While some companies are still going full steam ahead with their in-person holiday party plans this year, others are remaining cautious, designing virtual events for employees—especially as the Omicron variant looms large like the Grinch. Always a popular party idea, a virtual wine tasting allows attendees to sample vino while social distancing without dampening the holiday spirit. We asked some industry pros to share their tips on hosting a digital sipping shindig.
Virtual wine experience streaming service VIVANT recently launched its private events service, VIVANT For Business, that’s designed to connect colleagues, family and friends via an engaging and educational event format. “More than anything, people are looking to connect with one another. They miss the office watercooler talk and want to enjoy each other's company without talking shop,” says VIVANT’s WSET-certified wine advisor Charles Bonnay. (WSET, which stands for the Wine Spirit and Education Trust, is globally recognized as the international standard in wine and spirit education.)
VIVANT For Business offers immersive journeys in the Loire Valley, Bordeaux or Burgundy, allowing participants to meet wine producers making pesticide- and herbicide-free wines while sampling via tasting kits containing the featured organic wines.
VIVANT For Business has three different group options for a minimum of 10 people: the Social Hour ($75 per person), the Team Adventure ($95 per person) and the Executive Getaway ($125 per person). The experiences are customizable for an additional fee.Photo: Courtesy of VIVANT
Which wines work best for a virtual wine tasting?
“Any type of wine is great for a virtual wine tasting,” Bonnay says. “Virtual tasting knows no borders and has the ability to show the diversity of the vast world of wine.” VIVANT For Business features six organic still wines that come packaged in 100-milliliter tubes. “The perfect amount to taste and then go back to compare the wines with one another,” he adds.
Alyssa Taylor, director of wine education and customer experience at Amlière Imports and Argaux, a women-operated and -owned online wine shop and educational platform, creates experience-based kits and sommelier-guided tastings, says that “I honestly think anything goes for sipping at home on a virtual tasting. My forever motto: drink what you like.” She adds that half-size (375 milliliters) or smaller bottle formats have become very popular.
Argaux’s Blind Tasting Kit (starting at $100) is an interactive tasting experience for groups to learn about wine and different regions. The kit comes with two to four bottles of wine wrapped to conceal their identity and a guide with instructions on how to taste, an overview of varietals and regions, tips and tricks and more.
Atlanta-based online wine retailer Starbright Wine founder Rachel Katz says that her team usually recommends two to three wines, depending on the duration of the event. “I'd say a fun rule to stick by for this time of year is go with something bubbly, something familiar and something surprising. You can't go wrong with bubbly to kick things off—a sparkling rosé [such as Ultraviolet Sparkling Rosé] is a nice way to offer something refreshing and approachable.”
She continues, saying that “a familiar white wine will ease everyone in. Stick to white wines with more acidity like a Sauvignon Blanc or Grüner Veltliner. People tend to have very set opinions about the white wines they like (or don't like) to drink, and those two varietals tend to keep everyone happy.”
Lastly, Katz says that she loves to surprise guests with a unique red wine. “Whether you go lighter than expected or choose an unfamiliar region or a new grape, this is where the fun happens. Always start from a place of familiarity, explain why this will be enjoyed, then bust out the fun facts,” she suggests. “Whether it’s more savory than expected, bolder yet balanced or just downright chug-able, it's a fun way to hopefully introduce your guests to something new.”
What about snacks?
The best food pairings will depend on the chosen wines, exploring different tastes and textures—but Katz says that she “always recommends having something salty like an olive or cornichon, something sweet like a sliced apple or dried apricot, a nut like a pistachio or walnut, and neutral cheeses that won't overwhelm the wines,” adding that easy go-to options include young goudas, manchego and ricotta salata. Bonnay adds that fresh, crisp and acidic white wines pair well with aged, salty hard cheeses.
“Cheese is always a no-brainer option to have alongside wine,” Taylor says. “Additionally, crackers, pretzels, nuts or really anything with a little substance can also be helpful in between sipping. My personal favorite snack: potato chips and Champagne. If it's wrong, I don't want to be right.”
What about nonalcoholic options?
To accommodate the nondrinkers, Katz says that she likes to share a recipe for a quick and easy alcohol-free spritz. “Send your guests a nice bottle of sparkling seltzer and include a satchel of holiday flavors like a sprig of rosemary, the zest of an orange, a cinnamon stick or star anise, and a fresh orange, lemon or lime, and have them drop their preferred seasonings right in,” she says.
Taylor suggests trying nonalcoholic sparkling wine, such as Leitz Eins-Zwei-Zero from Germany. She also recommends including accouterments. “Our team recently created a bundle that includes some thoughtfully curated kitchen essentials. It's a perfect set to give to those not participating in the drinking portion, but allows them to still feel included.”
Bonnay explains that even if some guests aren’t wine drinkers, the company’s virtual experiences “create a sense of wanderlust,” and “there is still so much to learn and enjoy even without tasting the wine.”
In October, gifting platform Sugarwish acquired Vinebox, a wine service known for its expert-led tastings and gift boxes.Photo: Courtesy of Vinebox by Sugarwish
Vinebox Wine Tastings by Sugarwish: Send a three, six or nine wine flight box via text or email; pricing starts at $44.
Delicious Experiences’ The Joy of Wine Tasting and Pairing: Sommelier Etheliya Hananova will guide you through the basic techniques of wine tasting, teach you fundamental vocabulary and offer guidelines for pairing wines with food.
Vini Ventures: a virtual wine-tasting company founded by Toronto-based entrepreneur Michelle Paris
Virtual With Us: a network of sommeliers offering tasting experiences
Meet Virtually: sommelier-guided wine and whiskey tastings in a virtual format for groups of up to 300
