What to Buy for a Wine Tasting

A wine tasting needs more than bottles and tasting glasses. Plan for water between pours, spit buckets, ice for white wine, simple food, and enough tableware for every guest. You will also need practical items for displaying the wine list, labeling places, serving snacks, and cleaning up afterward. Use the quantities below as a starting point, then adjust them to your guest count and tasting format.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Tablesqty 6
Chairsqty 45
Tableclothsqty 6

Tableware

Wine tasting glassesqty 200
Water glassesqty 50
Coffee cupsqty 20
Platesqty 50
Cutlery setsqty 50
Wine carafesqty 8
Spit bucketsqty 8

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef's knifeqty 3
Cheese knivesqty 4
Serving spoonsqty 6
Serving tongsqty 4

Equipment

Coolersqty 4
Ice containersqty 4
Coffee maker
Kettlesqty 2
Bluetooth speaker

Lighting

String lightsqty 4

Decorations

Wine list standsqty 8
Name card holdersqty 45
Table decorationsqty 6

Cleaning

Washing-up tubsqty 3
Reusable cleaning clothsqty 12
Broom and dustpan
Mop and bucket

Catering

Groceries
- Sauvignon Blanc - 4 bottles
- Chardonnay - 4 bottles
- Riesling - 4 bottles
- Prosecco - 4 bottles
- Rosé - 4 bottles
- Pinot Noir - 4 bottles
- Merlot - 4 bottles
- Malbec - 4 bottles
- Alcohol-free sparkling wine - 4 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 24 bottles
- Spa Rood - 12 bottles
- Apple juice - 6 liters
- Grape juice - 6 liters
- Tonic - 12 cans
- Cola - 12 cans
- Coke Zero - 12 cans
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Black tea - 1 box
- Herbal tea - 1 box
- Sugar - 1 pack
- Milk - 4 liters
- Oat milk - 2 liter
- Baguettes - 8 pieces
- Toast - 6 packs
- Water crackers - 8 packs
- Grissini - 6 packs
- Brie - 1,5 kilogram
- Aged cheese - 2 kilogram
- Goat cheese - 1 kilogram
- Blue cheese - 750 gram
- Grapes - 4 kilograms
- Pears - 3 kilograms
- Apples - 3 kilograms
- Figs - 1 kilogram
- Walnuts - 750 grams
- Almonds - 750 grams
- Olives - 2 kilograms
- Sun-dried tomatoes - 1 kilogram
- Hummus - 1 kilogram
- Vegetable sticks - 3 kilogram
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Plain chips - 4 bags
- Bitterballen - 150 pieces
- Vegetarian snacks - 100 pieces
- Gluten-free crackers - 4 packs
- Vegan spreads - 4 tubs
- Olive oil - 1 bottle
- Balsamic vinegar - 1 bottle
- Salt - 1 pack
- Pepper - 1 can
- Napkins - 100 pieces
- Paper towels - 4 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Glass cleaner - 1 bottle
- Sponges - 6 pieces

Tips

Plan one tasting glass per guest for a simple lineup, or two to three per guest if you want to compare wines side by side. Add a few extra glasses in case one breaks or needs replacing.
Allow at least one water glass per guest and prepare roughly 500 ml of drinking water per person. Keep extra water easy to reach between tasting rounds.
Chill white and sparkling wines several hours before guests arrive, and prepare enough ice to keep bottles cold throughout the tasting. Do not rely on a single cooler if several bottles are opened at once.
Buy one spit bucket for every six to eight guests, plus paper towels or reusable cleaning cloths for spills. Place the buckets where guests can reach them without crossing the tasting table.
For snacks, allow 100 to 150 g of food per guest if the tasting is not a meal. Include enough plates, cutlery, cheese knives, serving spoons and tongs so guests are not sharing one utensil across several dishes.

Frequently asked questions

How many wine glasses do I need for a wine tasting?: For one wine at a time, buy or borrow one tasting glass per guest, plus 10% extra. For side-by-side comparisons, plan two to three glasses per guest.
How much wine should I buy for a wine tasting?: A standard tasting pour is about 50 ml. One 750 ml bottle gives roughly 15 tasting pours, so five wines require about one bottle per 15 guests, with extra bottles if guests will drink full glasses afterward.
How much food do I need for a wine tasting?: Allow 100 to 150 g of snacks per guest for a tasting that is not a full meal. Buy the food one day ahead, then prepare cheese, bread and other perishables on the day itself.
When should I buy ice and chill the wine?: Buy the ice on the day of the tasting so it does not melt in storage. Chill white and sparkling wine for at least four hours, and let red wine rest upright before opening.

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