We purchased an online wine tasting with Sommsation and documented the entire process. Here is our review.
In this review of the online wine tasting event from Sommsation (known as a “Sommsation Soiree“) we will share the entire process, our experience and our thoughts on the whole thing.
We purchased their wine tasting event for August (featuing wines from Opolo Vineyards) and experienced everything as you would as a “normal customer”. We documented everything and have plenty of video and photos to share with you.
Summary:
For $99 (including shipping) participants receive 2 bottles of wine that will be featured in a wine tasting event that takes place virtually, via zoom.
The wines will be discussed by the fun & friendly master sommeliers who will teach about the wines, the winery and winemakers, the region and its history. They are always very happy to share their knowledge with the group!
Pros:
* Explore new wines and learn from master sommeliers
* Experience a wine tasting “class” from home
Cons:
* Someone over 21 must be available to sign for deliveries of wine, like all wine deliveries.
Wine tasting is typically an “in person only” type of event. An online wine tasting can be accomplished when everyone who participates will have the same wines delivered to them and these wines will be the focus of the wine tasting event.
Sommsation is the only company I know that offers online wine tasting events regularly, and is led by master sommeliers. Since they sell wines on their website from select wineries, they have a unique insight into these wines. And, since they are run by master sommeliers they have a unique ability to hold wine tastings like this.
Each month they feature a different winery, vineyard or vendor and if you order your wine in time, you can participate at any time. There is no monthly subscription. You simply pay the $99 and get everything delivered to you.
Our wine tasting event featured wines from Opolo Vineyards.
(The previous month, I had a sneak peak of what to expect at my upcoming online wine tasting)
As an affiliate of Sommsation, we were invited to observe the previous month's wine tasting, too, so we had a general ida of what to expect when we attended our wine tasting event.
Hopefully, after you see this review, you'll feel fully knowledgeable about the Sommsation online wine tasting and if it is right for you, or if you'd like to give it as a gift.
Online wine tasting with Sommsation, the timeline:
Before the deadline each month, you'll need to order the wine for the tasting event.
(Be sure to use our affiliate link to purchase!)
Your wine will be delivered via UPS soon after ordering and the process is easy to track. (IMPORTANT: Someone 21+ must sign for the wine.)
A few days before the wine tasting event, you'll receive an email to help you prepare for the best experience possible.
The day of your wine tasting event, you'll follow the tips and suggestions provided for snacks or food pairings and proper wine temperature for serving.
For the event, just open your laptop or phone and follow the zoom link. Video participation is NOT required.
To prepare for my online wine tasting, I received this email:
In advance of the wine tasting event, I received the email you see here.
In addition to reminding me about my upcoming wine tasting, the email also included links with “chilling and pairing instructions” and a recipe for paella.
NOTE: The paella recipe was definitely not going to be cooked at our house, so alternative recipes may have been helpful. Then again, knowing me, I wouldn't have cooked anything anyway. When I saw that the suggested recipe was paella, I knew this was not going to be something we were going to even consider cooking.
The snack suggestions were quite easy to purchase with no preparation needed.
My delivery for my Sommsation wine tasting event
The delivery of my wine came quickly, securely and well-packaged. They use recycled cardboard to cradle the bottles and a cold-pack to keep the wine temperate. (I assume that was because our delivery was in the summer heat.)
In addition to the wine, they included a nicely produced full-color brochure for Opolo Vineyards (which you can download) with good information about the vineyard and their popular wines, and discount offers on purchases.
If you want to join a Sommsation Soiree, click here to buy yours!
The day of our wine tasting was beautiful in Michigan, so we participated from our back yard.
Since the weather was perfect on a Saturday afternoon, we decided to bring the laptop and wine outside our our back patio.
And although we were provided with plenty of time to acquire snacks and prepare a meal to pair with the wine, my wife and I did none of these and simply drank the wine with the group.
At the end of our wine tasting event, I asked the attendees if they'd like to pose for a group photo.
Cheers!
The few of us who participated on video posed for a “cheers!” photo. They were all very nice and I would be delighted to drink wine with any of them again!
My summary of the Sommsation Soiree online wine tasting event.
I found the wine tasting event to be extremely educational and tremendously fun. My wife and I laughed and learned about wine and found the Opolo wines to be delicious.
NOTE: Neither my wife nor I typically drink white wine. In fact, I am certain that it has been a few years since I drank any white wine and I can't remember the last time my wife drank any white wine. With this known, we actually found the Albarino from Opolo to be very nice. We enjoyed the peach notes (white peach to be specific) and the spicy notes too.
- If you want to learn about wine, I highly suggest you try one or more of these wine tasting events.
- If you want to give the gift of an online wine tasting, I think that would be an amazing gift for someone who wants to learn more about wine
I highly recommend.
(Please use our affiliate link if you want to check them out!)
