What to buy for a champagne tasting for 24 people

For a champagne tasting for 24 people, plan the shopping around small pours, water, palate-cleansing snacks and enough chilled storage. You will need more than champagne and glasses: sample labels, tasting cards, spit buckets and serving equipment are easy to overlook. Allow at least one tasting glass per guest, plus extra glassware if welcome drinks are served at the same time. Buy or arrange the items below before the final week so missing equipment can still be borrowed or hired.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Tablesqty 6
Chairsqty 26
Bar staff table
Table linenqty 6

Tableware

Champagne flutesqty 30
Sample glassesqty 48
Water glassesqty 30
Dessert platesqty 30
Small forksqty 30
Cheese knivesqty 6
Serving spoonsqty 8
Champagne coolersqty 6
Water carafesqty 6
Spit bucketsqty 6

Kitchen

Serving boardsqty 8
Serving plattersqty 8
Coolersqty 4
Bottle openersqty 4
Cork catchersqty 2
Cutting boardsqty 3
Paring knivesqty 3

Equipment

Kettle
Coffee maker
Ice packsqty 24
Thermos flasksqty 2

Decorations

Sample bottle labelsqty 12
Menusqty 30
Table numbersqty 6
Flower arrangementsqty 6
Ballot formsqty 30
Clipboardsqty 30
Ballpoint pensqty 30

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 3
Trash bag holder
Washing-up tubsqty 2
Floor squeegee
Broom and dustpan
Microfiber clothsqty 8

Catering

Groceries
- Brut champagne A - 2 bottles
- Brut champagne B - 2 bottles
- Blanc de blancs champagne - 2 bottles
- Blanc de noirs champagne - 2 bottles
- Rosé champagne - 2 bottles
- Vintage champagne - 2 bottles
- Alcohol-free sparkling wine - 2 bottles
- Still mineral water - 12 bottles
- Sparkling mineral water - 12 bottles
- Apple juice - 3 liters
- Grape juice - 3 liters
- Coffee beans - 500 grams
- Black tea - 1 box
- Herbal tea - 1 box
- Semi-skimmed milk - 3 liters
- Oat milk - 2 liter
- Granulated sugar - 1 pack
- Baguettes - 6 pieces
- Water crackers - 6 packs
- Breadsticks - 4 packs
- Butter - 500 grams
- Brie - 1 kilo
- Comté - 1 kilo
- Manchego - 750 grams
- Blue cheese - 500 grams
- Goat cheese - 500 grams
- Parma ham - 750 grams
- Fuet - 500 grams
- Smoked chicken breast - 500 grams
- Grapes - 3 kilos
- Green apples - 2 kilo
- Strawberries - 2 kilos
- Figs - 1 kilo
- Olives - 1 kilo
- Cornichons - 2 jars
- Fig compote - 2 jars
- Honey - 1 jar
- Dark chocolate - 750 grams
- Milk chocolate - 500 grams
- Plain chips - 4 bags
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Salted almonds - 500 grams
- Salt-free crackers - 2 packs
- Lemons - 12 pieces
- Ice cubes - 12 kilo
- Cocktail napkins - 4 packs
- Paper towels - 4 rolls
- Garbage bags - 30 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Glass cleaner - 1 bottle
- Sponges - 6 pieces
- Toilet paper - 12 rolls

Tips

Allow 6–8 tasting bottles for 24 guests if each person receives a 50 ml pour from every bottle. Add extra bottles only if the tasting includes full glasses or a welcome drink.
Prepare at least 24 sample glasses and 24 water glasses, plus 4–6 spare glasses for breakage or late arrivals. Keep flutes separate if guests receive champagne before the tasting starts.
Provide 4–6 spit buckets around the tasting tables, not just one at the end of the room. This matters when guests are comparing several champagnes rather than drinking full pours.
Plan roughly 1.5–2 litres of still water and 1.5–2 litres of sparkling water for 24 guests, served in water carafes. Add ice packs and enough cooler space to chill the bottles before guests arrive.
Buy or print 24 tasting cards, bottle labels and menus before setup day. Put the labels on the tasting bottles in the planned tasting order so guests do not have to guess which champagne they are trying.

Frequently asked questions

How much champagne do I need for a tasting for 24 people?: For 24 guests, 6–8 standard 750 ml bottles usually cover six to eight 50 ml tasting pours per person. Buy more if you are also serving a welcome glass or generous pours.
How many champagne glasses do I need for 24 guests?: Have at least 24 tasting glasses and 24 water glasses ready, with 4–6 spare glasses for breakage or unexpected guests. If welcome drinks are served in flutes at the same time, add 24 flutes or serve the welcome drink before the tasting glasses are handed out.
What snacks should I buy for a champagne tasting?: Buy enough simple snacks for 24 people to cleanse the palate and prevent guests drinking on an empty stomach, such as bread, crackers, mild cheese and fruit. Allow around 100–150 g of snack food per person when the tasting is not a full meal.
When should I chill champagne for a tasting?: Move the bottles into cold storage or coolers at least 4 hours before the tasting, and preferably the day before. Keep backup bottles chilled as well, rather than relying on ice packs added just before guests arrive.

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