Make Holiday Hosting Fun with Two Wine-Centric Games

The holidays have always been about connection for me. Good food on the table, people you love around it, and a few bottles you have been waiting for the right moment to open. And if you want to bring a little extra fun to your hosting this year, I have two easy wine games that will do the trick.

They are simple to pull together, they work for every kind of guest from the friend who just likes wine to the one who takes tasting notes, and they spark the kind of conversation and laughter that make a gathering feel memorable.

If you are looking to mix things up this season, let me walk you through two of my favorites: Flavor Profile Bingo and Build the Bottle. They turn tasting into a shared experience, and that is what this time of year is all about.

GAME 1: Flavor Profile Bingo

A playful tasting game that helps guests explore wine without any pressure or formality.

What You Need

• 1–3 bottles of wine (choose different styles if you want variety)
• Bingo cards with wine descriptors
• Pens or markers
• Optional: a small prize for the winner (chocolate, ornaments, etc.) or go big with a Magnum!

How to Create the Bingo Cards

You can make bingo cards quickly using 5 rows x 5 columns. Fill the boxes with a mix of approachable descriptors like:

• Dark cherry
• Vanilla
• Citrus
• Cranberry
• Baking spice
• Raspberry
• Floral
• Oak
• Earthy
• Toasty
• Smooth
• Zesty

Make each card slightly different so guests aren’t all checking the same boxes.

How to Play

1. Pour the wine: Start with your first bottle and pour a small tasting for each guest.
2. Guests sip and mark: As they taste, guests look for flavor notes, aromas, or textures that appear on their bingo card. If they detect “cranberry,” they mark it. If they notice “vanilla,” mark it. No wrong answers – this is about perception and fun.
3. Call-outs allowed: Anyone can share what they’re tasting out loud. Others can agree, disagree, or check their own card.
4. First to Bingo wins: The first person to get 5 in a row (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) wins a small prize.

Why This Game Works

• It’s fun for newer or more experienced wine drinkers
• It makes tasting collaborative rather than intimidating
• It’s silly, social, and naturally sparks conversation
• It works with red, white, sparkling, or even non-alcoholic wine
• This is the perfect game to kick off a holiday dinner or fill that in-between time before dessert.

GAME 2: build-the-bottle

Part wine tasting, part storytelling, part creative chaos—and 100% fun.

What You Need

• 1 bottle of wine for the group
• A set of “sensory cards” (flavor notes, textures, moods, seasons, colors, etc.)
• Optional: a judge or voting system

How to Make Sensory Cards

Prepare small slips of paper or cards with prompts. Mix these categories:

Flavor Notes

• Blackberry
• Lemon zest
• Dark chocolate
• Herbs
• Caramel

Textures

• Silky
• Crisp
• Velvety
• Bubbly
• Spicy

Moods / Seasons

• Cozy night in
• First snowfall
• Summer picnic
• Holiday nostalgia
• After-work unwind

Colors / Imagery

• Deep ruby
• Warm candlelight
• Frosted window
• Fireplace glow
• Evergreen

Example: One card would be Silky, Fireplace glow, Herbs, Dark Chocolate. Aim for 25 – 40 total cards, shuffled together.

How to Play

1. Pour the wine: Everyone gets a glass of the same wine.

2. Draw the cards: Each guest draws one card from the deck.

3. Make your argument: Guests take turns explaining why their sensory card fits the wine. This is where the fun happens. You’ll hear things like:

• • “This wine is ‘first snowfall’ because it feels crisp and refreshing.”
  • “I’m arguing ‘dark chocolate’ because of the finish—it’s rich and bitter-sweet.”
  • “I’m taking ‘fireplace glow’ because the wine feels warm and comforting.”

1. Vote or choose a winner: Everyone votes for:

• • The most convincing argument
  • The funniest argument
  • The most unexpected match

Give prizes or simply offer bragging rights.

Why This Game Works

• It removes the pressure of “getting it right”
• It opens the door for personality and storytelling
• Even wine beginners can participate confidently
• It’s quick, flexible, and works with any wine style

Final Pour

Holiday gatherings are always at their best when they feel joyful, relaxed, and a little interactive. Flavor Profile Bingo and Build the Bottle bring people together in a way that feels easy for the host and genuinely fun for everyone at the table.

Whether you are pouring for a cozy night with close friends or a lively family dinner, these games add an extra layer of connection and energy that goes far beyond what is in the bottle.

Explore Wines for your Holiday Celebrations