New Year's Eve Blind Taste-Off

What it's about

Buy five to seven sparkling wines at different price points — from budget bubbles to a real splurge — and do a blind tasting as the clock counts down. You score each one, debate your picks, then reveal the prices at midnight. It's part game, part ritual, and almost always produces a genuinely surprising result that you'll talk about for years.

Why it works

It turns a sometimes-anticlimactic holiday into something interactive and memorable instead of just waiting for midnight. The reveal moment lands perfectly at the stroke of the new year, and the friendly competition keeps energy high all evening. It works for couples or a small group of close friends who actually want to enjoy the night.

What to expect

Budget around two to four hours total including setup and the tasting itself. Buying seven bottles adds up, so splitting costs in a group makes it more manageable. You'll need to be okay with a little prep — wrapping bottles, printing a simple scorecard — but nothing complicated.

How to set it up

1. 01

   Buy 5–7 sparkling wines ranging from a $10 cava to a $50+ champagne. Mix in prosecco, crémant, and domestic options for variety.

2. 02

   Wrap each bottle in foil or a paper bag and number them so the pourer knows the order but tasters don't.

3. 03

   Print or write out simple tasting scorecards: dryness, bubbles, taste, overall score out of 10.

4. 04

   Set out proper glasses (one per person per pour), palate cleansers like plain crackers, and a pitcher of water.

5. 05

   Pour each wine at timed intervals, leaving the last pour for 11:50pm so you're sipping the 'winner' as midnight hits.

6. 06

   Reveal prices, tally scores, crown a winner — then open whatever you actually want to drink for the toast.

Best seasons