How to Host a Memorable Blind Wine Tasting Night With Friends

How to Host a Memorable Blind Wine Tasting Night With Friends

There’s something magical about sharing wine with friends—but why not take things a step further and turn it into a blind tasting evening? It’s fun, interactive, and a great excuse to open a few mysterious bottles. Whether you’re a seasoned wine lover or just looking for a playful evening around the table, this guide walks you through everything you need to host a successful blind wine tasting dinner.

Step 1: Set the Scene (and the Date)

A blind tasting is best done with 4 to 8 people. More than that, and it becomes hard to keep everyone focused. Send out invites a bit in advance and let everyone know the concept:
“Each guest brings a bottle of wine—covered and anonymous—and we try to guess what’s in the glass!”

🪑 Setting: Your kitchen table, a terrace, or even a living room floor with a few cushions. Cozy and informal works best.
🍽️ Food: Keep it simple and wine-friendly. Cheese boards, charcuterie, bread, olives, and maybe a dish or two to enjoy after the tasting.

Step 2: Choose a Theme

Having a theme helps keep the tasting focused and comparable. Some easy themes to suggest to your guests:

• All reds / all whites

• Only wines under CHF 25

• Same grape, different countries (e.g. Pinot Noir from CH, FR, and NZ)

• Old World vs New World

• Swiss wines only

• Funky Naturals or Orange Wines

📢 Make sure everyone knows the theme beforehand so they can pick a suitable bottle.

Step 3: Prepare for the Blind Tasting

Ask each guest to:

1. Bring one bottle of wine.

2. Wrap it in foil, paper, or place it in a wine bag—no labels visible!

3. Number the bottle discreetly (1, 2, 3…).

Pro tip: Have someone else shuffle and pour the wines so even you stay in the dark!

You’ll need:

• One glass per person (per wine, ideally)

• Spittoons or empty jars (optional, but handy)

• Water + bread or crackers to cleanse the palate

• A printed or digital tasting sheet (more on that below)

Step 4: Guide Your Guests Through the Tasting

Structure makes things more fun. Follow this simple tasting method:

1. LOOK: Check the color and clarity.

2. SMELL: What aromas come up? Fruits, flowers, spices, wood?

3. TASTE: Is it dry or sweet? Acidic or soft? Full-bodied or light?

4. GUESS: Try to name the grape, region, country, or even the exact bottle.

You can print tasting cards for each wine with prompts like:

• Wine Number:

• Color:

• Nose:

• Palate:

• Guess the Grape:

• Guess the Country:

• Personal Rating: /10

Step 5: 🕵️ Let the Games Begin!

Turn the tasting into a friendly competition:

1. Guess the Wine

• Each person writes down their guesses.

• After all wines are tasted, do the big reveal!

• Award points for correct grape, country, region, vintage, etc.

2. Personal Favorites

• Everyone votes for their top 3 wines.

• The wine with the most votes is crowned “Wine of the Night.”

3. The Price is Right

• Each guest tries to guess the price of the wine.

• Closest guess wins bragging rights.

🏆 Optional: Prepare a fun prize for the winner—a small bottle, wine opener, or free invite to the next tasting.

Step 6: Transition to Dinner & Conversation

After the tasting, move on to food and serve full glasses of the favorite bottles. This part is where the conversation flows, laughter gets louder, and wine becomes the social glue.

💡 Pro tip: Take notes of everyone’s favorite bottles—you can even create a shared list later via WhatsApp or email with links to where to buy them.

Step 7: Capture the Night

Take photos of the table, the bottles, the reactions during tasting, and your guests enjoying themselves. These make for great memories—and social media content (don’t forget to tag @lerouxvins 😉).

Final Tips

• Avoid overdoing the number of wines. 5–6 bottles is perfect for focus and fun.

• Have a spittoon handy for those who want to sip and stay sharp.

• Mix wine knowledge with a good dose of laughter—this is about fun, not snobbery.

• Keep the atmosphere relaxed and inclusive, even for total wine beginners.