When we think of learning and school, we often think of sitting at a desk, exhausted, listening to someone teach about something we have no interest in learning. But not all learning has to be boring and tiring. If you love to learn about new subjects and also love wine, we have the perfect pairing for you! A wine tasting right in your living room (or kitchen or back patio, wherever you choose) is the perfect way to celebrate a milestone with friends and family or end a tough week at work. No matter your reasoning for needing to wind down or celebrate, an at-home wine tasting is the way to go. You can choose a theme for the wine you are tasting and learning about or choose a specific country. You can even be surprised with a variety you know nothing about! There are so many ways to make your wine tasting unique to you and your tasting.

6 Ways to Prepare for Your Wine Tasting

  1. Find a company that offers wine tastings
    This is the very first step because it is the foundation for a successful and stress-free wine tasting. Many companies offer the option of in-person wine tastings in their building or virtual wine tastings right from your home. Both are a lot of fun and can be customized to your tasting.
  2. Invite friends and family for your wine tasting
    One way to ensure a fun-filled night with lots of memories is to have others join you for this experience. Once you have scheduled your wine tasting, invite as many guests as you can. This will give you other “classmates” while you learn and have shared memories you can talk about for years to come together.
  3. Eat before your wine tasting
    Whether your wine tasting is at home or in a set venue, you will want to make sure you and everyone in your party eats before the wine tasting. You can all plan to meet at a restaurant beforehand to enjoy a great meal. Or, if your tasting is at home, you can provide food or have a potluck for dinner to ensure no one is drinking on an empty stomach.
  4. Plan your dress for the wine tasting
    This does not necessarily mean you have to dress up for the wine tasting. You can wear whatever you are comfortable in, but yes, it is a lot of fun to dress up and get fancied up for a night out. But just make sure you are comfortable and also plan for colors and clothing that you are okay having wine spilled on. Accidents happen to everyone, so it is best not to wear your favorite white dress to a red wine wine tasting. Just keep the event in mind when picking out your clothes so you do not end up having a miserable night instead of a fun one.
  5. Enjoy learning something new at the wine tasting
    Wine has such a rich and fascinating history, and every flavor will bring a new story with it while you learn about it with friends and family. There is so much to learn about wine, the region it is from, the history, the grapes, and the list goes on. Go to the wine tasting with an open mind to learn something new about a subject you are probably a lot more interested in than algebra or science.
  6. Make memories and have fun
    Ultimately, the entire point of a wine tasting is to be both educational and fun. Plan to have a good time, forget your worries for a bit, and make memories with those you are with. Wine tastings are amazing ways to bring people together in a relaxed atmosphere while having fun during each portion of the wine tasting.

For the more serious wine enthusiasts, there are wine courses you can take to simply further your wine knowledge or begin a career in the world of wine. Bartenders, waiters, waitresses, sommeliers, sales departments, and more all benefit from wine courses and learning more about wine. There are so many industries nowadays that benefit from a broader knowledge of wine, including businesses that have nothing to do with wine. Imagine being able to share interesting facts or information about the wine that has been ordered at a business luncheon or offering suggestions for pairings. Things like that help you stand out from competitors and help spark interesting conversation.

Even if you are not looking to further your career with wine courses, they are still a great way to learn something new. If wine is something you are interested in or passionate about, a wine course is a great way to meet other people like yourself and learn something new while you are there. At Capital Wine School, our instructors work to keep the courses fun and interesting while also sharing their knowledge of wine. Learning does not have to be dull or boring, and we make it our goal to share our knowledge and passion for wine with everyone who attends our courses or private wine tastings.

You can view our schedule here for our educational wine courses or click here to find out more or schedule a private wine tasting in the Washington DC area. We cannot wait to help you plan your event and make it a night you and your guests will never forget.