Having friends and family over for an Ohio wine-tasting party can be fun and entertaining, if not a palate-opening experience to those who haven't yet discovered Ohio wines.

The Basics
Wine glasses - plastic will not do
Corkscrew
Wine tasting sheet
White tablecloth or placemats
Wine - This could be the hardest part, picking what to try. You can choose wines by region, say the Grand River Valley or the Ohio River Valley, wines by style or varietal, or test Ohio wines against wines each other or from other regions. Your choice.

Example 1: Vidal Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon. This example gives a full spectrum of flavors and sweetness levels and is pretty basic.

Example 2: Riesling from across the Lake Erie coast. Choose five or six Riesling wines from different winemakers and taste the difference.

Example 3: Try some Ohio fruit wines. Ohio makes some great ones and you'll be surprised at the variety in levels of sweetness. Not all fruit wines are sweet, some are very crisp and maintain the essence of the fruit.

The Procedure
Fill glasses with one or two ounces of wine for tasting...your guests can always come back for more if they like it.

White wines may be slightly chilled, and red wines should be at room temperature for serving.

Swirl: Swirling is the ticket to getting to the real taste of the wine. Alcohol will evaporate as you swirl and the vapors will carry the scents of the wine to your nose. Taste is on the tongue; flavor is in the scent.

Smell: Put your nose near the rim of the glass and take in the scent. Everyone develops his or her own style with this. The important thing is to take your time and experience the scent.

Taste: Take a mouthful of wine and hold it for a moment or two.

Body and Texture: It's the difference between whole milk and skim milk, or tomato juice and orange juice. Body and texture are how the wine feels in your mouth.

Taste: If there is sweetness it will be tasted on the tip of your tongue. Acidity, that tingly feel, shows up on the sides of your tongue.

Flavor: The heat of your mouth will help send the wine's aromas to your smell center. This is where you can sense the style and flavors of different varietals.

Balance: This is an overall impression of the wine. Does it all seem to blend together for a harmonious experience? You would evaluate this as you might a culinary experience that has the right balance of spice, or butter, or salt and pepper.

For most people taking notes about wine tastings will help them for future tastings or purchases. It doesn't need to be fancy. It can be the copy of your wine notes if you use the American Wine Society tasting documents available above.

The key is practice, practice, practice. But, take it easy, this is supposed to be enjoyable. Don't over stimulate your palate. Six wines is generally plenty for anyone to taste. You can look forward to your next tasting this way. Finally and most importantly. Remember wine is a gift of the sun and soil and meant to be enjoyed. You are the only judge of what you like and don't like. Like anything else, you decide at what level of knowledge and exploration you are most comfortable. Some folks can taste the nuances of wine, and some don't care. How deeply you delve into the world of wine is strictly your decision.