So many times, people have approached me and said, "I want to host a wine tasting party, where do I begin?"

Hosting a group of people who really enjoy wine or want to learn more about wine can be an incredible time. Whether small group/high-brow/übergeek education focused, or super laid-back/mill about/large gatherings, there are a number of things to consider when planning a wine tasting event.

To add another viewpoint, I spoke with another Milwaukee wine geek named Nate, Nate Norfolk.

Nate is a Certified Sommelier, sells wine for Purple Feet Wine Co., and is co-founder of Professional Wine Consultants with the only Certified Advanced Sommelier in the state, Toni Johnson.

The First Big Decision
The choice between a formal event and a casual one dictates everything. It sets the mood and the anticipation for your guests. Fancy clothes and fancy food? Or do you kick back in khakis with your feet up and serve-yourself platters?

The most important thing the choice between the two determines is the quality of the wines. The more formal the event, the higher the quality of wine. Typically, a formal affair will set the tone for fine food, serious thought regarding the wine, and the understood paradigm that everyone is there to dissect, analyze and learn. The casual affair, on the other hand, may or may not focus directly on the wine or food. Chances are, the wine may only be a second thought or an excuse to get people together. Step one when thinking about your wine event? Black tie or blue jeans?

The Full-On Sit Down
When planning this type of event, I would highly recommend starting off by securing the capable services of Nate Norfolk and Toni Johnson. The intricacies of this type event are such that, if you haven't done it before, there are many details that are easily missed.

First, determine whether you are going to prepare the meal yourself, have it catered or collaborate with your guests. If you plan on cooking yourself, keep the guest count low and plan a sensible meal. Throwing down a 10-course selection from the French Laundry Cookbook will get you two things: a stress headache and exactly no time with your guests.

Catering is a sound option if you trust the chef and have the money to pay for his/her services. Collaborating with your guests or keeping the menu smart and relatively easy are the two best options, in my opinion. Next, if you need pairing assistance from the pros like Nate and Toni, plan the food first. The possibilities of wine pairings are limitless. After this, handle the education portion appropriately based on your guests. If they are well-versed semi-snobs, then you can have Nate talk about the intricacies of soil substrata and the fresh quarried alabaster scent subtly emanating from your $200 bottle of Corton-Charlamagne.

Otherwise, make sure that the education never detracts from the enjoyment of the evening. The goal is for everyone to have a fun evening, not to impress them with your knowledge.

The Bridal Shower or Pizza Party
Milling about parties are on the opposite end of the spectrum form the formal sit down. They can still be educational, but instead of focusing on regions, varietals or vintages, they need to be centered around style and theme. The theme can be focused on the wine or the occasion, but the food and wine function more as sustenance and lubrication for conversation than anything.

Wine and cheese can be a great format for bridal showers or other casual get-togethers. Choosing tapas or small plates (appetizers) from a particular region can be fun to pair with, or gourmet pizza can present a fun challenge as well. Whichever format you choose, it can, again, be most fun to collaborate with your guests. Have each guest research a particular cheese and then find the appropriate wine pairing. That way each person can share what they learned with the group. It's also a great way for personalities to shine - you will notice just how different the selections will be.

If you are going to host yourself, employ the expertise of Nate and Toni if you need help with cheese/food and wine selections. If you have your guests each bring something, make sure to set a price range. The last thing you want is for one couple to bring a super-expensive bottle to show off making everyone else feel cheap. Plastic plates and paper napkins are the serving wear of choice for these casual events.

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Posted by hammerschmidt53092 on Sept. 28, 2009 at 1:55 p.m. (report)

HA! Funny I am having a wine tasting in October, so your article, of course caught my eye. I usually have a wine guy come to the house. He brings the wines, talks about the wines, we taste the wines and can buy the wines. BUT, this year I am having everyone bring two bottles of their favorite wine, sparkly, port, cognac, or for the few that just do not like wine that much, beer. I am going to tag them with where they bought the wine and how much it cost. With the one main rule of it does not have to be expensive just something you really like. Everyone is really excited and I am hoping for a really fun event.