What to buy for a wine tasting

A wine tasting needs more than a selection of bottles. Plan glasses, water, spit buckets, serving equipment and enough food to keep guests comfortable between pours. This shopping list also covers the details people often arrange too late, such as printed wine information, name badges, ice and payment equipment. Use your guest count to scale quantities before placing the wine order.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 60
Bar stoolsqty 6
Tableclothsqty 8

Tableware

Wine glassesqty 120
Water glassesqty 60
Coffee cupsqty 60
Coffee spoonsqty 60
Platesqty 100
Dessert forksqty 60
Bread knivesqty 8
Serving carafesqty 8
Spit bucketsqty 10
Ice buckets and wine bucketsqty 8

Kitchen

Serving plattersqty 12
Cheese plattersqty 8
Cutting boardsqty 4
Cheese and bread knivesqty 8
Serving spoonsqty 8
Thermos flasksqty 4

Equipment

Coolersqty 8
Kettlesqty 2
Coffee machinesqty 2
Bluetooth speakersqty 2
Extension cordsqty 4
Power stripsqty 4

Lighting

Mood lightingqty 6

Decorations

Menu boardsqty 8
Table numbersqty 8
Wine information signsqty 8
Name card holdersqty 60

Catering

Sample cardsqty 60
Pensqty 60
Drink dispensersqty 2
Groceries
- Sauvignon blanc - 5 bottles
- Chardonnay - 5 bottles
- Rosé - 5 bottles
- Pinot noir - 5 bottles
- Merlot - 5 bottles
- Cabernet sauvignon - 5 bottles
- Riesling - 5 bottles
- Sparkling wine - 5 bottles
- Alcohol-free white wine - 3 bottles
- Still mineral water - 30 liters
- Sparkling mineral water - 20 liters
- Cola - 6 liters
- Cola Zero - 6 liters
- Orange soda - 4 liters
- Apple juice - 4 liter
- Coffee - 1 kilogram
- Black tea - 1 box
- Herbal tea - 1 box
- Semi-skimmed milk - 4 liter
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Ice cubes - 20 kilograms
- Baguettes - 15 pieces
- Gluten-free crackers - 6 packs
- Plain crackers - 10 packs
- Butter - 1 kilogram
- Brie - 2 kilograms
- Aged cheese - 2 kilogram
- Goat cheese - 1,5 kilogram
- Blue cheese - 1 kilogram
- Vegan cheese - 1 kilogram
- Grapes - 5 kilograms
- Apples - 5 kilograms
- Pears - 4 kilograms
- Figs - 2 kilograms
- Walnuts - 1.5 kilogram
- Almonds - 1,5 kilogram
- Olives - 2 kilograms
- Pickles - 1 kilogram
- Hummus - 2 kilograms
- Tapenade - 1 kilogram
- Grape jam - 1 kilogram
- Honey - 500 grams
- Paprika chips - 8 bags
- Plain chips - 8 bags
- Mini pretzels - 6 bags
- Coffee creamer - 2 liters
- Lemons - 2 kilograms
- Napkins - 500 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 50 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 liters
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 liters
- Glass cleaner - 1 liter
- Sponges - 10 pieces
- Nitrile gloves - 2 boxes

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 6
Mopsqty 3
Bucketsqty 3
Hand broomsqty 2

Tips

Plan at least one wine glass per guest, plus 10–15% extra for breakage or an unwashed glass. Add a water glass for each person and keep spare glasses within reach.
For a guided tasting, allow roughly 50–75 ml per wine per guest. Six wines therefore require about 300–450 ml per person, before accounting for bottles opened for pouring or refills.
Provide one spit bucket for every 8–10 guests and place them where they are easy to reach. Add water for rinsing and separate ice buckets or coolers for wines that must stay chilled.
Buy food that can be served without interrupting the tasting: allow about 100–150 g of cheese and 100–150 g of bread per guest, with plates, serving platters and suitable knives.
Print wine information and tasting cards at least one day before the event, and prepare signs, table numbers and name badges before guests arrive. Test payment equipment, extension cords and power strips on the same day.

Frequently asked questions

How many wine glasses do I need for a wine tasting?: Use one glass per guest for a simple tasting and buy 10–15% extra. For 20 guests, that means 22–23 wine glasses, or more if each wine is served in a separate glass.
How much wine should I buy per person for a tasting?: Allow 50–75 ml per wine per guest. For six wines and 20 guests, plan for 6–9 litres in total, then add a small margin for pouring losses and top-ups.
How much cheese and bread do I need for a wine tasting?: Buy around 100–150 g of cheese and 100–150 g of bread per guest. For 20 guests, that is 2–3 kg of cheese and 2–3 kg of bread, served on platters with cutting boards and knives.
When should I chill the wine and prepare the tasting materials?: Chill wines that need serving cold at least 4–6 hours beforehand, depending on the bottle and cooling method. Print tasting cards, wine information and name badges no later than the day before, then check the delivery and set out materials before doors open.

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