Hosting a private wine tasting at home: your checklist
A table, a curious group and a few decisions made ahead of time: a practical guide to preparing your tasting at home.
In this article
To plan a wine tasting at home, start with your venue, your guests and what you would like to discover. The wine selection follows from there. Whether you are hosting friends in Marseille, family near Aix-en-Provence or visitors in a holiday rental, a few clear details will help shape a session that suits everyone.
Choose a question your group wants to explore
“We enjoy wine, but we find it hard to describe” is a perfectly good starting point. You might want to explore Provence, compare different colours or understand which wines could suit a particular dish. Choose one main aim so there is time to discuss the bottles rather than hurry through a long programme.
Describe your guests’ experience without assigning them a level. Some may have a wide knowledge of wine; others may be attending their first tasting. Mention your preferred language too. Nadine Rosier, a consulting sommelier, hosts sessions in French and English. A bilingual group benefits from planning so everyone can join the conversation.
Describe the space, even when it is your own living room
Allow enough table space for glasses, water and a few notes. Include the number of seats, access to running water and the space available to keep bottles cool. If you are thinking of using a terrace, have an indoor option ready for wind, rain or hot weather.
WSET recommends a tasting environment free from strong smells. Put scented candles, diffusers and strongly scented cleaning products away from the table. Prepare intensely aromatic food elsewhere, or arrange the cooking for another part of the day.
References: WSET — How to prepare your palate for tasting (24 avril 2026)
- Share the full address, floor and whether there is a lift.
- Explain where equipment can be unloaded and what parking is available.
- For a holiday rental, check the host’s conditions and the equipment inventory.
- Give access times, the guests’ arrival time and your preferred finishing time.
Agree on the timing and group size
Nadwine’s usual private format is approximately three hours for up to twelve people. The exact duration, theme and wines need to be confirmed for your event. Allow time for setting up and clearing away when you plan the rest of your day.
If a dinner will follow the tasting, discuss it separately. Who will choose the menu, buy the ingredients, cook and serve? Mention relevant allergies or dietary requirements when food is planned. The catering arrangements need to be agreed alongside the wine session, with a clear role for each person involved.
Confirm who provides each item
Before booking, agree on what the host and Nadwine will each provide. Your conversation and quotation should cover the same practical points. This helps everyone prepare the right equipment and avoids last-minute problems with glassware or fridge space.
| Item | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Wine | Who selects, buys and transports the bottles? |
| Glasses and accessories | Who provides glasses, corkscrews, spittoons and tasting sheets? |
| Water and food | What will the host provide, and what needs a separate arrangement? |
| Set-up | When does it start, and how much space should be cleared? |
| After the session | Who clears the equipment, and who keeps the remaining bottles? |
State your overall budget and what you want it to cover. Wine, travel, equipment and any meal are separate points to clarify. Nadwine is based in Belcodène, with a priority focus on Marseille, Aix-en-Provence and the wider Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. Travel elsewhere in France can be discussed through a tailored quotation.
Give everyone time to make their own observations
A simple way to follow a tasting is to look at the wine, smell it, consider how it feels in the mouth and then draw a conclusion. These are the broad stages used in WSET’s tasting framework; guests do not need its full vocabulary to take part.
References: WSET — How to train your palate (2026)
A small sheet with three prompts can be enough: what do you notice, what surprises you, and would you like to try this style again? Encourage everyday descriptions that mean something to the person using them. Provide water, spittoons and the option to skip a wine. Everyone should be able to join at their own pace.
What to include in your first enquiry
- Your preferred date, an alternative if possible, and your timings.
- The address, access details and space available for the tasting.
- The number of guests and the languages they speak.
- Your main question or theme, with any preferences or wines to avoid.
- Your overall budget and the equipment already available.
- Whether food is planned and which responsibilities need to be agreed.
Sources and references
- WSET — How to prepare your palate for tasting (24 avril 2026)WSET · Accessed .
- WSET — How to train your palate (2026)WSET · Accessed .
Ready to plan?
