Wine flights are a great way to gather friends for a casual evening spent learning about and tasting different wines. Use these simple steps to host your own wine flight party.

Choose the Wines

Focus on three to six wines centered on a theme, and have guests bring a bottle of wine to share. The theme could be wines of the same varietal (e.g., all pinot grigio or zinfandel); the same winery but different varietals; wines from the same region (such as Spain or Argentina); or those from the same vintage.

Set Up

Have spit buckets, a sink to rinse out the wine glasses, and notepads and pens to capture options on hand.

Theme Food

Offer a variety of small bites. Plan three to four per person.

Two Wine Flights to Try

Pinot Noir Wine Flight Party

1. Erath Pinot Noir (Oregon): Taste berries and plums in this bottle.
2. La Crema Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir (California): Low acid with a mix of fruit flavors.
3. Meiomi Pinot Noir (California): Savor the blueberries and mocha flavors in this varietal.

Regional Wine Flight Party

1. Chateau Ste. Michele Harvest Select Riesling (Washington): Sweet with a peach-forward taste.
2. Cline Ancient Vines Zinfandel (California): Strawberries and chocolate lead the way in this bottle.
3. Meiomi Pinot Noir (California): Oak and spice come together in this bold varietal.