Free wine tastings in Kansas City
Do you keep buying that same ole, same old chardonnay because you really like it or because it's just OK and you feel it's better to stick with what you know rather than taking a chance on something new? In this muddle-through economy, you don't want to waste your money on a bottle that's a dud for your taste buds.
That's where local wine tastings come to the rescue. They allow you to taste a wide variety of wines at one time and help you zero on in new wines you might like. You'd want to test drive a new car before you bought it, wouldn't you? Well, wine tastings allow you to do the same thing: try before you buy.
Tasting opportunities are plentiful in the metro area and the best thing is most are free. By the way, the wine intimidation factor at these tastings is zero. They are usually stand up, walk around affairs, where you go from table to table requesting the wines you want to taste. Most folks who show up just want to socilaize, have a good time and maybe discover a few tasty new wines.
Starting on Thursday, May 21st, as part of the Prairie Village Shopping Center's "Third Thursday on Tomahawk," Rimann Liquors of Prairie Village is offering a taste of South American wines from 6 - 8 P.M., including exotic varietals like malbec, bonarda, torrontes and "wild ferment" chardonnay. That same evening, Riverside Red-X is hosting its more elaborate and varied spring tasting from 5 - 7 P.M. Literally dozens and dozens of wines will be poured and wine sales representatives will be on hand to discuss the wines and talk about the individual wineries, if you're so inclined to ask. The Red-X always puts on good showing of wines and sometimes a party breaks out in the middle of the tasting.
Speaking of Rimann Liquors, their Lenexa location hosts a themed wine tasting every Saturday from 1 - 5 P.M. This Saturday, May 23rd, the featured varietal is pinot grigio, the increasingly popular white wine that is approachable, food friendly and the perfect summer thirst quencher.
This weekend, a Kansas winery, Wine Barn is hosting an open house tasting, Saturday and Sunday, 12 - 5 P.M. In Wyandotte County, just down the street from the Kansas Speedway, Wine Barn will be pouring all sixteen of their wines, which include vinifera, French hybrid and native American grape varietals, as well as better known types like cabernet sauvignon and zinfandel. Plus a selection of fruit and dessert wines.
Berbiglia is putting on it's annual summer tasting extravaganza next Thursday, May 28th, from 6 - 8 P.M.at their 103rd and State Line store. OK, so it's not exactly free, but for $5, you get to keep your high quality Riedel tasting glass (an $11 value). Over seventy-five new wines, as well as spirits and beers will be poured. This one's always a fun event.
One of the not so well kept wine tasting secrets is that the CVS store at 75th and Wornall has a wine tasting on Friday evenings from 5 - 7:30 P.M. Though due to this being a holiday weekend, there will be no tasting on May 22nd. However, wine tasting resumes the following Friday, May 29th. Usually a dozen or so wines are available to taste and the selections are based on which wine distributors are pouring that evening. Always well attended, it's like a scaled down Red-X tasting, but on a weekly basis.
Finally, there's no magic involved in finding out about these free tastings. Many wine stores send out e-mail newsletters to their customers. If you click on the wine stores listed over in the right column of links and sign up, (or visit their web sites regularly), you'll be able to plan an entire free wine tasting agenda.