About this Event
Blind Wine Tasting
Get ready for a lively and approachable blind wine tasting experience. This class features 8 wines, sparkling to start, 3 whites, 4 reds, designed to sharpen your palate while keeping things fun and unpretentious. You’ll learn practical blind tasting techniques using both deductive and sense memory methods, perfect for any level of wine lover. Then, put your new skills to the test in a playful game that’s guaranteed to bring laughs and maybe a little friendly competition. Prizes await the top tasters, and everyone takes home tasting tools and analysis cards for future adventures in wine.
Agenda
6:30pm - Lite Sparkling wine reception
6:45pm - Blind Wine Tasting fundamentals (Deductive & Sense Memory)
7pm - Blind Wine Tasting Game
7:45pm - Wine Reveal & Prizes
8pm - Departure
Why Blind Tasting?
Blind tasting removes labels, prices, and preconceived notions—letting your senses do the talking. It’s one of the best ways to truly understand wine, sharpen your palate, and discover what you actually love without influence.
A Short History
The roots of blind tasting reach as far back as 1224, when French poet Henry d’Andeli wrote La Bataille des Vins (“The Battle of the Wines”). Commissioned under King Philip II of France, it described a grand tasting of over 70 wines judged solely by taste—no labels, no clues. Centuries later, this spirit of fairness and curiosity resurfaced famously at the 1976 “Judgment of Paris”, when California wines triumphed over France’s best in a blind showdown.
Why a Guide Matters
With an expert like Advanced Sommelier Lamar Engel leading the way, you’ll learn to taste with both precision and intuition. His guidance bridges professional technique with sensory awareness, turning what can feel intimidating into an approachable, confidence-building adventure for every level of taster.
Who the hell are we anyways?
Founded by Canadian rock ( and punk) musician-turned-sommelier Lamar Engel, The Wine Militia turns wine tasting into an adventure. Forget the snobbery, this is wine done differently: playful, immersive, and made for everyone.
From blind tastings and sommelier games to themed dinners and pop-up parties, every event is designed to spark connection, laughter, and discovery. Whether you’re a curious beginner or a seasoned enthusiast, you’ll find something new in every glass.
It’s not just a tasting, it’s an experience.
For the people. By the people. For the love of wine.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
WorkWell, 17322 Murphy Avenue, Irvine, United States
USD 44.52 to USD 55.20
