Tasting Party Ideas

We have always wanted to throw an awesome tasting party…but honestly I have no idea where to start?

The best cheeses, jams, breads, chocolates…by the time I figure out how to pronounce a cheese I have already moved on to aisle 3.

After much research here are some of my suggestions for throwing a tasting, dinner, app or date night party.

As always i’m a big Trader Joes Fan, so everything will be easy and of course from there.

Cheese Course:

1. Manchega

2. Goat Cheese (If they have the blackberry and goat cheese mix) GET IT!!!

3. Montgomery’s Farm House Cheddar (aged, cow )

4. Taleggio 

Fruit Plate:

1. Sliced Pears

2. Green and Red Grapes

3. Two Fruit Jams

* Add some walnuts for a crunchy bite

Wine Suggestions:

1. Charles Shaw

2. Pinot Grigio

3. Reisling

4.Pinot Noir

5. Merlot

“It is well to remember that there are five reasons for drinking: the arrival of a friend, one’s present or future thirst, the excellence of the wine, or any other reason.” – Latin Proverb

Here are some suggestions for How To Wine Taste:

Sight

1. Lift your glass up against a neutral background (preferably white) to get a general impression of the color and clarity. Observe how clear and bright the wine looks and take note of any cloudiness. Brillant wines are clear and with no haze to the color. Also examine the degree of color and take note if it is: bright purple (typical of young red wines), ruby and browny-reds (ageing red wines), or brown and dull in appearance (often indicates oxidation).

Smell

2. Swirl the wine around gently, holding your glass by the stem or foot, in order to release the aroma (forward smells that come from the grape) and bouquet (subtle scents that develop as a result maturing and oak aging).

3. Stick your nose in the glass (don’t be shy) and sniff the wine, concentrating on the smell and of what it reminds you. There are so many descriptors for smells, but most of us have little practice in using them, so we relate a wine’s smells to something similar. For example, you may hear wines described as floral (rose, jasmine, violet), spicy (pepper, licorice), fruity (lemon, apple, cherry, melon) and woody (oak, cedar, vanilla).

Taste

4. Take a sip and work the wine around your mouth for several seconds. This is called “chewing,” and should present more flavors on your palate to taste. With the next sip of wine, in addition to chewing it, purse your lips and suck a little air through the wine before swallowing. Feels a bit funny at first, but you should be able to taste/smell even more of the wine this way because you have “aerated” it, deliberately releasing its aromas. After you’ve swallow the wine, note the flavor in your mouth once it’s gone. This is known as the finish.