What to Buy for a Wine Tasting

A wine tasting needs more than bottles and glasses. Plan supplies for pouring, rinsing, note-taking, water, snacks and keeping wines at the right temperature. For a structured tasting, count one tasting glass per guest for each wine, or provide a clean glass for every pour. This checklist also covers practical items people often arrange too late, such as corkscrews, coolers, serving platters, tableware and printed wine information.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Tablesqty 6
Chairsqty 36
Buffet tableqty 2
Welcome table

Tableware

Wine tasting glassesqty 40
Water glassesqty 40
Platesqty 40
Dessert platesqty 40
Cutlery setsqty 40
Napkin holdersqty 6

Equipment

Wine openersqty 4
Wine coolersqty 4
Coolersqty 3
Kettlesqty 2
Coffee maker
Bluetooth speaker
Extension cordsqty 3

Kitchen

Pitcherqty 4
Water carafesqty 6
Cutting boardsqty 3
Chef's knifeqty 3
Serving plattersqty 8
Serving spoonsqty 8
Corkscrewqty 2
Measuring cupsqty 2
Tea towelsqty 8

Decorations

Tableclothsqty 6
Name card holdersqty 36
Wine information signsqty 8
Menusqty 36
Flower arrangementsqty 6

Lighting

String lightsqty 4
Table lampsqty 6

Catering

Tasting notebooksqty 36
Ballpoint pensqty 40
Spit bucketsqty 8
Ice cube traysqty 4
Bottle stoppersqty 8
Serving traysqty 6
Stools for presentationsqty 2
Groceries
- Champagne - 4 bottles
- Sauvignon Blanc - 4 bottles
- Chardonnay - 4 bottles
- Rosé - 4 bottles
- Pinot Noir - 4 bottles
- Merlot - 4 bottles
- Rioja - 4 bottles
- Port - 2 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 12 bottles
- Spa Rood - 6 bottles
- Apple juice - 4 liter
- Grape juice - 4 liters
- Tonic - 6 cans
- Lemons - 12 pieces
- Ice cubes - 10 bags
- Baguettes - 8 pieces
- Ciabatta - 4 pieces
- Unsalted butter - 500 grams
- Brie - 1 kilogram
- Gouda cheese - 1 kilogram
- Goat cheese - 750 grams
- Blue cheese - 500 grams
- Parma ham - 750 grams
- Fuet - 6 pieces
- Hummus - 1 kilogram
- Olives - 1 kilogram
- Grapes - 2 kilogram
- Apples - 20 pieces
- Pears - 12 pieces
- Figs - 12 pieces
- Walnuts - 750 grams
- Almonds - 750 grams
- Cashews - 500 grams
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Toast rounds - 8 packs
- Crackers - 6 packs
- Jam - 2 jars
- Honey - 1 jar
- Dark chocolate - 1 kilogram
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Milk - 4 liters
- Oat milk - 2 liter
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Glass cleaner - 1 bottle
- Sponges - 6 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 3 rolls
- Paper towels - 4 packs

Cleaning

Dishpanqty 2
Cleaning glovesqty 4
Floor squeegee
Broom and dustpan
Mop and bucket

Tips

Plan at least one tasting glass per guest for every wine if you want guests to compare pours side by side. If glassware is limited, provide one glass per guest and allow time to rinse between wines.
Buy or bring at least 500 ml of water per guest, plus extra water for rinsing glasses. Set out water carafes and separate water glasses before guests arrive.
Allow one wine opener for every 10 guests, with at least two available at the main wine station. A spare corkscrew prevents the tasting from stopping when one opener breaks or goes missing.
Prepare roughly 150–200 g of snacks per guest, including enough plates, cutlery, napkins and serving utensils. Choose food that can be served without strong flavours overpowering the wines.
Label each wine before the tasting with its name, grape or style and serving order. Print one wine information sheet or menu per guest, and keep a few spare copies at the welcome table.

Frequently asked questions

How many wine glasses do I need for a wine tasting?: For side-by-side tasting, provide one tasting glass per guest for each wine. For five wines and 12 guests, that means 60 glasses; with only 12 glasses, plan rinsing between pours.
How much wine should I buy for a wine tasting?: A standard 750 ml bottle gives about 12 tasting pours of 60 ml. For 12 guests tasting five wines, buy at least five bottles, then add one or two extra bottles if you want a margin for spills or generous pours.
How much water do I need for a wine tasting?: Plan at least 500 ml of drinking water per guest and extra water for rinsing. For 20 guests, prepare at least 10 litres for drinking, plus separate pitchers or carafes for rinsing glasses.
What should I serve with a wine tasting?: Plan 150–200 g of snacks per guest, served on platters with plates, cutlery and serving spoons. Buy the food at least one day before the tasting, and prepare anything perishable on the day itself.

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