Wine Writing Team on June 26, 2020 0 Comments When you can’t make it to a winery or tasting room, but want to keep up your wine knowledge, a virtual wine tasting is a great way to learn and connect with other wine lovers. All you need is a computer, internet connection, wine glass and wine and you are ready to experience a virtual tasting from the comfort of your home. Whether you’re enjoying it alone or hosting a virtual tasting of your own with friends, here’s what you need to know about virtual wine tastings. What is a virtual wine tasting? A virtual wine tasting allows you to sit back and relax while you sip your way through different wines from the comfort of your couch, kitchen, covered patio or space of your choice. Many wineries will ship the tasting kit to your door so you can join the winemakers, wine educators or even winery owners on video platforms such as Zoom or Facebook Live. Step 1: Select a Virtual Tasting There are two routes you can go when choosing a virtual tasting. The first is a free wine tasting experience. You purchase the wine and register for the free event. The second is purchasing a virtual wine tasting kit from a specific winery that will ship the wine to you. If you’re looking for free virtual tasting experiences check out the upcoming events on Wine.com: Virtual Wine Tastings at Home with Wine.com Experiences. If you’re looking for virtual wine tasting kits from specific wineries check out the Food & Wine article: The Best Virtual Wine Tastings to Enjoy from Home Right Now Step 2: Schedule Your Virtual Wine Tasting If you are doing a free event on Wine.com, before you register you can read the description of the event, learn more about the wine experts who will be hosting the tasting, and find out which wines will be featured. You can purchase the wines ahead of time on your own or have them shipped to you. If you are signing up for a wine tasting kit from a winery, some wineries have recurring tastings on the same day and time each week, while others allow you to schedule a private virtual tasting or will reach out to you to schedule. Step 3: Set Up for Your Virtual Wine Tasting First, decide if you will be doing the tasting on your own or organizing a virtual tasting to do with friends. In either case, here are some helpful tips to make it a success: Send a virtual invitation ahead of time using an online platform like Evite. Make sure you allow plenty of time for the wine to be delivered or for guests to go purchase their own. Store the wine correctly until you’re ready to open it for the tasting event. Let guests know what video software is being used and how to access it so they can test it ahead of time. If you are hosting a small gathering at your home, a good rule of thumb is keeping it to 10 people or less. Since there are 24 ounces in a standard wine bottle, that allows each guest to have a 2-ounce pour of each wine. Gather your supplies. This includes the wine, glassware, notepad or tasting grid, any cheese pairings you might be including, water crackers for palate cleansing, spit bucket for unwanted wine, water, and your tech setup. Sit back and enjoy! Virtual wine tastings may not offer the same experience as being at the winery, but they are a great way to still be able to sip with other wine-lovers, discover new places, do some research, and decide where you will be taking your next wine tasting trip.
