If you think wine-tasting parties are best left to fussy foodies and obsessive oenophiles with fake French accents, think again. These get-togethers are a great excuse to spend some time laughing with friends and refining your palate, and with the ever-growing number of moderately priced, great tasting domestic wines on the market, a wine-tasting party can even be an economical entertaining option. Here are a few tips to help you plan your party.

Call in the experts. If you’re a fledgling wine fan, scour the Internet for suggestions or pick up a copy of a recent wine review magazine. Ask a customer service rep at your favorite grocery store for suggestions about cheese and fruit pairings.

– Don’t be afraid to experiment. Even if you’re a dedicated Chardonnay drinker, force yourself to venture outside of your comfort zone and pick up a few bottles at the opposite end of the spectrum to spice things up a bit.

Brown-bag it. If some of your guests have some advanced wine-tasting experience under their belts, turn your tasting party into a competitive event by obscuring the labels and asking guests to guess the identity of each wine.

Whether you’re hosting or attending, wine-tasting parties are a wonderful way to broaden your culinary horizons. Cheers!