Wine tasting is basically a national sport in South Africa. With award-winning wineries found across the country, wine not take advantage and spend the day sipping away?

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, people are advised to stay home as much as possible. However, if you still really want to host a bridal shower then you can bring it to the safety of your home. Create a DIY wine tasting experience for your closest friends with these easy steps.

Create (and stick to) a Guest List

This may seem like an obvious first step when planning an event, but there is always someone who doesn’t RSVP and shows up anyway. Gently remind everyone you invite that you need a definite yes or no answer. The last thing you want is thirsty friends and not enough wine and glassware to go around.

“Extra” is Just Enough 

Wine is an inherently fun theme for a bachelorette party or bridal shower, but why not make your event as Insta-worthy as possible? Create a fun bar or bar cart, deck your tables out with florals or tossed confetti, or incorporate fun signage to make your venue really pop! You can also have fun with your food. Cheese and crackers always pair well with wine but offer your guests something sweet as well as a macaron tower or petit fours.

Pick Your Poison 

It may be best to stick to a specific type of drink on the day. Mixing alcohol can be dangerous, so avoid sipping on gins to wine to beer in one sitting. Once you decide the type of alcohol you want to serve, it’s time to choose the different brands. Choosing four to six different brands is just the right amount to have enough variety and keep your guests sipping pretty.

Winner, winner

Help identify the winning bottle by setting up a wine scorecard. This allows your guests to track their notes and assign numerical values to each wine. Lastly, don’t forget enough pens (to write with, duh) and water (to cleanse the palette) for each attendee.

Execution

Remember the four “s’s” (see, swirl, sniff, sip). Have your gals take the time to really enjoy and savour each sip. Invite them to judge the appearance, aroma, body, taste, and finish of each wine in front of them. Although the responses are based on an individual’s taste, it is a great way for your friends and family who don’t know each other to bond over likes and dislikes.