CHLOE Magazine Spring 2015 Volume 5 Issue 3 | Page 176

CHLOE MAGAZINE Angela Aiello - Writer, Educator, Host, Entrepreneur and the Founder of iYellow Wine Club iyellowwineclub.com HOSTING THE PERFECT WINE TASTING party When it comes to hosting, some of us were just born to do it. From the initial planning to the food, décor, wine and music, combining all the elements together for the perfect party gives you a great feeling of accomplishment. Bringing people together is a source of pure pleasure and that’s what your friends love about you! If you’re looking to start planning something fun, here are some quick tips (and wines) to help with the planning. PICK A THEME To make any wine tasting party work, there needs to be a wine theme. Choose one or two themes to be the glue of the event, such as a specific country (like Chile or South Africa), or a grape variety or region. To involve your guests, ask them to bring a bottle or two to contribute to the evening, but also make sure you have a good amount of wine to share from your own cellar. OPEN, TASTE & TALK I recommend having open at least 4 to 6 bottles at a time. Encourage people to taste the wines in small amounts rather than pouring big glasses – this promotes tasting and not drinking. As the host, encourage discussion around the wines by explaining why you chose the theme, and asking people to share why they brought the wine they did. SWIRL WITH GREAT GLASSWARES Good glassware helps wine taste better – it really does! So show off with some great crystal glasses and find one glass that is good for both red and white wines. Try to find a creative way for people to remember which glass is theirs. I’ve used themed stickers on glasses, which adds some fun to the mix. FOOD PAIRINGS ARE A MUST When pairing food and wine, always pair the weight of the w