Top 10 Reasons to Participate in Virtual Wine Tastings #ttmi

Last night I participated in my second Taste & Tweet event featuring Michigan wines. This is quickly becoming my favorite way of finding new wines.

First, let me explain what a virtual wine tasting is. No, it?s not pretending to drink wine, which is what one person asked me. Usually the host chooses a wine (or a selection of wines) and invites people to join in a tasting on a specific date and time. Before the tasting, people then go out and buy the chosen wines. At the appointed time, everyone participating opens up the bottles and sits down at their computer or laptop and joins the Twitter party.

Twitter parties are kind of like a chat room, and to make it easier everyone uses a specific hash tag (#). Programs like TweetChat will place all the tweets with that hash tag in a column for you so you?re not distracted by other tweets going on that aren?t related to the party.

Then, it?s time to Taste and Tweet! So what?s the advantage to this type of virtual wine tasting event?

1. Discover new wines.

Ever want to try a new wine, but just can?t decide when standing in front of rows and rows of bottles? Virtual wine tastings are great ways to let someone else decide which ones to try next, and to expand your horizon beyond tried and true favorites.

2. Learn about wine tasting.

There?s no need to be intimidated when no one can see you. Other tasters will describe what they taste and smell and how they are evaluating the wine, which is very educational when you can taste and follow along. Soon you?ll be wine tasting like a pro!

3. Chat with the winemaker.

Often the winemaker is online too, so you can find out how it was made and what they suggest for food pairings. This, too, is a great way to learn about wine pairing and what makes one wine different from another.

4. Connect with fellow wine lovers.

Since people can participate from all over the world, you?ll ?meet? people you may never have met otherwise. Online friendships can blossom, and you?ll find new people to follow on Twitter.

5. No need for a DD (Designated Driver).

As you?re already home, there?s no need to worry about driving, and about making sure you don?t drink and drive. Which can be a challenge if you?re visiting wineries in real life?especially if you taste and drink instead of taste and spit.

6. No waiting in line.

As wine tasting becomes more popular, tasting rooms can get crowded and lines long. If you?re already home, with your own bottle, there?s no wait!

7. Pour as much as you want.

Another advantage over real-life wine tasting events is you will never be disappointed in the amount in your pour. You will definitely get your money?s worth!

8. Drink in the comfort of your own home.

There?s just something relaxing about drinking wine in your comfy clothes, at your computer or even on the couch with your laptop.

9. Taste it with food.

I don?t know about you, but sometimes when I go wine tasting I gravitate towards sweeter sipping wines, or wines that taste best on their own. Sometimes it?s hard to imagine what it will taste like with food. With virtual wine tastings, you can cook dinner beforehand and try the wines with the food.

10. Not just for wine!

Just yesterday I discovered that my favorite Sake? brewery is doing a virtual tasting too! A quick Google search revealed several virtual wine tastings. I couldn?t find any beer events, but I?m sure those are not far behind.

This post linked to Top 10 Tuesday and Things I Love Thursday

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