Wine in the Hiz-ouse

How to score a free vino tasting in the comfort of your own home.

Dena Simmons wanted to get a few friends together at her house to socialize, but she was weary of Tupperware and candle parties. While searching the Internet for ideas, the 30-year-old came across a company offering home wine tasting parties. She decided to host a party through The Traveling Vineyard because the company promised to teach guests about its wine.

Simmons called Laura Crowder, a wine consultant for The Traveling Vineyard. Crowder, as well as local businesses Vino100 and WineStyles (see sidebar for details), are trying to make wine more accessible and less intimidating by bringing it to Springfield homes.

The best part: Simmons discovered that wine tastings through The Traveling Vineyard are free. Tastings, which include the wine itself, are complimentary because Crowder says her job is to merely market the wine for The Traveling Vineyard. After the party, guests have the opportunity to buy wine from the company.

Crowder, 29, does all of the work: She’ll bring stemware and five bottles of wine—two whites and three reds—to the one-hour sessions. Ten to 15 guests smell, swirl and taste the wines, but they learn about them, too. By the end of the night, guests might be uttering terms usually reserved for the bedroom. Crowder says she teaches guests to use words like “woody,” “nutty” and “luscious” to describe wines. GO Magazine recommends throwing “earthy” into the mix for a really good time.

Crowder teaches partygoers simple skills, including how to use a corkscrew properly. Guys—take note. Digging out the cork with corn-on-the-cob holders during a candlelit dinner is not sexy.

Hosts and guests also learn about food and wine pairings. After the tasting, they can order wine from South America, Australia, Spain, Italy or California for $12 to $20 a bottle. Crowder says her most popular wine is Meda Margherita, a Moscato d’Asti bubbly wine from Italy.

Crowder, a stay-at-home mom, started marketing wines for The Traveling Vineyard in April. At the time, she was by no means a wine expert. “I used to look at what bottle was prettier,” Crowder says. “That was the one I was going to buy.”

She took online courses and now studies each wine before a party. Crowder says she still never calls herself an expert. “I’m an enthusiast,” she says. “I love wine, and I love to tell people about wine.”

To schedule an at-home wine tasting party, contact Laura Crowder at 417-582-0464 or winetastingparty@yahoo.com.

Wanna Keep it Local?

Two Springfield-owned businesses offer at-home wine-tasting parties.

WineStyles
1362 E. Republic Road, 417-882-4499
$50 per hour with a two-hour minimum, plus the cost of wine
Contact: Hallie or Jeff Sale

Vino100
2145 W. Republic Rd., 417-883-8466
Starts at $10 per person
Contact: Matt Bekebrede