How to Host a Blind Tasting

1. Preparation

Select Your Wines

For a standard game, we recommend 3 to 5 bottles. This provides enough variety without overwhelming your palate.

• Theme Ideas: "Cabernet around the World", "Old World vs. New World", or just "Total Mystery".
• Budget: You don't need expensive wine. $15-$25 bottles often show distinct varietal characteristics perfectly.

Conceal the Bottles

This is the "blind" part! You need to hide the labels.

• Use aluminum foil, brown paper bags, or dedicated wine socks.
• Label them clearly with numbers (Wine 1, Wine 2, etc.) so guests know which is which in the app.

2. Setting Up the Game in App

Step 1: Game Identity

Tap "Host Game" on the home screen to start. Give your tasting a catchy name and choose a logo that fits the vibe.

• Name: Something memorable like "Friday Night Reds".
• Logo: Select an icon to represent your event.

Step 2: Event Details

Add practical details so your guests know what to expect. You can even set virtual or real prizes for the winner!

• Location & Time: Helpful for planning.
• Prizes: "Bottle of bubbly" or "Bragging rights".

Step 3: Launch Lobby

The app will generate a 5-letter code. Display this screen so your guests can join.

While they are joining, you can continue configuring the game settings and wines in the next steps.

Step 4: Customize Rules

Choose how the game is played. For beginners, we recommend the defaults.

• Game Mode: "Classic" reveals one wine at a time.
• Points: Adjust how much each question is worth (e.g., make Varietal worth 20 points).

Step 5: Add Wines

Search our database to add your bottles. This ensures all the correct data (Region, Grape, Price) is loaded for scoring.

Tip: You can also scan barcodes or add from your personal "My Wines" collection.

Once everything is set and everyone has joined, tap "Start Game" to begin the tasting!

3. Running the Tasting

One of the best features of Vine Savant is its flexibility. There's no need to wait for everyone to arrive before you start.

• Start Anytime: Tap "Start Game" whenever the first guests are ready. Latecomers can join mid-game using the same code.
• Taste at Your Own Pace: Players can taste the wines in any order and take as much time as they need.
• Instant Feedback: As soon as a player submits their guess for a wine, the app automatically reveals the bottle and their score. No manual reveals required!

Pro Tips for Hosts