If you want to know how to host a wine tasting at home, the short version is this: pick a theme, choose three to six wines, serve them in order from lightest to fullest, get each one to the right temperature, and give guests water, plain crackers and something to write on.
How to host a wine tasting: pick a theme first
A theme gives guests something to compare. Some easy wine tasting themes:
- Horizontal: one vintage (year) from several producers or regions, so guests compare styles side by side.
- Vertical: one wine from one producer across several vintages, so guests taste how age changes it.
- Region: several wines from one place, such as France or New York, a theme the Wineracks.com hosting guide suggests.
- Grape: one variety from different regions, for example Pinot Noir from three countries.
- Personal favorites: each guest brings a bottle and the story behind it.
Blind wine tasting
For a blind wine tasting, cover each bottle with a paper bag or foil and number it. Guests taste and write notes before you reveal the labels. It keeps price and label from steering opinions.
How many wines and guests
The Wineracks.com guide says a typical tasting includes between three and six different wines, with pours of about two to three ounces per wine. Plan on these smaller tasting pours rather than full glasses. For how many pours you get from a bottle and how many bottles to buy, see our guide to how many glasses of wine are in a bottle.
Guest count depends on your space and how many glasses you own. For a larger group, set up two tasting stations.
Wine tasting order: light to full, dry to sweet
Waterford Estate, a South African winery, recommends tasting from light to heavy, or dry to sweet: start with sparkling or rosé, move to whites, then finish with reds, and within each group begin with the lightest bodied wine. A practical wine tasting order looks like this:
- Sparkling wine
- Light, crisp whites
- Fuller whites and rosé
- Light reds
- Bold reds
- Sweet or dessert wines last
Serving temperatures and chilling
Temperature changes how a wine tastes. Serving ranges below come from Wine Folly’s serving temperature guide. The timing column uses the 20 minute rule described by VinePair: take whites out of the refrigerator about 20 minutes before drinking, and put reds in about 20 minutes before. VinePair notes the rule is not an exact science, so treat it as a starting point.
| Wine style | Serving temperature (Wine Folly) | Timing from a kitchen fridge or room |
|---|---|---|
| Sparkling and light whites | 38 to 45°F (3 to 7°C) | Serve from the fridge; Wine Folly says finer sparkling can warm up a bit |
| Rosé and full bodied whites | 44 to 55°F (7 to 12°C) | Pull from the fridge about 20 minutes before |
| Light and medium reds | 55 to 60°F (12 to 15°C) | Chill about 20 minutes before |
| Bold reds | 60 to 68°F (15 to 20°C) | Chill about 20 minutes before if the room is warm |
| Dessert wines | Depends on style | Not listed |
A dual zone wine refrigerator takes the guesswork out because you can hold whites and reds at different temperatures until it is time to pour. Two options we carry, with prices at the time of writing:
- Marvel 24″ Essential Dual Zone Wine Refrigerator (MRWD224), $1,899. The listing gives an upper zone of 37°F to 50°F and a lower zone of 50°F to 61°F, with five full extension wire racks. See more from Marvel.
- Empava 15 Inch Dual Zone Wine Cooler (WC02D), $809.59. The listing gives an upper zone of 40°F to 50°F, a lower zone of 50°F to 66°F, and room for up to 29 bottles on five beech wood shelves.
Glassware for a tasting
You need at least one glass per guest. Waterford Estate suggests that, ideally, each guest has a glass for each wine. If that is not practical, rinse between wines with a small splash of the next wine rather than water, as the winery recommends.
Storing a full set of tasting glasses is easier on the wall. The VintageView W Series Stemware Rack ($46 at the time of writing) holds 2, 4 or 6 glasses depending on depth, and the VintageView Vino Series Stemware 2 ($16) holds 2 glasses on slim aluminum rails. Our wine glass rack guide covers more options, and the full range is on our VintageView page.
Wine tasting party setup checklist
- Glasses (one per guest at minimum)
- Dump buckets or pitchers for spitting and pouring out
- Pitchers of water and water glasses
- Plain crackers or bread as palate cleansers
- Note cards or tasting sheets and pens
- Bottle bags or foil for a blind tasting
- A corkscrew, napkins and a cloth for drips
- Non alcoholic drinks for anyone not drinking
A rolling cart keeps the bottles in order and in reach. The Benzara Serving Bar Cart, 32 Inch ($282.55 at the time of writing) has two shelves, two bottle holders and locking casters, and measures 16 x 32.25 x 36.13 inches per the listing. If you want the bottles on display before guests arrive, a small wall rack such as the VintageView Evolution Wine Wall 15 2C (from $123 at the time of writing) holds six 750 ml bottles in the single depth version.
The tasting steps: look, swirl, smell, sip
Waterford Estate describes five steps: sight, swirl, smell, sip and savour.
- Look: tilt the glass over a white napkin and note the color and clarity.
- Swirl: hold the stem and swirl gently to release aromas.
- Smell: take a few short sniffs and name what you notice, fruit, flowers, spice or oak.
- Sip: let the wine move across your tongue and notice sweetness, acidity, tannin and body.
- Savour: pay attention to how long the flavor lasts after you swallow or spit.
Ask guests to jot notes on each wine before discussing it.
Food that works with a tasting
Keep food simple so it does not overpower the wine. The Wineracks.com guide suggests neutral palate cleansers like water, bread or plain crackers, plus cheese and cured meats matched to the wines. Waterford Estate suggests a charcuterie board or a few canapés and advises avoiding anything too spicy or sweet.
Keeping leftovers
Tasting pours leave partial bottles. Recork them, store them upright in the fridge, and finish them soon. For how long each style keeps, see how long wine lasts once opened. If the night sparks a bigger interest, our wine rack and cellar storage guide covers longer term storage.
Responsible hosting
Small pours add up over six wines. Keep water on every table, serve food from the start, make spitting normal by putting dump buckets out, offer non alcoholic options, never serve anyone under 21, and make sure every guest has a sober driver, a rideshare or a place to stay. If anyone has a health condition or takes medication, they should ask their doctor about alcohol.
Frequently asked questions
How many wines should I serve at a wine tasting?
Three to six wines is typical, according to the Wineracks.com hosting guide.
What is the right wine tasting order?
Go from light to full and dry to sweet: sparkling, then whites, then rosé, then reds, with sweet wines last.
How do I set up a blind wine tasting?
Wrap each bottle in a paper bag or foil, number it, and keep a private key. Reveal the labels at the end.
What do I need for a wine tasting party setup?
Glasses, dump buckets, water, plain crackers, note cards and pens, plus a way to keep whites cold and reds cool, such as a dual zone wine fridge.
Questions about a wine fridge, glass rack or cart for your next tasting? Call us at 866-777-2590, Monday to Friday, 9AM to 6PM PST. Orders of $999 or more ship free by freight, and orders below that ship for a flat $200. See our return and refund policy for details.
