has a different palate. This means that others in the group should never judge any one else's opinion, even if it wildly differs from the rest of the group. A wine tasting event is usually set up as a relaxed event where everyone feels comfortable.

When it comes to a blind wine tasting, you should remove all labels or marking from the bottles, and then assign them a number. You can buy special bottle covers that cover each bottle so that you are unable to see the wine. Paper and pencils are essential for this sort of tasting, as it becomes a little more difficult to remember which wine is which, and taking notes will really help. There is a great opportunity to have fun with a blind wine tasting, and you can actually make a number of games out of the event. It could be as simple as giving points to those who correctly guess the type of wine being served, or even throwing in a couple of cheap wines, and seeing if your guests can spot the difference. Again, this should be fun. So, now that you know what is involved, why not organize a wine tasting today.

Tips in Hosting the Best Wine Tasting Event at Home

You have probably been to a number of wine tasting parties that involve wine experts and wine that cost a lot of money. That's not the type of party you want, especially if you are only starting in the world of wines. The good news is you can actually host a wonderful wine tasting event in your own home without having to spend hundreds of even thousands of dollars. In fact, you can host the perfect party without having to spend more than fifty bucks. 

How do you do that?

First off, what you need to do is to invite all your interested friends and tell them you're going to host a wine tasting party in your own home. However, instead of buying all the bottles for the event yourself, ask each of your friends to bring their own bottle to the party, which you will all share and evaluate.

The things you will need for this exciting event are:

Empty Wine Bags

Wine Criteria Sheet

Wine Glass or Plastic Cups

Prizes

Note: You will need the criteria sheet for grading the wines. You can either come up with your own criteria, or download one online. For the prizes, you will need them later on to reward the individuals who brought the winning wines.

Limit Wine Bottles to 20

When inviting guests to your party, try to limit the number of wine bottles to twenty. Having more bottles than that will definitely let you consume more time. If you have couple friends attending the party, tell them that each couple should only bring one bottle. You can also divide the group and assign which group would bring which wine type. For instance, the men would bring red and the women would bring white.

Register Wine Bottles as Soon as Guests Arrive

Assign someone to receive the bottles and register them as soon as guests arrive. In the registration sheet, write the make and type of the wine opposite the name of the person who brought it.

Wrap Wine Bottles with Empty Wine Bags

Guests shouldn't be able to see the bottles so make sure you cover them with paper bags. Simply label the bags with "R" plus a particular number for the red wines, and "W" plus a number for the whites.

Judging Time

Before you proceed to tasting the wines, have a quick wine tasting crash course. Unless you have real wine experts in the house, you would want to make sure everyone knows what criteria to use to judge the wines. You can evaluate the wines using 4 simple criteria: Sight, Flavor, Aroma, and Overall Impression.

You need to understand that you can have your own criteria for tasting wine. In the end, it will all come down to which bottle of wine your guests considers best and which one they consider worst.

Finally, present the best wine to the entire group and give rewards to whom they are due.

Hosting a wine tasting party need not be expensive. Save money by bringing affordable yet find-tasting wines such as Penfolds Cabernet Shiraz.  http://ezinearticles.com/?Tips-in-Hosting-the-Best-Wine-Tasting-Event-at-Home&id=7747554

Start a Wine Tasting Business For Thrills, Spills, and Lots of Money

If you want to make money at home working only a few hours a week, start a wine tasting business. This little-known home business is thoroughly enjoyable and packs a wallop when it comes to earning money. The kind of money you can make is up to you. But, consider this - for just 4 hours a week, you can bring home about US$31,200 a year. If you double your hours, you can double that take-home pay.

Here are three steps to help you make money in this home-based business:

1) Getting Started

Before you get started, check out the possibilities for wine tastings in your area. Wine tastings are usually held on weekends in private homes and clubs and at special events everywhere. They are seldom held in a restaurant. The host organizes the tasting and pays you for your service.

The current rates are $150 an hour for parties up to 20 people. Over that number, rates are negotiable. For large parties you may need to hire helpers. Include the amount you pay them in your hourly rate.

Advertise your business in the local paper. Pay a visit to clubs such as the Kiwanis Club and country clubs in your area. Be sure to speak to the manager and leave your brochure. Teach an adult education class about wine. Air a radio ad at night on the local stations.

2) On the Job

Prepare for the tasting by meeting with the host. He or she supplies the wine, food and glasses. The host also arranges for the white tablecloths, small paper spitting cups for the guests and several urns to empty the cups into.

For 20 guests, there should be about 30 bottles of wine. This includes six different types of wine with five bottles of each type. For a party of up to 20 guests, you can work from a long table and have the guests seated opposite you. For larger groups, the host should set up tables.

During the tasting, guests sample a particular wine from their glass. Fill the glass a quarter to a third full. Guests tip the glass away from them and examine the wine's color against the white tablecloth. They sniff the wine's aroma, take a sip and swirl it around in their mouth before spitting it into their paper cup. They then empty the cup into an urn.

Talk about the wine and where it comes from. Bring various corkscrews with you to show guests. Demonstrate how to decant wine with a decanter and candle.

3) After the Wine Tasting

Following the wine tasting, allow for questions. Here are some common questions followed by answers:

Q: What makes red wine red?

A: Red wine includes the skins, seeds and stems of the grape which turn the wine red.

Q: Why do you decant wine?

A: To check that the wine is clear and without settled particles.

Q: How can you tell a good corkscrew?

A: The most important part of the corkscrew is the "worm" or spiral. The worm should be hollow and have 4-5 spirals. The deeper the worm enters the cork the less likely it will break.

Q: Which is the most expensive corkscrew?

A: One made by Forge de Laguiole of France is the best. It lasts the longest but costs $150 to $190.

Q: Why are they using screwcaps today instead of corks?

A: Screwcaps shut oxygen out of the wine which is what you want because oxygen causes wine to spoil.

Q: Why is aged wine better?

Aging wine dulls the fruity flavor and leaves a more earthy tasting wine. At least 95% of wine does not need to be aged.

Q: Which wines go with which food?

A: Port is a heavy wine and goes well with dessert or alone. Merlot is a light wine and is delicious with a meal of chicken and salad. Cabernet is a little heavier than Merlot and goes well with steak, lamb, and pork. Pinot noir is a very light wine and is excellent with turkey, chicken, and duck. Beaujolais is a fruity, light wine and is good with fowl or dessert or alone.

Once word gets out about your wine tasting business, you may find yourself booked for many weekends. Start a wine tasting business now - before everyone else finds out how much fun it is and the amount of money you can make. http://ezinearticles.com/?Start-a-Wine-Tasting-Business-For-Thrills,-Spills,-and-Lots-of-Money&id=666492

Wine Tasting Tour Tips

Wine tasting tour is always an exciting adventure. You can have a wonderful experience when you go for such a tour. There are diverse kinds of wines you'll taste during the tour. You'll get to see famous wine presses and other unique attractions. If you really want to have a great time during the tour, there are vital tips you need to bear in mind. Here are some of them:

• Choose a good destination
There are well known destinations for wine tasting. You need to make proper inquires about them online. You have to choose popular destinations known for producing quality wine products. You can always enjoy the tour when you pick the right destination.

• Be Yourself
You don't need to be afraid or intimidated when you go on a wine tasting tour. You have to be 100% free. You should feel free to ask questions. Your tour guide will always be there to assist you. There are no formalities during the adventure. You can crack jokes, eat and drink as you move along.

• Dress Casual
There are no official dress codes for the trip. However, you have to dress casual. If you're a man, you can be on your casual jean and shirt. Ladies can be on prom dresses and other simple wears. You need to put on dresses that can give your enough freedom during the trip.

• Play Good Music
You can make the tour more exciting by playing nice music on the way. You can use a good MP3 player, iPod or other devices. You have to select the best music that can make the adventure rich.

• Pick an affordable tour package
Wine tasting tours are all over the place. You can easily search for them online. You don't need to spend much when going for the trip. You can always locate affordable tours that will meet your needs.

• Drink with Caution
When you get to the actual destination, you have to follow the rules. You have to taste the wine according to instructions. You'll be served with several varieties of wine products during the event. You don't have to be drunk. You have to drink with caution. In all, you can only enjoy the wine adventure when you liaise with a reliable travel firm that offers such trips. You need to make proper inquiries when looking for the right trip. You can always locate the best travel firm online.

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