Whether you want to enjoy a fun evening with friends, or if you have a special event to celebrate, a paint and sip party is a great idea.
Not only do you get to be with people you love, but you also get to learn some new painting skills and create your very own masterpiece.
One of the key elements of any paint and sip party is something to sip on, and in most cases, this would be wine. But, what type of wine should you offer to your guests at a painting party?
One of the biggest problems with choosing the best wines for paint and sip night is that everyone likes something different. So, I suggest having at least two different types of wine for your next paint night.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing the best wines for paint and sip parties.
Champagne for Celebrations
Is your painting party going to be held for a particular celebration, such as a bachelorette party, a graduation party, etc? If so, champagne is always a great choice.
Of course, if this is not in your budget, you can also go with a bottle of sparkling white wine as an alternative.
Sip and Paint Drinks: Consider the Season
You don’t have to limit yourself to pairing wine with food for a paint and sip party. Another way to choose the best wine for your paint night is to choose one that goes best with the season.
Spring and Summer
If you are having your party during the spring and summer months, look for wines that are light, crisp, and refreshing.
Or, if the painting has a spring or summer theme with flowers, consider serving a rose wine to go with pink flowers.
Here are a few spring and summer wine suggestions.
#1. Pinot Grigio or Pinot Gris
This is a great summer wine. It is crisp and light and ideal for the warmer temperatures of summer, or to go with a summer-themed painting.
#2. Riesling
Riesling can be either tart or sweet, and both are as ideal for a summer theme as lemonade, which is also sweet and tart.
#3. Chardonnay
Another great summer option for those who like sweet white wines is Chardonnay. This is a great wine for any time of year.
#4. Sauvignon Blanc
This is a tropical wine with a bit of an acidic flavor. I know a lot of people who love a nice glass of this wine on a warm, summer evening, and it would be awesome for a summer-themed paint party.
Fall and Winter
A paint and sip party is a great way to bring some color to the cold, dark winter. Fall is also a great time for painting parties, and there are so many beautiful landscape paintings you can do with fall colors.
I would suggest wines that are heavier, darker, and earthier for fall and winter-themed paint and sip nights.
Let’s take a look at some of my favorite wines for fall and winter paint parties.
#1. Pinot Noir
This is a bold red wine that has a surprisingly delicate flavor. It is perfect for a fall evening sip and paint party.
#2. Zinfandel
Whether you are looking for a full-bodied or a medium-bodied wine, zinfandel is a great option. It comes in a variety of flavors, and it is a perfect choice for fall and winter paint and sip events.
#3. Merlot
If you are hosting your paint party during the holiday season, try a spicy and fruity wine, such as Merlot. This is a great wine for fall events, and it is also popular during the holidays.
#4. Cabernet Sauvignon
Another spicy wine that is great for painting parties is Cabernet Sauvignon. It has a slight currant flavor, which is perfect for the holiday season.
What Food Will You Be Serving?
There are many ways to go about choosing the right wine for a paint party. When I book parties, clients often ask what type of wine to serve.
One of my first responses is to ask them what type of food they will be serving. There won’t likely be a full meal served at a painting party, but there will be snacks, and it’s nice to have wine that pairs well with those snacks.
Let’s say that you are planning on serving veggie trays. Sparkling wine or champagne pair quite nicely with vegetables. I would suggest serving a pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc.
Here are some more wine and food pairings to think about.
#1. Cheese
Sweet, rich, and bold reds pair well with soft cheese. Chardonnay is always a great choice, as well as Viognier. You may also want to serve Riesling or Gewurztraminer, as they are sweet red wines.
If you are serving hard cheese, I would suggest sweet wines, sparkling wines, bold reds, or medium reds. When serving cheese, don’t forget to include a few different types of crackers as well.
#2. Meat
Maybe you are planning on serving a meal with red meat before the painting gets underway. If this is the case, I would suggest medium or bold reds. Consider serving zinfandel, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, or grenache.
If you are serving white meat, such as chicken or turkey, choose a rich, white wine or a light or medium red wine. Some options include St. Laurent and pinot noir.
#3. Sweets
Whether you are serving a full meal or just snacks, chances are that there are going to be some sweets on the table. Sweet white wines and dessert wines go great with cakes and other sweets. You may want to choose port, sherry, or ice wine to pair with sweets.
You can check our full list of foods to serve at paint and sip events.
Conclusion
No matter what time of year you are having a paint and sip party, or what the theme of the party is, you need to have a few bottles of wine for your guests. As I already mentioned, it is a good idea to have two or three different varieties of paint and sip wines, so there is something for everyone.
If your party guests are all close friends and family members, chances are you know what kind of wine they like. You can also ask your guests in advance, to make sure that you have varieties that everyone will enjoy.
See more: How Much Wine Should You Drink During The Paint and Sip Event?
*image by Krakenimages/depositphotos
Sari Green is a semi-professional artist and professional writer. She has been hosting paint & sip parties for the past couple of years, and truly enjoys helping other people to create their very own masterpieces. She loves to create, and you never know what she’s going to come up with next!