How To Host Your Own Wine Tasting At Home In 5 Easy Steps

Want to host a wine tasting for your friends and family? Leeder Quay has got you covered every step of the way.

We won’t deny enjoying a cheeky glass to ourselves every now and then, but we’ll agree that wine is best enjoyed with good company. Why not host our own wine tasting at home. You’ll be surprised how easy it can be with the help of independent wine retailer Solomon Leeder, Chief Tasting Officer of Leeder Quay.

Housing an impressive collection of value-for-money wines sourced from family vineyards that are exclusively available in Hong Kong through Leeder Quay’s site and Mui Wo store, you’ll be spoiled for choice. Did we mention the bottles can be delivered straight to your door for free? Read on for how to pick the right theme for your at-home wine tasting, what to prepare and more…

Choose A Theme For Your At-Home Wine Tasting

Try your favourite type of wine from a number of different regions. Alternatively, if there’s a region you prefer, you can sample a variety of wines unique to that area? You can also taste your way through similarly styled wines (bold reds, dry whites or dessert wines for example) or choose according to your budget.

You can sort through Leeder Quay’s wines by arranging the list by price, region or variety. Click the “Surprise!” option and you’ll be led to a small curated selection of wines that is refreshed every month. You’ll want to select three to five bottles, and it might help to taste the wines yourself prior to your tasting. Head to Leeder Quay’s cosy Mui Wo store and ask its friendly staff about its “try before you buy” offer or stay for bespoke free wine tasting.

Study Your Wines

Once you’ve made your final selection, do a bit of research. Look up the producers of each bottle and find out if there’s anything special about their vineyard and the grapes used in their wine. Familiarise yourself with the tasting notes and flavour of your selected wines and find out what food pairs well with them. Most of this information can be found through the Leeder Quay website. Jot down some notes so you can introduce the wines to your guests.

You may also want to note the serving temperature suggested by Solomon, 12-18℃ for red wines and 6-8℃ for white wines, and remind your guests to chill the wines that are best served cold ahead of the tasting.

Pick A Date For Your Wine Tasting

Find a time and date that suits everyone, also giving yourself enough time to order the wines and prepare for the tasting. Luckily, Leeder Quay delivers to Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, New Territories and Lantau (including Discovery Bay), and most of its wines are typically ready for pick-up in 24 hours from its Mui Wo store. Better yet, shipping is free throughout Hong Kong upon spending over $799, so you and your friends may want to plan ahead for some future tasting sessions.

What To Prepare For Your Wine Tasting

In a pinch, regular glasses will do, but ideally you’ll want to have proper wine glasses for your tasting. Wine glasses are characteristically wide at the bottom where the wine sits, and narrower at the opening so that the aromas concentrate where your nose will be (remember to instruct your guest to give the glass a little swirl to release the wine’s scent). Leeder Quay has got you covered with a fine set of wine glasses that are used by professionals throughout the wine world for tastings, along with corkscrews, wine filters and more.

Depending on how much of an occasion you want to make this tasting, you could prepare a few nibbles to accompany the wines. Fruit and cheese seem like the obvious choice to pair with wine, but keep in mind that different foods may overpower your wine or react with and alter the flavour of the wine. Keep it simple with some toasted bread or crackers which make suitable palate cleansers between tasting different bottles.

How To Conduct Your Wine Tasting

Download Leeder Quay’s Wine Tasting Cheat Sheet and Tasting Note Template. If you have any questions just send a WhatsApp to the team and they will be more than happy to assist (and join in if invited!).

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Leeder Quay, Flagship Store, 123 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong or Wine & Liquor Store, Shop H, G/F, Seaview Building, Mui Wo, South Lantau, Hong Kong, 7074 0208, Facebook: Leeder Quay, Instagram: @leederquay, www.leederquay.com