When thinking about how to host a wine tasting party, remember that it is all about knowledge and camaraderie. For a successful wine tasting party, think about who you are going to invite, the wines that you are going to choose, and the tools that you will provide for your guests.

The wine tasting party is an ideal place to entertain and to share knowledge. Host and guests do not need to be wine experts. All you need is a shared enjoyment of wine. Some people take wine much too seriously. The important thing to remember is that it is supposed to be fun; keep it lighthearted.

So, What will you need in order to host a wine tasting party?

First thing you need is people, even before wine, you need guests. So who will you include in your guest list? Friends who like wine and are eager to participate. Who will you exclude? Perhaps the neighborhood wine snob. He or she could quickly spoil the fun for everyone. You want to entertain your guests, not bore them, or make them feel inadequate.

Next, you will need wine. Here is where it will get a bit tricky. Which kind of wine tasting party do you want to host? One where everyone tastes the same variety, such as all chardonnay from different regions? Or all white wines, or all red wines? For example, a Riesling, a Sauvignon Blanc, and a Chardonnay from California. As the host, it will be your call.

You also have to decide if you will provide the wine, or if you will ask your friends to bring a bottle. Again, this gets tricky because if you don't give your guests some direction, you will lose control of the process. You are better off providing the wine yourself, but if money is tight, you can assign each guest a specific wine. You should not plan on more than 4 different wines; three will be much better.

Now lets say that you are ready to host a wine tasting party based on moderately priced white wines of the same variety, all from California. Ask Mary to bring a La Crema Chardonnay, and ask Joe to bring a Robert Mondavi Chardonnay, etc. It is better if you don't have a blind tasting, this way everyone can get the wine information from the bottle labels when writing the their notes.

In addition to guests and wine you need a few tools. You will need wine glasses; a glass per wine for each guest, a tasting mat for each guest, and paper and pencils to write down tasting notes. Also, provide water for drinking between tasting.

Now for the tasting. Always start with the lightest-bodied wine. Have each person swirl the wine in the glass. Have them notice the intensity of the color. Whether it is light or dark, bright or dull. Also check to see if there are 'tears', those rivulets that run down the side of the glass. Now have your guests smell the wine. Is the aroma strong or light? Have them take a sip and hold it in their mouth for a bit of time, then swallow. Have each person tell if they can detect any particular flavors or aromas. No one should feel silly if they cannot find 'notes of grapefruit and wild orchids'. Each person can just share whether they like the wine or not, and why.

As far as food is concerned, first concentrate on the tasting. If you want to provide food, some plain crackers or bread would be fine. After the tasting you can serve more elaborate appetizers, or a full meal. If you break up the food to be enjoyed in this way, you won't have to worry about the food clashing with the wines.

That's it; all you need are willing guests, several types of wine, and a few tools. Now you know how to host a wine tasting party. Have fun!

Maria De Alejandro is the publisher of http://www.keepwinesimple.com -- A website dedicated to the idea that wine education should be useful, practical, and fun. We believe that the best wine is the one you love. It's just that the more you know about wine, the more you will enjoy it. Please go to http://www.keepwinesimple.com/Wine-Tasting-Party.html, there you can download free of charge a tasting mat and tasting notes for your guests.

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