A wine flight party is a great way to experience new and unusual wines with an intimate gathering of friends. The flight, or two–ounce tasting pour of three or four different wines united by a common theme, encourages experimentation, conversation and wine education. The following series of three wine flights is centered around sparkling wines, Rieslings and, finally, reds from the Italian Piedmont.

Sparkling Wines

A great way to start your party is with sparkling wines, which are perfect aperitifs. Three different sparkling wines from different regions can be compared for fruitiness, minerality and yeastiness: Champagne (Sparkling wine produced in the Champagne region of France using a blend of only three grapes, chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier); Cava (white or rosé sparkling wine produced primarily in the Penedés region of Catalonia, Spain, using macabeo, parellada and xarel–lo grapes for whites or granache, mourverdre and pinor noir for rosés); and Prosecco (sparkling wine made from the white prosecco grape grown in Italy's Veneto region). Accompaniments: oysters on the half shell with minionette and assorted cured olives.

Rieslings

Riesling is a grape varietal that originated in Germany and is known for its balance of fruit and mineral flavors. Three Rieslings from different regions can be compared for crispness, complexity and sweetness: Australian Riesling; Austrian Riesling; Alsatian Riesling. Accompaniments: bacon–wrapped medjool dates and peppered peaches.

Italian Piedmont Reds

The Piedmont region in Italy is best known for its intense and complex Barbarescos and Barolos. Compare these with a Barbera (the second most widely planted red varietal in Italy after Sangiovese) and a Dolcetto (literally "little sweet one," an early–ripening grape grown in the northwest area of Piedmont that makes light and fruity wines) for color, tannins and references to such fruits as currants, blackberries and raspberries. Accompaniments: thin–sliced salumi and fresh ricotta cheese served with toasted bread.

Quick Tips

- Include a pre–printed menu at each place setting with wine information and food pairings.
- Make pencils available for guests to jot down wine notes on the backs of their menus.
- Each pour should be two ounces, so plan on one bottle of wine serving approximately ten guests.
- Use the proper stemware for each flight. For tips, see our Illustrated Guide to Wine Glasses.
- When tasting sparkling wines, a large red wine glass rather than a flute will allow the aromas to fully develop.
- Set up the wines at the center of the table for easy reference during each flight.
- Chill white and sparkling wines in wine buckets.
- Keep your guests hydrated: include a water glass at each place setting and pitchers of iced water on the table.
- For fun, try a blind tasting. Mask the identity of each wine with paper bags and challenge your guests to name the wine, its region or its varietal.
- For entertaining ease, serve accompaniments family–style on large, passable platters.