As the cold weather sets in, many of us are tempted to baton down the hatches and stay indoors. Hosting an informal wine tasting provides a welcome change from movie nights – plus, it’s a great way to stay out of the cold and get to know your wines with good friends and family.

Durbanville Hills cellar master Martin Moore has five fantastic ideas that will help you be your own sommelier and ensure a memorable wintry soiree.

How to take your awesome dinner parties up a notch? Make it a wine party. Photo by Jay Wennington on Unsplash.

1. Pick a theme and a format

The options are endless – from a simple tasting to a sit-down pairing and dinner, it’s up to you. Moore points out that blind tastings are a fun twist if you have friends who are familiar with their wines.

2. Build your guest list

Now that you have your theme and format, you’re ready to let everyone know you’re hosting a party. “Keep in mind that an enjoyable wine tasting is best kept to fewer than 10 guests. You want people to engage with the wines – while also mingling and getting to enjoy their favourite varietals,” says Moore.

Keep things intimate so everyone gets a bit of everything. Photo supplied.

3. Select your wines

Moore recommends focusing on red wines, because their velvet taste and full-bodied profile tend to work well in the chilly season. “My fire-side wine of choice would have to be the merlot, as it boasts so much character. Merlots are produced in a distinctive New-World style that is big, brawny, juicy, fruit-forward and stylistically very similar to cabernet,” says Moore.

He explains that you can choose your wines by region – such as award-winning Durbanville, Franschhoek, or Stellenbosch areas – or other criteria such as varietal (like pinotage or merlot) or vintage (the year in which the wine was produced). “When your wines arrive, cover them with a brown bag to hide what your guests will be tasting – an element of surprise adds to the experience,” Moore adds.

Pick up a few bottles of Durbanville Hills. Photo supplied.

4. Pick the perfect food pairings

Wine pairing is easy with a little research – and good-quality wines. “Red wines open up a world of opportunity for winter dishes,” says Moore. “A good merlot pairs beautifully with grilled, smoked, or charred foods. Marinades with sharper flavours will be echoed in a dish. Be careful of pairing merlot with fiery foods, as this will increase the perception of the alcohol in the wine while accentuating the bitter and astringent nature of the tannins.”

Because chocolate goes with everything. Photo supplied.

He adds that if you’re planning to go ahead with a simpler pairing, such as cheese and wine, perfect matches for merlot include Boerenkaas, Emmenthal, Camembert, Red Leicester, and mild cheddar. He cautions against strongly flavoured ones like blue-veined cheeses.

For variety – and to accommodate the white-wine lovers – Moore recommends including a chardonnay, paired beautifully with lighter foods like grilled fish. “Your pairings are mostly dependent on the wine you want to serve for the night, and on the type of tasting you are looking to do – you can then find the perfect meal to accompany the wine.”

5. Make magic with the details

The perfect party means paying attention to the smaller things – which ironically have a big impact. Using wine glasses made specifically for white or red wine can make a big difference in bringing out the flavour profiles of the wine. Moore clarifies: “Red wine glasses look more like a bowl and are usually larger, while the white wine glasses are ‘U’ shaped.”

Wine definitely counts as magic. Photo supplied.

Lastly, he concludes that making sure you have the other essentials – such as a spittoon for excess wine, fresh water for rinsing, and palate cleansers – will take your wine party to the next level.

To purchase any Durbanville Hills wines, visit Vinoteque or contact Durbanville Hills directly.