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The Perfect: At-Home Wine Tasting

A thought-of-everything shopping list for DIY sipping.

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Green, Product, Bottle, Glass bottle, Leaf, Drink, Line, Liquid, Alcoholic beverage, Drinkware, pinterest

Welcome to "The Perfect," ELLE.com's new weekly franchise, where we lay out exactly what you'll need for the perfect outfit, shopping list, Saturday night, or whatever it may be. In a shopping landscape where the options are endless, consider it a complete snapshot of must-haves.

Wine tasting is one of the great culinary pleasures—and a shame that it's typically experienced only during trips to wine country. Bring the bottles into your own house, along with chic tabletop accessories, the perfect hostess outfit, and, of course, friends aplenty. Food too: Sommelier Charles Ford weighed in with pro guidance on all things wine-tasting, including what snacks to buy and how to truly make your tasting "blind."

"Keep it simple. Charcuterie, cheese, and bread are the best all-around pairings. Research where the wines you're providing are from and find out what food specialties or delicacies they're known for," he said. When hiding the label, don't try to be fancy. "A simple aluminum foil wrap job is acceptable. Putting bottles in brown sandwich bags with a rubber band on the top works too."

1

The Wine

<p>Plan on stocking one bottle per guest. "If you do a comparative tasting, usually the best for learning, choose one grape,"&nbsp;Ford advised. "Tasting the same grape from different &nbsp;regions of the world is how you learn just how different regions can be." Areas to consider:&nbsp;        Swartland, South Africa;&nbsp;        Marche, Italy; and&nbsp;        Costers del Segre<span class="redactor-invisible-space" data-verified="redactor" data-redactor-tag="span" data-redactor-class="redactor-invisible-space"> and the Canary Islands in Spain.</span></p><p><em data-redactor-tag="em">Clockwise from top L: Ciu Ciu Merlettaie, <a href="http://www.ciuciuvini.it/en/wines/white-wines/merlettaie" target="_blank" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link">ciuciuvini.it</a>; Raimat Rosé</em>, <a href="http://www.aveniubrands.com/wines/raimat/rose/" target="_blank" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link">aveniubrands.com</a>; Terre Brulee Chenin Blanc, <a href="http://www.capeclassics.com/our-wines/" target="_blank" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link">capeclassics.com</a>; Dafnios Vidiano, <a href="http://www.cretanwines.gr/en/products-en-m/white-wines-en-m/dafnios-white-en-m" target="_blank" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link"><em data-redactor-tag="em" data-verified="redactor">cretanwines.gr</em></a></p>

Plan on stocking one bottle per guest. "If you do a comparative tasting, usually the best for learning, choose one grape," Ford advised. "Tasting the same grape from different  regions of the world is how you learn just how different regions can be." Areas to consider:  Swartland, South Africa;  Marche, Italy; and  Costers del Segre and the Canary Islands in Spain.

Clockwise from top L: Ciu Ciu Merlettaie, ciuciuvini.it; Raimat Rosé, aveniubrands.com; Terre Brulee Chenin Blanc, capeclassics.com; Dafnios Vidiano, cretanwines.gr

2

The Glasses

<p>Make clean-up easier (and stymie the possibility of favorite glasses being broken) by stocking up on elegant plastic.</p><p><em data-redactor-tag="em" data-verified="redactor">L'entramise Sleek Wine Glass, $1 each; </em><a href="https://lentramise.com/collections/drinkware/products/sleek-wine-glass" target="_blank" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link"><em data-redactor-tag="em" data-verified="redactor">lentramise.com&nbsp;</em></a></p>

Make clean-up easier (and stymie the possibility of favorite glasses being broken) by stocking up on elegant plastic.

L'entramise Sleek Wine Glass, $1 each; lentramise.com 

3

The Wine Stopper

<p>Because the aim of a tasting is never to <em data-redactor-tag="em" data-verified="redactor">finish</em> every bottle you crack, have a designer stopper on hand.</p><p><em data-redactor-tag="em" data-verified="redactor">Kelly Wearstler, $295;&nbsp;</em><a href="http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/ProductDetail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524447024575" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link"><em data-redactor-tag="em" data-verified="redactor" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link">saks.com</em></a><span class="redactor-invisible-space" data-verified="redactor" data-redactor-tag="span" data-redactor-class="redactor-invisible-space"></span></p>

Because the aim of a tasting is never to finish every bottle you crack, have a designer stopper on hand.

Kelly Wearstler, $295; saks.com

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4

The Dress

<p>As the hostess welcoming people into your space, your look should strike the right mix of comfortable and polished. A strong silhouette in right-now gingham does the trick.</p><p><em data-redactor-tag="em" data-verified="redactor">Storets Off-the-Shoulder Dress, $92;&nbsp;</em><a href="http://www.storets.com/felicity-off-the-shoulder-dress-15237.html" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link"><em data-redactor-tag="em" data-verified="redactor">storets.com</em></a><span class="redactor-invisible-space" data-verified="redactor" data-redactor-tag="span" data-redactor-class="redactor-invisible-space"></span></p>

As the hostess welcoming people into your space, your look should strike the right mix of comfortable and polished. A strong silhouette in right-now gingham does the trick.

Storets Off-the-Shoulder Dress, $92; storets.com

5

The Small Plates

<p>No matter your snack menu, having a chic place to stack it all is a necessity.</p><p><em data-redactor-tag="em" data-verified="redactor">Ten Strawberry Street Metallic Dipped Plates, $20 for 4; </em><a href="http://tjmaxx.tjx.com/store/jump/product/4pk-Metallic-Dipped-Plates/1000213708?cs=PDP&amp;rrec=true" target="_blank" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link"><em data-redactor-tag="em" data-verified="redactor">tjmaxx.com</em></a></p>

No matter your snack menu, having a chic place to stack it all is a necessity.

Ten Strawberry Street Metallic Dipped Plates, $20 for 4; tjmaxx.com

6

The Hair Clip

<p>Keep stray strands out of your eyes in order to really focus on the vino at hand.</p><p><em data-redactor-tag="em" data-verified="redactor">Elizabeth and James Hair Pin, $150; </em><a href="https://www.shopbop.com/mitchell-hairpin-elizabeth-james/vp/v=1/1574503977.htm?folderID=13575&amp;fm=other-shopbysize-viewall&amp;os=false&amp;colorId=11739" target="_blank" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link"><em data-redactor-tag="em" data-verified="redactor">shopbop.com</em></a></p>

Keep stray strands out of your eyes in order to really focus on the vino at hand.

Elizabeth and James Hair Pin, $150; shopbop.com

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7

The Notes

<p>Give guests a spot to scribble notes and personal likes and dislikes.</p><p><em data-redactor-tag="em" data-verified="redactor">Hester &amp; Cook Tasting Papers, $16; </em><a href="http://www.hesterandcook.com/products/KP225" target="_blank" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link"><em data-redactor-tag="em" data-verified="redactor">hesterandcook.com</em></a></p>

Give guests a spot to scribble notes and personal likes and dislikes.

Hester & Cook Tasting Papers, $16; hesterandcook.com

8

The Tray

<p>Save time and look good ferrying things from kitchen to couch with a cheerful Lucite tray.</p><p><em data-redactor-tag="em" data-verified="redactor">Parker Thatch Lucite Tray, $168; </em><a href="https://parkerthatch.com/collections/lucite-trays-with-gold-handles/products/lucite-tray-marjorelle-garden-pale-pink-1" target="_blank" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link"><em data-redactor-tag="em" data-verified="redactor">parkerthatch.com</em></a></p>

Save time and look good ferrying things from kitchen to couch with a cheerful Lucite tray.

Parker Thatch Lucite Tray, $168; parkerthatch.com

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