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The top three reasons why I’ll never qualify for the oenophile category, despite my longing to be elevated from a casual wine consumer to connoisseur:

1. My inability to deny a good old grocery store bargain.
2. My occasional tendency to go for quantity, not quality.
3. The fact that when my partner cheekily describes a glass of wine as having “a slight hint of fermented grapes,” I can’t help but to laugh at him (and admit that I can’t come up with a more apt description).

Now don’t get me wrong. I’ve played along with the glass-swirling, aroma-inhaling, spittoon-spitting wine aficionados at some beautiful wineries (and wholeheartedly enjoyed myself/aspired to fit in). But my best memories of wine tasting—at a quiet vineyard on Australia’s Mornington Peninsula, a modest cellar off a side road in the San Juan Islands, and in my own kitchen—remain my best memories, not because of the number of points the wine earned, but because they encapsulated an entire experience, a distilled moment in time.

To me, whether it’s that classic vintage almost too good to crack open or a bottle of two buck chuck, wine is only as good as the company you share it with (and yes, I consider being alone good company too). So, hinging upon the argument that wine should be relished—not stashed away in a cellar—and good company should be savored, I recommend throwing a wine steals or bargain wine party. (I know, you didn’t really need another excuse to throw a party, but just in case…)

Sources of Inspiration: Buy Wine You Connect To

My favorite wine shop in Seattle’s Pike Place Market devotes an unpretentious section of the store to reasonably priced wines hand-selected by employees. I love perusing the wine crates, stacked like a giant game of Jenga on the floor, because each employee handwrites a description of the wine. In layman’s terms. Often with a sense of humor. And always in such a way that I feel like the person is speaking to me through the bottle. This simple source of inspiration—or any other aspect of wine hunting that you love—can become the foundation for a wine party theme.

Thematic Ideas for Throwing a (Bargain) Wine Tasting Party

The basic idea here: simply set a price limit, ask each guest to bring a bottle of bargain wine they love (or want to try), and then revel in the fact that an auspicious bottle of wine doesn’t have to mean a meteor sized dent in your wallet. Want to take it to the next level? Here are some other thematic suggestions for hosting a wine tasting anytime, anywhere:

•Pick a theme for guests to adhere to when they select their bottle of wine to bring to the party. The theme may be as simple as local wines or a particular type of grape. You could also ask guests to pair a small appetizer with their bottle. Or, totally scrap any perfunctory taste standards and ask guests to bring a bottle of wine with a label they adore.

•Ask guests to write a brief description of their wine selection prior to the party (an index card should do). This is sure to stimulate conversation and banter, especially as more and more bottles are uncorked.

•As a grown-up, pseudo version of pin the tail on the donkey, come up with a handful of descriptors commonly applied to wines, like bold, fruity, earthy. (Conversely, use uncommon adjectives like perky or sardonic to challenge your guests’ creativity and palate). Make a set of labels for each guest; over the course of the party, they can attach labels to the bottle they think matches the description.

•Design and create a small journal or tasting card for each guest to record their favorite wines as they sample the selections. Use handmade or recycled paper to make a unique keepsake from the party. Get some inspiration from Paper Mojo or Paper Green. Check out how-to steps on Martha Stewart’s segment on creating a recycled paper journal.

•Come up with your own rating system and have friends rate each of the bottles of wine they try.

Savoring the Experience of Wine

I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to distinguish oaky tannins from a slight hint of cloves (nor am I likely to start actually using that spittoon—what a waste!), but I know I’ll continue to appreciate wine for the conversation it elicits, the company it unites, and the experience it represents.

Cheers!

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