Host a Wine Tasting

Why not host a wine tasting this month? It's easier than you might think. Start by choosing a theme. Whether you choose French Chardonnays (try Red Bicyclette Chardonnay) or California Zinfandels, your theme will inspire the tasting. Then send out an invitation to a few friends. A beautiful invitation sets the tone, so be as creative as you like.

Now gather the ingredients. Buy four different bottles of wine. Be sure you have a clean glass for each person, a pitcher of water, and a corkscrew. Set out a fresh baguette, several sliced apples and pears, and a sampling of fresh cheeses. When your guests arrive and are ready to taste, encourage them to swirl the wine, to notice the aroma, to comment on the feel and the finish. For a dash of mystery, try a blind tasting. Cover the label of each wine bottle and tag the bottle with a number. Invite your guests to keep notes about each wine-by number-and at the end of the gathering, reveal the labels.