Wine Tasting Party

For his early-birthday present, the hubby received "La Nez du Vin," a compilation of the 54 scents (organized in handy little vials) found in wine. It invited a wine tasting, complete with a smell-off to determine who had the most discerning nose. I wired and strung out a big Japanese lantern over the lawn and hauled out the dining room table and chairs. Combined with plenty of tea lights and tapers set into wine bottles and candlesticks, we had plenty of light. And since we enjoyed a surprisingly warm last day of February, an outdoor party was completely comfortable!

Here are some of the details to recreate for yourself:

Candles in Wine Bottles
Tapers are usually too large to fit in the bottle opening. Use a knife to pare the end down a little. It should slide right in.Simple Decorations
Rather than flowers, I relied on lighting, the big paper lantern and all the candles, for decorations. I also strewed palm fruit (see previous day's post) among the candles. Other decor included big vases for spitting out wine (it is a wine tasting party after all)!Keeping track of glasses
I really dislike those beaded glass "bracelets" sold at stores. Instead, I made tags using a craft punch. Guests can't forget which tag is theirs since they're clearly labeled. For a rustic feel, I used jute twine to tie them on.Cheese labels
The same labels were inserted in corks to identify the cheeses people brought. Just take a serrated knife and saw into the cork (be careful) a quarter of an inch. Cardstock slides easily into the slit.