A splash course; Wine tasting parties offer a primer on reds and whites

Debbie Choate is best known for leading her fitness classes in sets of squats, crunches and biceps curls.

But for one night last month, the Salisbury personal trainer put down the weights and instead led her clients and friends in lifting wine glasses filled with a selection of whites and reds.

Choate turned her Bodytrends gym in Salisbury into a venue for a wine tasting presented by The Traveling Vineyard.

The Traveling Vineyard is to wine what Tupperware is to kitchenware and Lia Sophia is to jewelry. The Massachusetts-based, direct-sales company stages at-home, and, in Choate's case, after-hours, tastings that are designed to increase guests' enjoyment and understanding of wine in a social setting while promoting sales of its products.

Choate said she considers herself like most people ­— she likes wine, but always wished she knew a little more about the varieties available or what to serve for different occasions.

"I was interested in learning more about it, but when I would see a wine course listed, I either couldn't do it or it was expensive," she said.

She got the primer she was looking for after attending a Traveling Vineyard tasting at neighboring Skyy Salon & Spa. She joined guests in learning how to tell the difference between various wines and the correct way to appreciate a glass. She also discovered some tips on wine and food pairings designed to enhance the flavors of both.

"I really took the time to taste the wine, without any distractions," she said. "You really paid attention to what you were tasting."

Choate enjoyed the experience so much she decided to host her own tasting at Bodytrends.

"There are more and more stories I've been hearing about wine being healthy for you," she said, explaining her pairing of wine and her fitness center.

During the tastings, which are free, a wine consultant from The Traveling Vineyard selects five bottles from the company's primarily exclusive collection of boutique wines. The host invites 15 to 30 guests and works with the consultant on a menu of foods designed to compliment the wine selections. The day of the party, everyone gathers to sample the wines, learn a little about each vintage, enjoy some food and have fun.

For Choate's party, consultant Tourie Fleming presented guests with two whites (pinot grigio and inzolia from Italy), two reds (a three-grape mix from Spain and a malbec from Argentina) and a dessert wine (a muscat from Italy). The bottles ranged in price from $14.99 to $19.99. Choate supplied a spread of food tailored to go with each selection. Guests sampled the wines from light to full before ending with the dessert wine, rating the selections on a score sheet as they went.

In between each wine, Fleming-offered some advice on tasting wine. For example, she told the group how to determine the fullness of a wine: swirl it around in the glass a bit and see how much adheres to the side. The more that adheres (the longer the "legs" are), the fuller the wine. Water, for instance, won't have any legs.

Fleming said much of wine is personal preference.

"There's no chemistry to it," she said.

After several years as a mail-order wine retailer, The Traveling Vineyard ventured into the in-home wine tasting arena about six years ago in an effort to let customers sample its wines first.

"A lot of people are intimidated about buying and selling wine," said Sharon Syme, a consultant with The Traveling Vineyard. "This actually allows people to try different wines before they buy."

The selections at individual tastings are tailored to the guest list and can feature five bottles of red, five bottles of white or a range of types and tastes. For a group that drinks merlots or pinots only, for example, the sample bottles would reflect that preference. But Syme encourages people to keep their palates open and be willing to try something new.

"I hear a lot at parties people say they don't like red wine," she said. "I encourage them to taste a chianti with a small pizza dish and see what they think."

Choate said she's come away from the tastings with more confidence and familiarity with wine.

"It's a fun, inexpensive way to learn about wines," she said.

Tasting tips

Pour a small amount of wine in your glass.

Check the color and heft (or body) of the wine. Place your hand beneath the glass as you look at the wine for color.

Smell the wine. Don't be afraid to put your nose right into the glass.

Vigorously swirl the wine and re-smell it. Any new flavors or aromas?

Take a mouthful of the wine. Consider its characteristics like sweet/dry, fruit, acidity, tannins.

Sit back and savor. How was the aftertaste? Was the finish long or short?

Source: The Traveling Vineyard

Sample sampling

Here are the five wines served at Debbie Choate's tasting at Bodytrends and suggested food pairings:

2007 Pedretti, Pinot Grigio Venezie IGT, Italy; drink alone or with hors d'oeuvres, fish dishes, omelettes and quiches.

2007 Caleo, Inzolia, Sicilia IGT, Italy; pair with swordfish, tuna and vegetarian dishes.

2002 Palaciego, Crianza, Rioja, Spain; pair with lighter cuts of beef, ham, party wings or pork kebabs.

2004 Ignis, Mendoza Malbec, Argentina; pair with red meats, such as lamb and roast beef, and pasta with red sauce.

Meda Margherita, Moscato d'Asti, Piedmont, Italy; pair with desserts.

Source: The Traveling Vineyard