If you think wine tasting shindigs are all uptight and full of wannabe sommeliers, meet newlyweds Anu Karwa and David Moricca, founders of Swirl Events. They’ll show you how to make pouring and pairing fun, easy and anything but stuffy.

The recipe for a great tasting? Eight guests, six wines and an evening that flows smoothly. Here’s how:

Week of party Buy cheese, nibbles and two bottles of each wine. This gives 8–10 tastings per bottle, plus an extra bottle of each. Provide a champagne, white and red wine glass for each guest.

30 Minutes before Remove cheese from fridge and arrange it on a platter (hint: use name tags!). If you refrigerate your truffles like Anu does, take them out now.

20 minutes before Remove white wines from fridge and open them. Chill reds in the fridge. Arrange the fruit, almonds and crackers on a few platters and set out your wine glasses.

Start of party Hand your guests glasses of prosecco so they’ll have a festive drink to sip. Remove red wines from the fridge and open them so they can breathe for 20 minutes.

15 minutes into party Start your tasting! Pour and taste in this order: sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, then pinot noir, shiraz, malbec. Serve each wine with a cheese pairing (see next page).

45 Minutes into party Now that your tasting is winding down, open up a second bottle of each type of wine and fill up guests’ glasses. Kick back and discuss your favorite vinos!


Photo by Steve Giralt

Photo: Steve Giralt