Everyone is familiar with high tea—pastries, finger sandwiches, scones, and endless tea. The high wine offers a sophisticated twist for wine lovers, swapping tea for generous pours of wine. While typically enjoyed at wine bars or restaurants, hosting your own is ideal when outings are limited. Here’s our expert advice to create an authentic experience.
Start by choosing a theme for your high wine, such as wine color, grape variety, or a specific region. Comparing all French wines highlights vast differences, but narrowing to one area like the Loire lets you explore diverse styles. For example, a standard Sauvignon Blanc and a Pouilly-Fumé from the Loire taste strikingly different.
Alternatively, select wines from the same grape. This simplifies pairings and showcases flavor variations across styles.
Thoughtful snacks complete the experience. Match them to your wines after settling on a theme.
Prosecco’s versatility pairs with many bites. A bold Spanish red like Rioja Gran Reserva shines with Manchego cheese or game pâté. Choose savory for broad wine options or sweet for dessert wines and port with pastries.
The sequence matters: taste wines first to confirm. Begin with bubbles, then whites before reds, light before heavy. A heavy red before a dry white overpowers its delicate notes—a shame to miss!
