Friday Finds: Throw a Wine Tasting at Home

Love the idea of a wine tasting but can’t get out to the wineries? Throw a tasting at home! Grab a few bottles and some great snacks to pair it with and you have yourself a PARTY! But, just in case you need a little help or inspiration for the wine tasting I’ve thrown together a few items for today’s Friday Finds.

Books

A good book can certainly point the way to a fun event.

My home library is full of great cookbooks, event books and everyday novels that inspire me constantly. Below are a few of many great books about wine and paring. I personally own a couple of them and have longingly looked through the others at the bookstore.

Clockwise from top left: What to Drink with What You Eat: The Definitive Guide to Pairing Food with Wine, Beer, Spirits, Coffee, Tea – Even Water – Based on Expert Advice from America’s Best Sommeliers; Wine Tasting Notebook by Steve De Long; De Long’s Wine Grape Varietal Table; Janis Robinson’s How to Taste: A Guide to Enjoying Wine

Side Note: “What to Drink with What You Eat” is a long-winded read. But, it really is the thing to inspire great wine and food pairings. It is also great for inspiration for foods that will go great with drinks like milk and water. It’s amazing!

Supplies

Now, the supplies are really the thing for putting an everyday wine tasting over the top. You don’t have to have fancy glassware but I highly suggest stemmed, glass wine glasses. Below are some of the fun items I either have and use frequently for tastings or WANT so very badly.*

Clockwise from top left:
Ikea’s SVALKA Red Wine Glasses $4.99/6 —Okay, seriously, I use glassware in almost all of my parties. I am not a fan of the platic cup. Ikea came to my rescue with their SVALKA wine glasses– at around five dollars for half a dozen I can buy as many as I need for my many parties and not feel a bit worried when one is broken.
The Wine Tasting Party Kit by Chronicle Books— I’ve been wanting to do a blind tasting for a very long time… but, I’m waiting for Santa to drop this dream kit off in front of my Christmas tree before I try to tackle it.*
Glass of Pinot Stationary from Le Belle Vie Designs on Etsy — A hand written note on this stationary would be the perfect invitation to a wine tasting.
Wine Tasting Drink Charms by Clinks— When you have a lot of glassware going around a party you need drink charms. These simple, yet adorable charms would be a delightful way to get guests mingling as well as keep drinks with their owners. “Have you seen the drink that say’s ‘Meeny’?”
Wine Country Appetizer Plates from Uncommon Goods— Serve the nibbles on something scrumptious. These great wine themed appetizer plates are the perfect size and fit the theme beautifully.

*HINT 😉