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Definition: Come Party With Me: Wine Club's 1st Meeting- Tasting Notes Worksheet

partysugar — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 11:58:31 -0800

In order for me and my guests to fully understand the wines we shall be tasting, taking a few tasting notes are highly encouraged. To make it super easy (this a party and not a class) I've created a wine club tasting notes worksheet. You can download it, print it out and use it at your own wine club meetings. Or if you are sampling a new wine and want to remember it at a later date, print one out and fill it in. For detailed directions on how to fill it in and vocabulary definitions, read more

Start by filling in what you can consider to be the wine's identity. First write the complete name of the wine how it appears on the bottle (ex. Amador Foothill Sauvignon Blanc). If you are performing a blind tasting simply label it Wine A or Wine #1. After the blind tasting is over you can fill in the wine's name, vintage, grape variety, and price range. The vintage is the year that grapes used to make the wine were harvested (ex. 2004). The grape variety refers to the type of grapes that were used to make the wine (ex. 75% Sauvignon Blanc & 25% Semillon). The price range is how much the wine costs.

Now move on to the part that involves the tasting, what you can consider to be the wine's description. There are five major ways to characterize a wine and they are in no specific order: the aroma, color (appearance), taste, body, and finish. I like to be my own wine critic and give the wine my personal score. I do this by rating each of the five categories, with 1 point being the lowest/worst score possible and 20 points being the highest/best. When done with the tasting add up the scores to see where your wine rates. This is important if you are blindly sampling several wines of the same varietal to determine in the end which is your favorite. Remember this is all about you, if you like the way it smells give it a high score and if it tastes bad to you give it a low score.

The aroma is the simple, smell of the grape variety. Basically it is the fragrance of the wine that can include fragrant changes due to the fermentation or aging process used to make the wine (ex. intense, lime, grapefruit, spicy). If the aroma is complex, intense, and with many layers it will have a high score. If there is little to no aroma or an off-stinky smell then give it a low score.

The body alludes to the texture or weight of the wine in the mouth (ex. rich, well-rounded). A high scoring body will feel perfectly smooth in the mouth while a low scoring body will feel like it is either too heavy or too light.

The taste is basically the flavors of the wine and how it tastes (ex. citrus, melon, tropical fruit). A higher score generally consists of a balanced, structure, taste with several flavors detected and a lower scored taste lacks balance, structure, and has no distinct flavors.

The finish is the final impression that remains in your mouth after you have swallowed the wine (ex. lingering). A distinct, smooth, rich lingering finish is ideal. A wine with tastes and flavors that end abruptly with no after taste is considered lacking.

If you happen to note a great relationship between what you are eating and what you are sipping, there is a space to write what foods pair well with the wine. At the bottom of the tasting notes chart there is a list of helpful vocabulary that may aide you in filling in the pages.

Once you have figured out your personal score and opinion of the wine, share it with us on TeamSugar in the Wine Cellar group.

Come Party With Me: Wine Club's 1st Meeting - Music

partysugar — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 06:55:18 -0800

Lately I have been reading a lot of books about wine and they all say the same important message: the best way to learn about wine is to taste as many and as much as you possibly can. Thats why I am forming a wine club. By inviting a small, intimate group of friends to each bring a bottle of the same varietal of wine, I hope to refine my palette and ability to judge aromas, flavors, and finishes. The first meeting is coming up (perhaps meeting isn't the best word to describe event, it's more of a party) in which we celebrate a love and appreciation for wine while learning about what we are drinking. I know education and alcohol rarely go hand in hand, but in this case they do. I began preparing for this party on Monday when I made invitations that can be changed each month. On Tuesday I talked about the menu, on Wednesday tips for successful sipping, and yesterday the look. Today I must come up with a soundtrack for the get together so come party with me. read more

At certain parties the role of the music is essential for setting the mood. This is one of those occasions where you must not leave the playlist until the last minute. It should not be forgotten because it is as significant as the wine and the menu. A lovely, pleasant sound in the background will add an air of sophistication that this party deserves. Steer away from playing anything trendy and hip, instead opt for festive music without lyrics or with lyrics in another language. Smooth, soulful jazz is a great selection or, if you prefer, something a little more exotic. Ravi Shankar's music is interesting. Brazilian Bossa Nova and Buddha Lounge mixes are crowd pleasing options. Argentina's Juana Molina's music is a mix of piano, guitar and electronica that makes for a mellow background.

If your meeting revolves around a wine from a specific region (mine does since we are tasting a Spanish Rioja), select authentic music from the area to enhance cultural awareness. I'll play Vincente Amigo's Un Momento En El Sonido and the new (to the US at least) Ojos de Brujo Techarí.

Got a great suggestion for the musical selection for this party? Tell me about it below!

Come Party With Me: Wine Club's 1st Meeting - The Look

partysugar — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 06:57:13 -0800

After I graduated from Cal, I was scared by the thought that my education was officially over until I realized that while my school education was over I would never stop learning. Now instead of having to study subjects required of me I could study what ever I wanted: cooking, baking, current events, tennis, and knitting. In January I decided to further my admiration for the culinary world and fully understand wine. To aid in my quest for wine knowledge I am forming (and challenging you to do so with me readers!) a wine club that will meet monthly to discover, taste, and appreciate a distinct varietal of wine. I've made post card invitations (post card invites are great because you save money on postage!) that can easily be customized on my computer each month, planned a small, simple menu of savory and sweet appetizers to pair with the wine we will be tasting, and organized the tasting. Now I am envisioning the look of the wine club so read more

Think back to your favorite classrooms at college, what made them comfortable and inviting? You want to capture that educational essence when you are arranging the decor for your first wine club meeting.
Start by selecting a location for the meeting. Will you host it in your own home, at a friend's house, or at an outside location such as an event center or favorite bar? I looked into hosting it at a wine bar but at most places clients are expected to consume wines from their collection. For now, I am having the party at my own home.

Be sure to clean and organize your space, you don't want guests to feel embarrassed because your clean laundry is waiting to be folded and last night's dinner is still in the sink.
Create a warm, glowing, alluring feel to the room by lighting lots of candles.
Replace super bright light bulbs with gold hued 'candle-light' bulbs for rosy lighting.

If you will be tasting wine in a room that has a fireplace, make it your focal point. Adjust your furniture to sit around the fireplace instead of the television to promote discussion and conversation about the wines you are sipping.

Just as changing your placemats can transform the look of your kitchen, changing your throw pillows can change the look of your living room. Add texture and richness by tossing in a few ruby-hued pillows in plush fabrics like satin and velvet.
Fill a vase with a bouquet of sunny early spring flowers to add a burst of bright life.
Make sure all of your wine glasses are cleaned, polished, and waiting for the guests' arrival.
If you prefer to have the club sit around the same table check to see if you have enough chairs for everyone to sit leisurely.

Have a handful of writing utensils ready and waiting for guests to make notes and score the wines.
For a quick, easy centerpiece fill your favorite decorative bowl with fresh grapes.

What is the look for your wine club's 1st meeting? Tell me about it below! Tomorrow I'll be talking about the soundtrack for this party so stay tuned.

Come Party With Me: Wine Club's 1st Meeting - Tips

partysugar — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 06:55:13 -0800

I've invited a group of friends to my house to taste and learn about wine once a month and the club's first meeting is coming up! I'm very excited to take an educational experience and translate it into a party. Together, in a non-threatening environment, we will discover and discuss, sip by sip, new varietals of red, white, or sparkling wine. After all the best way to become an expert on wine is by drinking it! Although the wine is the focal point, I will be offering a few small savory and sweet bites to cleanse our palettes between tastings and to fully appreciate the flavor of the wine. I encourage you to come party with me by starting your very own wine club! To see what wine I'll be tasting at the first meeting and for essential wine club tips, read more

The perfect size for a wine club is 10-15 friends.
Be sure to choose friends who are interested in learning about wine and who you enjoy drinking with.
Next select what type of wine you want to focus on at your first meeting. I chose my favorite red wine, a Spanish Rioja.

Red wine is weather appropriate for the colder months, like now, so save your favorite whites for the summer when the weather is hot.
Another idea (thanksKbella) is to alternate red wine with white wine each month.
Host a blind tasting by covering each of the labels of wine and pour each guest a small 2-3 ounce serving in order to sample each of the wines.

As the hostess, be sure to put one non-Rioja (or the red wine of your choice) wine in with the group of wines you are tasting. This is to see if guests can identify the difference tastes between the varietals.
If the wine you are tasting is produced in several different regions of the world, assign each guest a distinct area to cover. For example Chardonnays are produced in many locations including but not being limited to Napa, Chile, and France. Ask one girlfriend to bring a bottle from Napa, another to bring one from South America, and another to bring on from Burgundy.

Remind guests to research her or his bottle online before attending your event. That way they can provide informed knowledge on what you should be "tasting."
Ask guests to bring a wine tasting notebook in case they are interested in taking notes.
Create a wine tasting notes worksheet to fill out while you sample each wine.

Come Party With Me: Wine Club's 1st Meeting - Menu (Sweet Appetizers)

partysugar — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 11:55:41 -0800

I am hosting my very first wine club meeting very soon. I've invited a group of fabulous friends to my house, asking each one to please bring a moderately priced bottle of Spanish red wine. We are going to cover the labels for blind tasting and then judge the flavors of each bottle ourselves. I hope you decide to start a wine club for you and your friends. To encourage your personal appreciation of wine, I'm providing you with an easy play by play plan to host your first wine club meeting. Yesterday I made a fun little wine label postcard invites and today I am assembling recipes for a small menu of tasty bites to pair with the wine and cleanse the palette. I've already revealed two super easy savory appetizer recipes that will complement a full bodied red wine, but to take a look at a little sweet finish to cap off the night, read more

The wine is the main event here but I can't help but offer a little sweet and salty treat in the form of homemade Chocolate Covered Almonds!

Chocolate Covered Almonds
From Martha Stewart

2 1/2 cups unblanched whole almonds(13 ounces)
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 pound semisweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

Heat oven to 350°. Toast almonds for 15 minutes on a baking sheet.
Line two baking pans with parchment paper; set aside.
In a medium saucepan, combine granulated sugar, 1/4 cup water, toasted almonds, and cinnamon. Cook, stirring constantly, until sugar becomes golden and granular and almonds are completely coated and separated.
Pour nuts onto prepared pans.
Chill in freezer, about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, place chocolate in a medium bowl; place bowl over simmering water until melted.
Transfer half the chilled almonds to a large bowl, and pour half the melted chocolate over nuts. Stir until nuts are thoroughly coated.
Transfer nuts onto prepared baking pan. Using two forks, separate nuts so none stick together. Return almonds to refrigerator until chocolate has set, about 20 minutes. Repeat with remaining almonds.
Place cocoa powder and confectioners’ sugar into two separate bowls. Toss half the nuts in cocoa and half in sugar, and gently tap off any excess powder. Store separately in airtight containers for up to 1 month.

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What sweet appetizers are you planning on serving at your first wine club meeting? Please tell me about it below. More on this party tomorrow, I'll be talking the how-to and inside-outs of hosting a successful wine club fete.

Come Party With Me: Wine Club's 1st Meeting - Menu (Savory Appetizers)

partysugar — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 06:56:13 -0800

If you're like me, you may find learning about wine from a textbook or a super-know-it-all-wine snob-sommelier intimidating and daunting. Thats why I've decided to start my own wine club! This week I am hosting the first official wine club meeting and I've challenged you readers to join me on this adventure by creating a wine club of your own. The point of a wine club is to expand taste horizons and wine knowledge while surrounded by a supportive group of friends who are learning with you. Yesterday I made postcard invitations out of a collage of wine labels, and today I am assembling recipes for a small menu of savory/sweet taste treats. To see my serving suggestions, read more

At my meeting we will be sampling a Spanish red wine called Rioja, so I want foods that are savory and complement this wine nicely. I'll offer an assortment of salty marinated Spanish olives, and make a Baked Goat Cheese Tapa and Savory Bacon Biscuit Bites. Do not make too much food as the wine is supposed to be the shining star at this party.

Baked Goat Cheese Tapa
From Swill Party

3-5 garlic cloves, minced
1 small onion, minced
1/4 teaspoon oregano
2 tablespoons olive oil
28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
salt and pepper to taste
1 goat cheese log (any size)

Heat olive oil in a medium pan over medium heat. Add garlic, onion and oregano. Saute until transparent.
Add the can of crushed tomatoes, salt and pepper.
Simmer for 20 minutes and let cool.
In blender or food processor, process sauce until smooth. Pour into a shallow baking dish which can go from oven to table.
Place goat cheese in the middle of sauce (sauce should come halfway up the cheese). Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes until cheese looks slightly melted and sauce is bubbling. Serve with crusty bread, bread sticks or crackers.

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Savory Bacon Biscuit Bites
From Swill Party

8 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 medium tomato, seeded and diced
1/2 sweet onion, minced
1/2 cup mayonnaise
4 oz. Swiss cheese, shredded
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 16-ounce can refrigerated buttermilk biscuit dough (regular size)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Lightly grease 2 mini muffin pans with butter or olive oil.
Mix bacon, tomato, onion, cheese, mayonnaise and basil.
Separate biscuits in half horizontally and press each half into muffin tin.
Fill with bacon mixture. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden.
Only have one pan? Just repeat and bake.

Makes 24 bites.

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Check back later today for the rest of my wine tasting menu (I'll feature a tiny sweet treat to round out the menu!). What type of wine are you going to sample at your first wine club meeting? What do you plan to pair with it? Tell me about it below.

Come Party With Me: Wine Club's 1st Meeting - Invites

partysugar — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 06:56:32 -0800

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’clock

PartySugar’s House, San Francisco
RSVP 415.444.5555, friends welcome
Please bring a Spanish Rioja for the 1st tasting

I 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.

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