How to start a wine tasting group ... (applied to Port)

[Roy Hersh]

http://www.the-wine-key.com/blog/2013/8 ... group.html

[Moses Botbol]

I can barely find one or two people to drink port with, never mind finding six people!

[Glenn E.]

We don't have a formal group like this article is talking about, but we do have a group of "regulars" here in the Seattle area who can be counted on to show up for Port tastings twice a year (or so). I suspect that if we really worked at it, we could probably get 20 people for a Seattle-area tasting!

[Bradley Bogdan]

I can barely find one or two people to drink port with, never mind finding six people!

+1 Although, I can at least blame my troubles on living in a pretty backwater town.

[Moses Botbol]

+1 Although, I can at least blame my troubles on living in a pretty backwater town.

I'm sure if I am the one supplying all the port and food, I can find some a**es to fill seats, but why bother at that point?

[Roy Hersh]

I can barely find one or two people to drink port with, never mind finding six people!

What if you bought Port over $50/bottle? Do you think that would be a game changer in a city like Boston?

[Moses Botbol]

I can barely find one or two people to drink port with, never mind finding six people!

What if you bought Port over $50/bottle? Do you think that would be a game changer in a city like Boston?

You'd be quite impressed with cases of '63, '66, and '70 I have right now.

[John M.]

Moses & Bradley---that's a sad state of affairs that you cannot find some port pals. My group meets every 6 weeks, 13 fellows--we all know each other from having kids within a year or two and were friends before the port club. We are not generally drinking great stuff (backwater town, too so the economics don't work--mainly LBVs, a few lower tier VPs) but we have a lot of fun. Unless you have a bunch of serious port lovers with cellars, the best way (IMHO) is that one person becomes the buyer for the group--all the other work is spread out. We have an initiation fee (to establish a bank) and meeting dues (to replenish the bank)--hosting is rotated. Perhaps try telling a few couples/friends you want to start a wine tasting group to see if you'll have enough interest--it can grow from there.

I would agree with 6-10. Once membership got above 10, it did turn into more of a party than a tasting---but I cannot complain. I intersperse with other offline-tastings.

[Moses Botbol]

I would agree with 6-10. Once membership got above 10, it did turn into more of a party than a tasting---but I cannot complain. I intersperse with other offline-tastings.

I have about 80-90 IDVP glasses, so I can only accommodate so many people for a port event (and don't have a table big enough for everyone). I have access to another 40-50 glasses if need be. Kind of light on decanters, so I'd have to pour back into the bottles before the event starts.

[Roy Hersh]

Moses,

As an option, you can pour in flights and re-use glasses if need be. That would work, although you can't sit with the same wines all night that way, but still, that should never stop you from doing a Port tasting or organizing a group.

[Glenn E.]

I would agree with 6-10. Once membership got above 10, it did turn into more of a party than a tasting---but I cannot complain. I intersperse with other offline-tastings.

I have about 80-90 IDVP glasses, so I can only accommodate so many people for a port event (and don't have a table big enough for everyone). I have access to another 40-50 glasses if need be. Kind of light on decanters, so I'd have to pour back into the bottles before the event starts.

Decanters take up too much space on the table anyway, so I always pour back into the bottles before the event starts.

80 glasses is 10 people and 8 Ports, which is plenty of Port for beginners. Switch to 8 people and 10 Ports once people have more experience and a couple have dropped out for whatever reason. Even after all these years I still don't deal well with more than 10-12 Ports at a tasting, as proven by the headache I woke up with on Sunday morning after we tasted 13 on Saturday night. :) (A glass of water and 2 more hours' sleep solved the headache.)

[Moses Botbol]

Right now, six glasses will accommodate everyone I know that'll drink port locally.

[Bradley Bogdan]

I would agree with 6-10. Once membership got above 10, it did turn into more of a party than a tasting---but I cannot complain. I intersperse with other offline-tastings.

I have about 80-90 IDVP glasses, so I can only accommodate so many people for a port event (and don't have a table big enough for everyone). I have access to another 40-50 glasses if need be. Kind of light on decanters, so I'd have to pour back into the bottles before the event starts.

Decanters take up too much space on the table anyway, so I always pour back into the bottles before the event starts.

80 glasses is 10 people and 8 Ports, which is plenty of Port for beginners. Switch to 8 people and 10 Ports once people have more experience and a couple have dropped out for whatever reason. Even after all these years I still don't deal well with more than 10-12 Ports at a tasting, as proven by the headache I woke up with on Sunday morning after we tasted 13 on Saturday night. :) (A glass of water and 2 more hours' sleep solved the headache.)

Or if you're short on time, a run will fix things as well :-P. just makes for a tough first 20 min to your day.