10 Fun Wine Tasting Party Ideas + Matching Invitations

Wine tasting is a fun way to get friends and family together for a chic event. Whether you want to head out to a local vineyard or restaurant, or prefer to plan the celebration at your own home, there are lots of different ways to host a wine tasting party.

That’s why we put together this list of wine tasting party ideas. From themes and glassware to practical tips, food, and activities, you’ll find everything you need to host a memorable party. Plus, we’ve paired each idea with a matching invitation, making it even easier to plan the event.

Sip and Savor These 10 Wine Tasting Party Ideas

Wine tasting is for everyone, whether you’re a beginner or a master sommelier. That makes this party theme suitable for a range of different events, such as:

• A friend’s summer birthday party
• A family member’s housewarming event
• A corporate gathering

No matter your reason for hosting, these wine tasting ideas are sure to give you inspiration to pull off an unforgettable event. 

1. Do a Blind Tasting

Design: Lisa Travis

Invitation Inspiration: Wine Tasting Invitation

For a truly unique tasting experience, set up a blind wine tasting. This is particularly good for people who already enjoy drinking wine and know the characteristics of different types. By making it a blind tasting, guests will use their senses to determine the type of wine and flavor profiles. 

Start by choosing a theme for the blind tasting. Perhaps it will be a white wine or red wine tasting. You can also narrow the tasting down to a specific region (like Italian wines). 

Ask guests to bring along a bottle of good wine (or two of the same wine if you’re having a larger party). Place each wine bottle in a paper bag and label it using a letter (i.e., A, B, C, etc.). Hand out scorecards, and have guests write down ratings and their thoughts on tasting notes for each one as you move through the tasting. At the end, reveal the bottles of each wine, and chat about which ones were your favorites and why!

2. Use Different Wine Glasses

Design: Kid Collective

Invitation Inspiration: Graphic Wine Night Invitation

Wine tasting isn’t just about sipping wine. It’s about a full experience from the sights and sounds to the smells and tastes. That means choosing the right glassware is almost as important as selecting the bottles of wine. 

Help guests truly appreciate the wines you’re tasting by using different types of wine glasses for the correct wines. The different shapes help to release aromas and maintain the structure of the wine.

3. Go to a Wine Region

Design: Signature Greenvelope

Invitation Inspiration: Wine Country Invitation

Make your wine tasting party extra special by turning it into a weekend getaway. Head to a famous wine region, like Napa Valley or Sonoma in California, the Willamette Valley in Oregon, or the Finger Lakes region in New York. Plan on visiting several different vineyards and exploring tastes in different areas. 

If you want to go all out for a special celebration, consider planning a trip to France or Italy to explore local wines there.

4. Do an Around-the-World Tasting

Design: Kid Collective

Invitation Inspiration: Fruit of the Vine Invitation

Can’t take a trip? Bring the flavors of the world to your wine tasting party by taking guests through wines from different regions across the globe. Plan your tasting around regional favorites like:

• Malbec from Argentina 
• Sauvignon blanc from New Zealand
• Chianti from Italy
• Riesling from Germany
• Cabernet sauvignon from South Africa
• Burgundy or Bordeaux from France

5. Mix It Up With Other Tastings

Design: Carmia Jordaan

Invitation Inspiration: Sangria Sketch Invitation

Make your tasting event unique by serving wine selections plus other libations, such as champagne, sparkling wine, or sangria. You can serve this right alongside the regular wines like merlot, pinot noir, and chardonnay, or add them on to the end of the tasting as a final treat.

6. Hire a Sommelier

Design: Claudia Owen

Invitation Inspiration: Wine and Dine Invitation

For an elegant and elevated affair, hire a sommelier to guide you and your friends through a professional tasting. This wine expert can provide options tailored to your preferred tastes and offer an educational component that makes the evening more fun. 

7. Serve Charcuterie

Design: frau brandt

Invitation Inspiration: Cheese Board Dream Invitation

No successful wine party is complete without elevated appetizers. Charcuterie is one of the top pairings for wine tasting parties, featuring an array of cheese and meats that pair well with different wine types. 

Other items to consider include bruschetta, nuts, olives, and fresh fruit. Crackers and dip or quiche are other alternatives to include at your wine tasting party. Spend some time researching foods that pair well with your chosen wines for a cohesive experience. 

8. Host an Old World vs. New World Tasting Event

Design: Signature Greenvelope

Invitation Inspiration: Wine Pairing Invitation

This fun and mildly competitive event pits Old World wines from places like France, Spain, and Italy against New World wines from South America and Australia. 

First, plan your tasting to go through the Old World wines, focusing on their history, terroir, and traditional production methods. Then, move on to the New World wines, which can be more experimental and innovative. Pair your foods to match the different types of wines, and spend the afternoon discussing the different styles with your friends.

9. Create a Playlist

Design: Jen Montgomery

Invitation Inspiration: Wine & Wrap Invitation

Set the scene for a wonderful afternoon tasting great wines by creating a relaxing playlist. You can match songs to the theme of your event (French music if you’re planning a French wine tasting or songs from around the globe if you’re planning a worldly event). If you’re throwing a wine and wrap party, you can put together a holiday playlist with the most popular songs of the season.

10. Make It a Dessert Party

Design: Vera Lim

Invitation Inspiration: Floral Wine Bottle Invitation

Wine tasting isn’t just for afternoons. Turn your event into an evening soiree with a dessert wine tasting. Hire a private chef to prepare specialty desserts that pair with complementary wines. 

Alternatively, ask guests to bring along a dessert and a paired bottle of wine. Spend the evening indulging your tastebuds with sweet treats and different varietals.

How to Host a Wine Tasting Party

Planning a wine tasting party is easier than it seems, especially if you break it down into easy-to-follow steps. Here, we’ve put together a quick guide on how to plan a wine tasting party.

Set a Date and Choose a Venue 

Start by deciding when you’re going to host the event and selecting a venue. You may want to check with potential guests beforehand to see if there’s a day and time that best suits everyone’s schedules. 

Once you have the date, think about whether you want to have the party at home or at a local venue, like a restaurant, country club, or local vineyard.

Decide on a Theme and Select the Wines

Next, pick a theme to plan the event around. From regional focuses to types of wines, there are plenty to choose from. Once you have the theme, it’s time to pick wines! 

If you’re having guests bring the wine, be sure to create clear criteria to help guide them on what to bring. If you’re buying the wine yourself, head to the store and choose bottles that pair well with your theme. 

Aim for good bottles of wine that are moderately priced. That way, everyone should enjoy the tasting, whether they’re beginners or more advanced tasters. If you’re hosting an event with a sommelier, they can help you pick the right wines for your event.

Plan the Food

Consider what types of food you want to serve with the wine. Consult wine pairing guides to get ideas about the best types of appetizers to provide. You’ll also want to decide if you’re serving snacks at the event or a more elaborate sit-down meal.

Make the Guest List and Create Invitations

Now it’s time to make the guest list and send out your digital invitations. When deciding who to include, keep in mind any limitations based on the venue space and your budget. 

On your wine tasting invitations, include the location, date, and time of the event. Be sure to add any additional details, such as a dress code, instructions on wines to bring, and the tasting theme.

Set Up the Event Space

Finally, all that’s left to do is set up the event space for the big day. If you’re working with a local winery, they may take care of the hard work for you. If you’re hosting the event at home, you’ll want to make sure you have all the supplies, from wine glasses and spittoons to serveware and napkins. 

Create a Memorable Wine Tasting Event

With these wine tasting party ideas and our how-to guide, you have what you need to plan a wine tasting event for all types of occasions. Once you’re ready to tell guests about the big celebration, browse our entertaining invitations to find the perfect wine-themed design.

Customize the invitation by changing up the wording, adjusting the color scheme, and modifying the typography to match the formality and theme of the tasting. You can even add wax seals for a truly elegant affair or select music to set the ambiance for the evening right from the start. Once you’re done customizing, send the invites in seconds via SMS and email.