Our Life in Wine

Hosting a wine tasting doesn’t have to mean white tablecloths, intimidating language, or pretending you know more than you do.

One of our favorite ways to bring people together around wine is a blind GSM tasting party…relaxed, fun, and surprisingly eye-opening. It’s the kind of gathering that makes everyone feel included, sparks great conversation, and often ends with someone saying, “I never knew wine could be this fun.”

Here’s how to host one at home. No expertise required!

What is a GSM Wine (and Why It's Perfect for a Tasting Party)?

GSM stands for Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, a classic Rhône-style blend known for being:

• Crowd-pleasing and approachable

• Full of flavor without being heavy

• Incredibly food-friendly

• Expressive of where it’s grown

The magic of a GSM tasting is that the same blend can taste wildly different depending on climate, region, and winemaking style. That’s what makes this such a fun (and unintimidating) grape blend to explore with friends.

How Many Bottles Do You Need?

You don’t need a huge lineup.
Three or four bottles is perfect.

If you can, choose GSM wines from different regions, such as:

• California (Santa Ynez Valley or Paso Robles)

• Southern France (Rhône Valley)

• Washington State

• Australia

• Spain

This gives everyone a sense of how place influences flavor, without overwhelming the group. 

If you are able to go to a local wine shop to purchase the wines, often times by talking to a sales associate, they can not only direct you to different expressions of Grenache from different places in the world, but they can also print out information for you about each wine, what percentages of each grape variety (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre) it has, how it was made, and what the climate or region was like where the grapes were grown. It can be fascinating to see how different regions and winemaking techniques affect the same grape.

How to Set Up a Blind Tasting at Home

The goal here is mystery, not perfection.

Here’s the simplest way to do it:

1. Open each bottle before guests arrive

2. Slip each bottle into a tall paper bag (or wrap with foil)

3. Secure the top with tape or a rubber band

4. Number each bottle clearly

5. Keep a private key so you know which wine is which

That’s it. No special equipment needed.

What to Give Your Guests (Hint: Keep It Simple)

When guests arrive, give them something to jot down notes. Not to “judge” the wine, but to remember what they like.

A simple tasting sheet works best. 

→ You can download our printable GSM tasting sheet here

Ours includes prompts like:

• What does it smell like? (Ex. fruit, floral, nut, earthy, and spice flavors or smoky and herbal notes)

• What flavors stand out?

• Does it feel light or rich?

• What other characteristics do you notice? (Is the wine is dry, sweet, tannic, acidic, balanced, or high or low in alcohol. Feel free to refer to our past blog post for more info on identifying these characteristics → Common wine terms explained)

• Would you want another glass?

If guests are new to tasting wine, remind them:

There are no wrong answers! You can assure your guests that this is about noticing, not naming.

How to Taste (Without Overthinking It)

Have everyone taste the wines in order, one at a time. Encourage small sips, pauses, and conversation.

You can offer a few gentle prompts:

• “Which one feels the most easy to drink?”

• “Which would you want with dinner?”

• “Which surprised you?”

That’s usually all it takes to get great discussion going.

The Best Part: The Reveal

Once everyone has tasted all the wines, reveal the bottles.

This is where the fun really starts.

People love seeing:

• Which wines they gravitated toward

• Whether their favorite was local or international

• How different the same blend can taste

It often sparks conversations about travel, food, memories, and personal taste, which is exactly what wine should do.

Food Pairings (Optional, but Highly Encouraged)

You don’t need a full dinner, but having something on the table helps.

Easy, GSM-friendly options:

• Cheese and charcuterie

• Flatbreads or pizza

• Roasted vegetables

• Burgers or sausages

GSM wines are incredibly forgiving, which makes hosting feel effortless.

Why We Love This Kind of Gathering

A blind GSM tasting party isn’t about showing off knowledge. It’s about bringing people together, lowering the pressure around wine, and discovering what you actually enjoy.

Wine doesn’t have to be formal to be meaningful. Sometimes, the most memorable bottles are the ones you discover laughing around a table with friends.

So gather a few bottles, invite some curious people over, and let the tasting unfold.

You’ve got this.