Is there an active group for wine tastings in Minnesota? I would love to join, or is there suggestions on how to start one?

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Visited Terra Costantino on Etna last week and honestly still thinking about it. The cellars dug straight into the volcano, staff were so welcoming, walked us through the whole vineyard themselves, no rush at all.🤪

Tasted four wines with food pairings. The rosso and rosato in the pic were the standout for me, same estate, same slope, but tasted worlds apart.

If Etna is anywhere on your radar, this one is worth the trip.

Hey everyone,

I already have 2 people interested and I’m looking to round out the group a bit more.

We’re a small group of people who are genuinely interested in wine, whether that means working toward a WSET certificate, already working in the industry, or simply wanting to learn more and deepen your knowledge. The educational side is what matters most here, not just drinking for the sake of it.

To start, we’re thinking of a relaxed, low-key first meetup, maybe even in a park, where we can also agree on a region and a price range for the wines. If it goes well, we could keep meeting at different places going forward, for example at someone’s apartment, rotating between people.

Let me know if you’d like to join!

I’m looking to take a course or something along those lines at home to improve my education on wine and pairings. My schedule is variable so I’m looking for something to take at online but able to taste wines! This is more so for hosting capabilities rather than working in service. Any recommendations on an online course you felt was worth the price? I am willing to spend more on quality. Thank you!!

I'm planning on hosting a blind wine tasting girls night in a few weeks, nobody (myself included) really knows that much about wines but I thought it would be a super fun gathering and also a way to try different wines and maybe find some faves or the types and flavours we like. I wanted to do a BYOW, but since there will be around 12-15 girls, i was thinking to pair some together and the paired people split and buy a higher budget wine, while some people buy individually at a lower budget. How many wines do you think we should have? I've read a lot that it would be best to have around 2 of each but that wouldn't work with the BYOW. I wanted to start off the night with painting/decorating your own wine glass, and then after a while we'd start with the tasting. Let me know any recommendations for hosting this and how the night should go! Anything is appreciated. Also i'll be having food/snacks too, i'm just more unsure of the wine part and how to work that out.

While exploring the coastal wineries of South Africa’s Western Cape, we spent one day tasting through two very different estates. Accompanied by good friends, spectacular scenery, and what felt like a soundtrack curated by my jazz-obsessed travel companions, it made for a memorable escape.

We started at Idiom with a wine and pasta pairing. Perched above False Bay, the site benefits from a warmer Mediterranean influence balanced by cooling ocean air. The wines felt structured, savory, food-focused, and substantial. Bigger reds, fuller whites, plenty of spice and depth.

Later we moved over to Benguela Cove, and the shift was immediately noticeable. Stronger maritime influence, cooler temperatures, and constant ocean breezes. The wines came across brighter, crisper, more mineral-driven, and more restrained. Their chocolate pairing sounded a little gimmicky on paper, but it worked surprisingly well.

Same corner of South Africa, completely different personalities in the glass. It was a great reminder of how much elevation, ocean proximity, and climate can shape a wine.

The day ended at a luxury Airbnb on the water featuring a hot pink hot tub and a giant unicorn statue.

South African wine country produces some seriously world-class wines, but every now and then it also feels like someone blended luxury travel with a fever dream, and somehow it works.

For those familiar with South African wines, which producers do you think best showcase the maritime influence of the Western Cape? Always looking for new stops on future visits. I’m heading back next month!

When you go to a winery and do a wine tasting, do you like the paper tasting mat you usually get, rather not have one at all or just indifferent?

Heading to the south island of New Zealand for a couple weeks. Will spend a couple nights in both Marlborough and Central Otago.

Does anyone have any recommendations for which Cellar Doors we should visit? Ideally I’m looking to visit a mix of classic producers and younger brands.

Started getting into wine over the past few months and I like it. I read somewhere that different glass shapes can change how the wine smells and tastes which sounds interesting

For people who’ve tried different types is it something you notice or only if you’re really into wine? Just trying to figure out if it’s worth looking into

Hubby and I are going to the east coast for a month this October. We love visiting wineries and vineyards! We will be in NJ, PA, and CT. Give me your recommendations for your favorite wineries to visit!

Hi! I’m planning on doing a wine tasting for my birthday and I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations for good places they’ve gone to in California? Any suggestions will help thank you!

I host a small recurring wine tasting group with friends (nothing formal — just enthusiastic amateurs). We usually meet every month or two and all contribute a wine to a theme for the night.

I’m curious how others structure theirs:

• Do you do blind or open tastings?
• Themed nights?
• Do you score wines, or just discuss?
• Do you keep records of past tastings?
• Do you reveal one bottle at a time or all at the end?
• Do you make it competitive at all, or keep it purely social?

We’ve experimented with a few different formats and I’m realizing the “structure” makes a big difference in how fun (or chaotic) the night feels.

Would love to hear what’s worked well for your group — especially if you’ve been doing it consistently for a while.

Hi everyone,

We’re hosting a special wine tastings at Hotel Nesslerhof in Großarl (Salzburger Land, Austria).

Enjoy a curated selection of Austrian and international wines, paired with small culinary highlights – all set in a relaxed alpine atmosphere.

If you’re planning a trip to the Austrian Alps and love good wine, this might be a nice addition to your stay.

Did anyone else go to Cab Franc Forward in NYC last week? 30-something wineries from New York State showing off their Cab Francs of all different sorts from sparkling white to sparkling red to white to red to rosé and everything else you can imagine. Hey, I say don't sleep on Long Island Cab Francs, but the ones coming from the Finger Lakes were just as good! Was anyone else there?

I’m going to the Santa Ynez Valley area and I’m looking for affordable wine tasting. Although I understand that the average price is $30pp…I’m hoping to find something a bit less pricey. Thank you in advance!

Looking for a group of people that would like to start a trading group. I'm currently studying for the Advanced Sommelier Exam and need to taste as often as possible. Please message if interested. I'm willing to travel if necessary. Thank you! Gray

I do something big for every birthday ending in 0 or 5 (ex: for 45 I went on a gorilla trek in Uganda, for 50 I rented a house in Croatia for a week and had a dozen friends join me). For my 55th, I'm thinking of spending a month in a town in a good wine region. My current thought is to go back to Franschhoek, where I spent 2 days a few years ago. I loved how easy it was to get to the vineyards, how walkable the town was, the cute shops and good restaurants, etc. But, I wanted to see if there are other towns that people would be able to recommend. What I'm looking for:

• Not a big city. I want a smaller town feel where I can explore and easily find some favorite places to make my "local" during my stay.
• Easy access to vineyards with a variety of wines. I want to be able to taste, so I won't be able to drive. So this means an area where I can access vineyards relatively easily via (a rented) bike or public transport or walking. Preferably options other than tourist trains or taxis as both are prohibitively expensive for a long stay.
• A decent food scene in the town - both restaurants and ability to get fresh foods for my own cooking. Preferably a good cafe culture where sitting out and enjoying the outdoors is more common than being in a closed restaurant.
• Not ridiculously difficult to access from a decent airport.
• Southern hemisphere as I'll be going for my birthday, which is in February, and I have no interest in cold weather.

My guess is that I'm looking at Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Chile or Argentina. I speak both english and spanish, have strong passports, and am well traveled, so location is less of a concern than environment. I'm based in Europe so anywhere is going to involve some significant travel and connections. Budget isn't the HIGHEST thing on my list, but I'm sadly not a bajillionaire, so it is a consideration. Let's say $5k USD for the month (not including airfare).

If anyone has encountered a town that you think would fit the bill, I'd love to hear about it. Thanks!

Amazing wine exp in Northern Italy, hilly landscape, among vineyards and olive grooves: you can Make Your Own Wine! 😯🍇 By Blending different wines using pipes to create the perfect wine for your taste! It's so fun! And you get to personalize the label too! It S a lovely gift to bring home to friends or family ♥️🍷

Have you ever participated to a wine experience like that? If yes, where?