A wine tasting party is more fun when you choose a creative theme, like food! Here are our top 10 most requested wine tasting party themes, according to our Wine Guides!
1. Girl Scout Cookies & Wine
Did you know that Thin Mints pair perfectly with Cabernet? You may be surprised by the different flavors you’ll discover when you pair cookies and wine! Girl Scout Cookie season starts around December and can last through March, depending on where you live. You’re buying boxes anyway, so why not pair your cookies with wine for a grown-up excuse to sample all the varieties? Set up and clean up are also a snap with this theme. In fact, there should be an adult badge for this!
2. Sips & Dips
There are many varieties of simply-made and store-bought dips available—from sweet to savory to spicy. That’s why a Sips & Dips theme is a natural choice for a wine tasting party. You’ll save money on the menu, and there will be something for everyone to explore. Our favorites? Check out our Sips & Dips wine pairing cheat sheet!
3. Cheese & Chocolate
Wine + cheese + chocolate = a recipe for sipping success! The only hard part about hosting a Cheese & Chocolate wine tasting is narrowing down the options for your cheeses and chocolates. We recommend offering a range of both rich and light choices, as well as a few with a surprising kick, like a mango cheese or a spicy chocolate. Here’s a cheat sheet to pairing cheese!
4. Potato Chips
Hosting a potato chips and wine tasting might seem like small potatoes, but we’ve found that this theme is a big hit among our wine lovers! Not only is it easy to find a variety of potato chip flavors at the supermarket, but it’s budget-friendly. Plus, who can resist a potato chip? From fiery jalapeño to sweet barbecue, there is a chip for every palate—and a wine to go with it!
5. Mexican Fiesta
Say olé to your favorite Mexican dishes paired with wine. Whether you choose a taco bar or a full feast, you can’t go wrong with this theme. The spicier options built in to Mexican cuisine are perfect for an all-white wine tasting. Semisweet and sweet wines pair very well with spicy flavors—sweet loves heat! Here’s a wine pairing chart for taco night to get you ready to sip and salsa.
6. Christmas/Holiday
Holiday season is the perfect time of year to gather friends and family—and sip wine together. Choose a Christmas cookie swap theme, White Elephant/Yankee Swap gift party, or a more elegant appetizers and wine night. A cookie swap is always a treat because your friends walk away with some new ways to enjoy cookies, plus a tray of delicious cookies to bring home. An “ugly sweater” party is one of our most-requested themes during the season! The photos are priceless and so is the fun. Don’t forget a door prize for the ugliest sweater! We recommend a bottle of wine.
7. Brunch
Hosting a brunch wine tasting is as easy as Sunday morning because there are small bites-a-plenty to share alongside your favorite sips! Think fruit kababs with sweet wine and mini chicken-and-waffles paired with a light Pinot Noir. A sparkling white wine is always perfect for mimosas! You can start there and work your way into bolder red wines that pair with savory meats like breakfast sausage and bacon. Here’s our cheat sheet to pairing wine with a spring brunch for celebrations like Mother’s Day, college graduations, and bridal showers!
8. Pizza
Kinda feels like we can stop right there: Pizza and wine. But seriously, the variety of toppings you can put on pizza makes this wine tasting party theme versatile and fun. A pizza-themed wine tasting is perfect for a flight of Italian red wines because “what grows together, goes together.” Every cheesy, saucy bite can either be balanced or elevated with the right wine. That’s pizza night done right.
9. PJs & Popcorn
Get cozy because a PJs & Popcorn theme is all about going casual. Similar to a potato chips wine tasting, popcorn can be seasoned in a variety of ways. You can choose sweet kettle corn or savory white cheddar—even spicy chili lime-flavored popcorn. Our top choice? Buttered popcorn and Chardonnay. Ask your friends to come in their favorite jammies and bunny slippers for the ultimate Instagram-worthy party!
10. Halloween
Be that witch. You know, the one who throws the awesome parties. Encourage your friends to come in costumes and enjoy a wine flight that’s frightfully fun. You can opt for Halloween-themed foods like Mummy Brie and Spinach Dip in a Bread Bowl Cauldron or set up a candy bar. We taste-tested the most popular Halloween candy against our wines and came up with the perfect pairing chart for your party!
Now that you know our big ten wine tasting party themes, which one will you choose? Share your event pics on Instagram and tag us @travelingvineyard.