Hosting a party at your house is fun on any occasion. Whether you’re planning on selling to a home buyer, wondering how to get a home appraisal, or you’ve sold your home to a house flipper, you might be in the mood to throw a small party/gathering. While some people might go with the general housewarming party, others might go a more creative route. One type of party that is always a hit is a wine tasting party. If this is something you might want to do, then you’ll want to do some extra planning. Here are our favorite tips for hosting a wine tasting party at your home!
Choose Dates and Invite Friends
If you decide to move forward with a wine tasting party, you will want to choose the dates. Choose a time and date that is going to work well with whoever you want to invite and lock it down. Depending on who you decide to invite, and how many, you could either decide to ask people for dates they are free or just pick what feels right to you. Note that people are generally more busy during the holidays. Once you choose a date and a time, send out the invitations to your guests.
Pick Out the Wine
With a wine party, you’ll want to make sure you choose some wines that are going to be a hit. If you’re not very experienced in wine, you could do one of two things. A lot of online blogs that specialize in wine are a great place to start. Additionally, you could go to a local wine shop that is known for having a good selection. At a wine store versus a general liquor store, the staff will generally have a better knowledge for what is going to be a good collection of wine for your guests to enjoy at a party. Get a blend of reds, whites, roses, and even sparklings to keep it interesting. It’s important to note that not all people drink alcohol. Choose an alternative, like sparkling grape juice or a mocktail, to make party goers who don’t imbibe feel welcome and comfortable.
Choose Some Food
At a wine tasting party, food is almost as important as the wine. Note that wine with pizza and wings might be an odd pairing. We suggest going for a more creative fare. Consider some appetizers and Hors D’oeuvres. When in doubt, a charcuterie board almost always pairs well with wine. A lot of people enjoy creating these themselves, but if you have a larger group of guests and need some assistance, you can always hire a caterer to do this for you.
Decide on Decorations
Decorations are an important step in making sure the ambiance is party ready. You don’t need to go all out, but some house party ready decor is going to set the mood. A nice combination of plates and silverware, candles, and lighting will do the trick. If you’re planning this around a certain holiday, you can even decide on a theme. In addition to decorations, we also suggest adding some ambiance like music to get the party going.
Do a Deep Cleaning and Organizing
Let’s face it: a wine party is far off from one you’d throw as a college student or similar. When getting ready for the event, be sure to do a deep cleaning of your home to make sure that it’s presentable. This is especially true if you’ve recently moved into a new space. Dust from top to bottom, sweep/mop/vacuum floors, clean windows, and make sure that any surfaces where there will be food is wiped down and sanitized. The last thing you want is a home that is going to gross people out.
Get Set Up
Before the party starts and after you’ve done your cleaning in organizing, it’s time to get set up. For wines that need to be chilled, you can either keep them in the fridge or display them in a wine chiller with ice. Place the ones that can stay at room temperature on top of a counter, island, or bar cart. Choose a selection of wine glasses to pair with the wines and organize them as you see fit. Preparing for the party is one of the most fun steps, and you can get very creative with how you do so. Place snacks and appetizers around the house so that people can enjoy them at their leisure.
Enjoy Your Time
At the end of the day, the most important thing about throwing a wine tasting party is making sure that you are having fun. House parties can sometimes be stressful, but they don’t have to be! If you do proper planning and don’t overexert yourself, you should have no issue enjoying the company of your guests. Stay on top of your planning, get some food and wine that will be enjoyable, and have fun with your guests!