- Blind Tasting Challenge
Materials Needed:
- 4 to 6 covered wine bottles (label hidden)
- Numbered wine glasses or scorecards
- Pens and tasting cards
- Reveal cards with wine type, region, and notes
Rules:
- Pour guests samples from numbered bottles.
- Guests write down guesses for each wine’s type (e.g., Merlot, Chardonnay), country of origin, and tasting notes.
- After all tastings, reveal the wines and tally correct answers.
Prize: A bottle of premium wine or a tasting journal
- Cheese or Fiction
Materials Needed:
- List of real and fake cheese names (printable cards or slides)
- Buzzers or bells (optional)
Rules:
- The host reads out a cheese name (real or invented).
- Guests must guess “real” or “fake.”
- Keep score of correct guesses. Add fun facts for bonus points.
Prize: Artisan cheese board set or gourmet cheese sampler
- Build-a-Board Contest
Materials Needed:
- Selection of cheeses, charcuterie, fruit, nuts, crackers
- Cutting boards or trays
- Gloves, knives, and display cards
Rules:
- Break guests into teams or pairs.
- Each group builds the most visually appealing and balanced cheese board.
- Judge based on presentation, creativity, and variety.
Prize: Personalized mini cheese board or wine stopper set
- Pair That Wine
Materials Needed:
- 5 types of wine (or photo cards of them)
- 10-15 food cards (cheeses, meats, fruits, nuts, chocolates)
- Scorecards and pens
Rules:
- Guests try to match each wine to its ideal food pairing.
- Each correct match scores a point.
- Include decoys for added difficulty.
Prize: Pairing guidebook or a set of mini wine and cheese samples
- Wine Trivia Throwdown
Materials Needed:
- Pre-written trivia questions (grouped by category: regions, grapes, wine history)
- Scorecards
- Optional buzzer for added drama
Rules:
- Ask questions in rounds (individual or team-based).
- Multiple choice or open answer allowed.
- Tally scores for each round. Add a lightning round for bonus points.
Prize: “Wine Snob” coffee mug or corkscrew and aerator gift set
- Cork Count Jar
Materials Needed:
- A large jar filled with wine corks (counted ahead of time)
- Entry slips and pens
Rules:
- Each guest guesses how many corks are in the jar.
- Closest to the correct number without going over wins.
Prize: Bottle of wine with a corkscrew or a wine-themed puzzle
- Create-a-Label Station
Materials Needed:
- Blank bottle-shaped cards
- Markers, stickers, colored pencils
- Optional template: “Name your wine,” “Flavor profile,” “Back label story”
Rules:
- Guests design their own wine labels—funny, elegant, or clever.
- Display them for voting. Guests vote anonymously for best design.
Prize: Custom wine label printing kit or set of blank wine bottle labels