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by Alice Addertongue
Choosing a Theme
The first step is determining the guests' level of expertise. If most of them are not that familiar with wine, a simple theme for the event is a good idea. Good themes include tasting one kind of wine (perhaps Merlot or Chardonnay) or wines that go well with a particular food.

The Atmosphere of Your Party
Decide on the seriousness of the tasting. Will guests simply discuss the wine,

GrapeRadio "How to Plan a Wine Event"

will they write down notes, will they try to guess each type in a "blind" tasting, or is it a more casual atmosphere?

The important thing is to have fun so try to assess what your guests would like. If you and your friends are serious about wine, including elements of a more formal tasting would be considered fun. If your guests are mostly wine novices, keep things light and focus more on learning to enjoy the wine.

Choosing the Wine
An easy way to choose the type of wine served is by deciding on one or more of the following:

a single style of wine (white or red)
wines from a particular area
wines from a certain price range
a single type of varietal
wines from the same maker but different vintages.

Organizing the Wines
Try not to serve more than six wines. Another tip is to remember to plan for temperature and decanting variations. Work out a schedule ahead of time so you won't have to worry about this the night of the party. Remember to consider the order in which you should taste the wines. Some experts advise starting with the lightest wine and ending with the heaviest. A good wine merchant can offer advice on the order in which you should taste your wines.

Wine Glasses
Each guest should have at least two clear wine glasses. Between wines, these glasses ought to be rinsed out to prevent flavor masking. Advanced tasters use glasses large enough to allow room for their noses. This is done to compare the different aromas, as well as the flavors.

Accompanying the Wine
Serve food and water with the wine. This helps to clear the palate, clarifying the taste of each wine. The food can be simple, such as a variety cheese and crackers, or if your affair is more casual, step it up a little and match some more adventuress foods to your wines.

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