"Wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy." ~ Benjamin Franklin Wine is usually served at parties since it complements most foods. But, for a change, you can hold a wine tasting party and get it in the center stage. It is an ideal way to get together with friends and family, and enjoy a relaxed evening. How to Host a Wine Tasting Party Wine lover or amateur, you can always host an amazing wine tasting party. Given below are various tips to host a wine tasting party. ♦ You can choose a theme for your party. ♦ You can go for vertical or horizontal wine tasting. ♦ You can also try pairing wine with various types of cheese or chocolate. ♦ You can also come up with other innovative ideas depending on the guests you have planned to invite. ♦ No matter what the type of wine is, or what are the methods you use, you are bound to discover new nuances in both red and white wine. You and your guests will have the opportunity to savor the flavors of the wine. ♦ To begin with, you need to decide what type of party you would like to have and prepare your guest list accordingly. ♦ You can begin preparations to host the party at home itself. ♦ You should send out your invitations in advance. ♦ You can also design a card which specifies what type of wine it is, the vineyard where it was produced, the year of production as well as a brief description of the wine. Make sure you do not fall short of them. ♦ You do not have to do a lot of work to find this information as it is usually mentioned on the wine label itself. ♦ If you want it to be more informal, then you can give the guests a blank card. They can write down their notes about each wine. ♦ The ambiance of the party is also important. Keep the atmosphere light and lively. ♦ The amount of wine to be poured for a person is 2 ounces per glass for each tasting. ♦ You can make a note of calories in wine as well as have wine nutritional information next to each wine bottle. Party Ideas ♦ There are various types of wine. Decide on a type of wine and ask your guests also to get a wine bottle. ♦ Cover the wine bottles and number them so that while tasting, you are not biased by the name or types of wines. ♦ Get transparent, colorless wine glasses that have full bowls tapering to the rim. This will help the wine tasters to swirl the wine and enjoy every bit of it, without spilling it. ♦ Fill the wine glasses (about ⅓) for each serving. ♦ Also do not forget to keep a bottle of water and empty bowls. This is to aid the tasters to rinse their glasses when they move on to tasting the next wine. ♦ Provide some light snacks like crackers so that the tasters can cleanse their palate between sips. The guests can also rate the wine they have tasted. ♦ At the end, when everyone has tasted the wine, tally the scores and then unveil the wine liked by everyone. The guest who brought that particular wine can be given a prize. Party Menu ♦ The menu for a wine tasting party should include foods that will pair pleasantly with the wines. ♦ If you have zeroed down on a theme for the party, then make sure the menu goes with the theme. ♦ It is important that the food complements well with the wines but the main attraction should be the wine itself. ♦ Apart from the main course, you also need to think about the munchies like cheese, chocolate, fruit, unsalted and light crackers, etc. ♦ To make the evening more interesting, you can turn it into a pot luck. Your guests can bring some of their specialties and everyone can enjoy them at the party. ♦ Appetizers are also very important at such a party. These may include bread or crackers, cured olives, nuts and dry fruits, cheese plate, sliced and cured sausages and meats, bruschetta, and tapenade. ♦ Another important thing is to serve the wine at the right temperatures. ♦ Once the wine tasting is over, serving desserts and coffee can be an ideal way to end the evening.