For my husband and I, during our year of being intentional in our marriage, we've been exploring at home, date ideas! While we LOVE an evening away, the ability to spend an evening together (after our minions have gone to bed), doing something fun and boozy, has been very exciting!!
One of our most recent evening dates, was hosting an at-home- wine tasting event, for two!! While I wouldn't consider either of us seasoned wine enthusiasts, we both enjoy a casual glass now and again, and this wine tasting date was a fantastic way for us to explore different varieties, expand out palate, and create lasting memories together!
First things first, if you know me, then you know that I like to go all out, and I knew I had to set the scene for our wine tasting soiree perfectly! From the inviting atmosphere with soft lighting, to elegant table settings (without random Lego pieces and shards of dried out playdoh), and of course the gentle background music to enhance the overall ambiance. Although the variety of wine glasses, decanters could have been more interactive, this man is married to me none-the-less so a kids plastic cup for one, an actual wine glass for another, and our tried and true grungy cups allowed for the experience to be a bit interactive and engaging. And hey, also stayed true to our true dynamic. The dim lights, lit candles, soft music playing in the background, and the decorated table scape certainly enhance our romantic atmosphere!
Selecting the Wines
The key to a successful wine tasting is variety.
When choosing the wine for our tasting, my goal was to aim for a diverse selection that showcased various regions and styles. I opted for some red and whites, a sparkling wine and rose to close out our well-rounded tasting experience. To take it a step further next time, I plan to curate a selection based on a theme such as "New World vs. Old World Wines" or "Italian Wine Exploration."
Wine and Food Pairing
Of course you can’t have a wine tasting date without snacks, so there was a charcuterie of cheeses, fresh fruits, decadent chocolate, and fresh bread to create a harmonious balance of flavors. Had the date been extended to include friends, I would have been sure to offer a carefully selected food pairings that complemented each of the wines. It was fun experimenting different pairings and it was really intriguing to see how food can enhance and even alter the taste of each wine.
Tasting Techniques
Before diving into the wines, I made sure that we both took a moment to familiarize ourselves with some basic tasting techniques: we observed the wine's color and have a swirl to release the aromas, and we enjoyed discussing the flavors of which we were tasting. As we finished each sample, we shared our impression of each and the laughter was unreal! I thoroughly enjoyed hearing my husband discuss the body and acidity of each wine, and although a sommelier would be thoroughly disappointed by our lack of knowledge, we were none the wiser.
Tasting Blind
What’s a date without a blindfold (haha – just kidding, mom don’t read that).
To add a playful twist, we incorporated a blind tasting challenge- my husband and I took turns pouring the wines without revealing their identities, and then we tried to guess which wine we were tasting base don our previous observations. Adding this interactive, and silly game, added an element of mystery and excitement!! And surprisingly, not being able to see the color of the wine nor the bottles to choose from, certainly made for a more difficult challenge.
The Perfect Ending
As the wine tasting came to a close, we made sure to savor the final sips of our favorite wines and reflected on the flavors and moments shared. And of course, you can't finish off a bottle or two of wine, without ending on a sweet note- a toast to love, laughter, and the joy of our experience! Cheers to an unforgettable at-home wine tasting date!After all the bottles had been opened and tasted, a glass or two or three or four enjoyed, it was fun to share which wines were our favorite! I felt so official with my newfound insights from our tasting and the memories we made were great!! The goal of our at home wine tasting, was not just to savor great wines in variety, but to create an atmosphere where we could spend an evening together, sipping and chatting, just the two of us!
As parents, it can be difficult to find time to spend a date night out, so if you are looking for a unique and enjoyable at home date idea, I highly suggest you try your take at this!! My husband suggested that we try a whiskey tasting next time, and hey, he might be onto something!! I certainly look forward to extending an invite to our friends and bonding over our shared love of wine, and friendship!
So why wait? Plan your at-home wine tasting date today and embark on a sensory journey that will leave you both smiling and sipping in delight.
Cheers to good company, great wines, and unforgettable moments shared around the tasting table!!
Remember, the best wines are the ones we drink with the ones we love.
Cheers!! Kelleen
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