I've decided to start my own wine club! Think Oprah is to book club as PartySugar is to wine club. Since 34% of readers fall into the I'm learning about wine category (like myself), I thought it would be a great way to get us all to increase our wine knowledge. So not only am I starting my own wine club, but I am inviting and encouraging you readers to create a wine club as well!
I'll help you plan it so you'll have nothing to worry about. Here's how it's going to work: I'll gather a whole bunch of friends (the more the merrier) to discuss, taste, and develop a flavor for wine. Each month we'll focus on a different type of wine. I'll ask everyone to please bring a bottle of the specified wine (example: Cabernet Sauvignon, French champagne, Spanish Alboriño, etc.), we'll cover the labels and fill out tasting sheets so we can develop personal tastes of the wine with open minds. First thing is first, I have to make and send the invitations. To host this party with me, starting with the invitations, read more
As this party will be a monthly get together, I want the invites to be simple and easily changeable. The details of the party - the location and the wine type - will change with each month. The easiest way to do so is to create postcard invites. The image on the front of the postcard will stay the same and the information on the back will change.
To make this invitation you will need:
- wine book
- scissors
- cardstock in the color of your choice (I chose red)
- gluestick
- computer & printer
- wine label image(s)
To assemble this invitation:
- Start by choosing an image that you really like. You could make a collage using actual wine labels or you could make a photoshopped collage like I did. I found a whole bunch of fun wine labels on the internet and made a collage in photoshop. This will be the back of the postcard.
- Print out your image (or print out my image and cut down to size, 4x6 inches - the size of a standard postcard.
- Next open up a new document in Microsoft Word and write the text of the invite. Remember that you want it to be on one side of the back of the postcard (the left side) so make the details concise and in a smaller font. On the right side you will write the addresses and place a stamp. Write a message with the information, along these lines:
PartySugar cordially invites you to be a member of her recently formed Wine Club, the Vinettes, a group that partakes in a taste journey discovering and discussing sip by sip new varietals of red, white, or sparkling wine
Meetings Once A Month
Every First Friday
Friday March 2, 8 o’clockPartySugar’s House, San Francisco
RSVP 415.444.5555, friends welcome
Please bring a Spanish Rioja for the 1st tastingI used my favorite font, Papyrus, in size 12.
- Print the text on the colored cardstock of your choice.
- Using a pencil outline the shape of the wine label image on the red cardstock. You want the text to be as close to the edge of the left side of the postcard.
- With the pencil drawn line as your guide, cut out the red cardstock to a 4x6 standard post card shape.
- Carefully glue the wine label collage to the back side of the red cardstock.
- Your postcard invite is now done! Wasn't that fabulously easy? Don't forget to use your best handwriting to address the cards.
I hope that you plan and host this party with me! Come back for more on my first wine club meeting, all this week.
Alexander McQueen
Comme des Garcons
Crocs
What a great idea. Im loving this!
1Your phrase "french champagne" is totally incorrect. Champagne is only called Champagne if it is made in Champagne, France.
2There are a lot of American vintners who produce a sparkling wine that they refer to and market as champagne. For actual facts involving French champagne vs. "champagne" (aka sparkling wine produced outside of France) check out Bubbly 101.
3Hey yummers, thanks for pointing out the bit about champagne. But I think calling it "french champagne" is actually a great idea for a beginning wine club. Not everyone realizes that true/real Champagne only comes from the Champagne region of France (the link party posted mentions that a bit). I think if you don't specify, you might have an event where everyone shows up with a bottle of Korbel!
4yeah i just read a book about wine for beginners and partysugar is right about that one. ONLY french wines are marked Champagne if they are made from those. plenty of American winemakers name their bubblies Champagne even tho they are made from elsewhr.
5I'm already in a wine club that's totally similar! We meet once a month and over the last year have worked our way through most of the major varietals, alternating red one month with white the next. To make sure that we minimize the chances of duplicates and to really get a good idea of what's out there, we all sign up for a different country that is known for producing the varietal of the month. We also each research the wine we're bringing to compile some tasting notes (so we can learn what we're supposed to be tasting), and each have our notebook for taking additional notes.
I'm totally intrigued about the blind tasting, though. Maybe I will suggest that for an upcoming wine club to see how our tasting skills are coming along.
It's been fantastic for learning! I highly recommend it!!
6so vintage, love it!
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