A Home Tasting Set Up For Easy Hosting
Our private home tastings are planned for a comfortable, sociable evening at home, whether you are in Franschhoek, Somerset West, Constantia, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Cape Town, Johannesburg or Durban. Each session is guided by our team and built around a selection of local wines and sparkling beverages that suit the group size, budget and your preferred style. If your home has a small dining table or a larger entertainment area, we can shape the tasting to fit the space without making it fussy.
We work with practical details from the start. That includes the number of guests, glassware needs, whether you want still wines, bubbly or a mixed line-up, and whether food will be served alongside the tasting. For homes that deal with load-shedding or outdoor entertaining, we can plan the format so the evening still runs smoothly. If you have coastal humidity in Durban or a warm summer evening in the Cape, we also help you keep the bottles at the right serving temperature.
What Is Included In The Private Home Tasting
Every booking is tailored, but the core structure stays clear and practical. You receive a guided tasting with carefully chosen bottles, tasting notes and pace that suits the group. Our aim is to make the evening enjoyable for both keen wine lovers and people who are still learning what they like.
- Curated selection of South African wines and bubbly matched to the group
- Hosted tasting flow with introduction, tasting order and discussion points
- Tasting notes covering style, grape variety, region and serving temperature
- Food pairing guidance for cheeses, light snacks, canapes or a full plated meal
- Advice on glassware, chilling and storage before the event
- Setup guidance for table layout, seating and serving order
If you want a more relaxed gathering, we keep the tone informal. If you are hosting clients or celebrating a special milestone, we can make the format a bit more structured. The tasting can include still wines, MCC style bubbly, or a mix of both, depending on the mood of the evening and what is in season.
How We Plan Your Tasting From Enquiry To Pouring
The process is straightforward. You send your enquiry through the contact form, and we come back with a few questions about the occasion, the suburb or town, the number of guests and the kind of wines you would like to explore. Once the brief is clear, we recommend a tasting style and confirm the timing. For most private home tastings, we allow enough lead time to source the right bottles and plan the route for delivery or host arrival.
- Step 1: Share your date, venue, guest count and preferred tasting style
- Step 2: We propose the bottle mix, format and estimated cost
- Step 3: Once confirmed, we finalise the tasting plan and logistics
- Step 4: Wines and bubbly are prepared for the evening and delivered or brought to site
- Step 5: The tasting is hosted at your home with a steady pace and clear guidance
Most private home tastings can be arranged within a few days if the date is open, although larger groups, special bottle requests or travel outside the main metro areas may need more notice. In our experience, bookings for weekends and month-end fill quickest, especially in Franschhoek and Cape Town.
Pricing That Fits The Group And The Occasion
We price private home tastings according to the size of the group, the number of wines or bubblies included, the distance to the venue and any add-ons such as food pairing guidance or extra hosting time. That means there is no one-size-fits-all figure. A small birthday evening in Franschhoek will be priced differently from a company hosted tasting in Johannesburg or a larger family celebration in Durban.
Our pricing approach is practical and transparent. We quote on the tasting format rather than loading hidden extras into the final amount. If you are working to a fixed budget, we can suggest a narrower selection and keep the evening focused. If you want a broader range, we can build the tasting around more bottles and a longer hosting window. We are also mindful of delivery conditions, traffic and regional timing, which helps keep the logistics sensible and the cost under control.
As a guide, private home tastings are usually structured around either a per guest cost or a total event fee, depending on the scale of the booking. Bottle selection, travel and hosting time all play a role in the final quote.
Service Specs And Tasting Standards
We keep the service standards simple and consistent so the evening feels calm and well run. The tasting can be held indoors or in a covered outdoor area, provided the setting is suitable for glassware and proper serving conditions. Most sessions work best with a table large enough for each guest to have a glass, tasting sheet and water on hand.
- Recommended group size: 6 to 20 guests for the best pace and interaction
- Typical duration: 90 to 150 minutes, depending on the format
- Bottle count: usually 4 to 6 wines or bubbly selections
- Serving temperature: chilled bubbly and whites, moderate room temperature for reds
- Space requirement: one table, seated guests and access to water for rinsing glasses
- Travel coverage: Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban and surrounding areas by arrangement
We also take the local conditions into account. In coastal areas, bottles may need extra chilling before the event. In summer, a shaded or air-conditioned space is better for holding temperatures steady. During load-shedding, a cooler box or backup chilling plan is useful and we can advise on that ahead of time.
When To Book And How To Keep The Night Running Smoothly
For the best result, book your private home tasting at least a week ahead, and earlier for month-end, long weekends or peak wedding season. If you are planning a date in Franschhoek or Stellenbosch during a busy period, more notice helps us secure the right selection and delivery timing. Corporate homes or larger groups may need longer lead times, especially when guests are travelling in from different towns.
Once the event is confirmed, keep the guest list stable and share any dietary needs early. This allows us to align the tasting order with the food and avoid last-minute changes. If the evening is part of a birthday, engagement or family gathering, let us know so we can shape the tone accordingly. The same applies if you want an easy-going introduction for beginners rather than a more detailed tasting for seasoned wine drinkers.
After the tasting, you can carry on the conversation with favourite bottle notes, pairing ideas and suggestions for future club nights or seasonal tastings. Many of our clients use private home tastings as a regular social fixture, especially when they want a simple way to enjoy South African wines with friends.
Key facts
| Service type | Private hosted wine and bubbly tasting in a home setting |
|---|---|
| Base area | Franschhoek village, with bookings across South Africa by arrangement |
| Guest range | 6 to 20 guests recommended |
| Duration | 90 to 150 minutes |
| Tasting format | Curated South African wines, bubbly or mixed selection |
| Booking lead time | A few days for standard dates, longer for peak weekends or larger groups |
