What is a Flight of Wine?

by Philip Thompson
Updated on 05 July, 2024

Let's take a journey of discovery into the exciting world of wine flights! A wine flight consists of a selection of different wines that have been chosen to complement each other and present a broad range of styles.

What is a Wine Flight?

Three to six wines are selected and presented as a wine flight because they share some quality in common. The winery, the region where the grapes were grown, the variety of red wine grapes or white wine grapes used, or the wine's style (such as sparkling or Pinot Noir) could all play a role in defining this aspect.

This sample of wines is also known as a "wine flight" to seem more sophisticated.

Tasting a flight of wines can be a great way to explore different varieties and discover your own unique favorites.

So why don't you join us for an adventure into this fascinating world of wine?

Wine Flight Ideas

Are you looking for some creative and exciting wine flight ideas?

From regional flights to classic vs modern, there’s no shortage of ways to explore different varieties of wine in a fun and educational setting.

Whether you’re a wine enthusiast or just starting out, hosting a unique tasting can be a great way to learn more about the nuances of different wines, expand your palate, and have a great time with friends!

Regional Wines

Regional wine flights offer a great chance to explore the subtle differences between the wines made in different areas. You can compare styles, flavors, and aromas, while comparing the different vineyards and winemakers who produce them.

The positives of a regional wine flight are that you get to experience a large range of wines, while the negatives include missing some deeper complexities between vintages and terroirs.

Young Vs Aged Wines

A young vs aged wine flight is a great way to compare and contrast how time can affect a wine's flavor profile. With youthful energy, younger wines bring plenty of bright fruit flavors to the mix.

On the other hand, aged wines gain complexity from extended barrel aging or bottle aging, so they offer more complex profiles with an increased depth of flavor.

The plus side of these flights is that you get to experience two drastically different styles of wine, while the downside is that you may miss out on certain nuances between vintages and regions.

New World Vs Old World:

While New World wines emphasize bold flavor profiles over traditional structure, Old World wines typically showcase classic European blends and balanced acidity.

This type of wine flight gives you a great chance to try both styles and get a complete picture of the winemaking process across multiple regions.

The advantages include trying a range of styles from different countries, while the negatives might include missing out on some regional specialties or unique expressions of particular varieties.

Champagne vs Prosecco

Comparatively speaking, Champagne is much more full-bodied and robust than Prosecco, which tends to be lighter and more sparkling in nature.

A Champagne vs Prosecco flight offers you the opportunity to experience both styles and determine which one appeals to your palate more.

The good news is that this type of tasting allows you to find what style of sparkler works best for you; however, it also means that your choices are limited by region (for example there will likely only be Italian or French sparkling wines).

Oaked vs Unoaked

An oaked vs unoaked taste test provides you with an opportunity to explore differences between two contrasting styles of winemaking - oaked or unoaked (i.e., wood-aged or stainless steel-aged).

While oak brings out unique characteristics such as smokiness and tannins, it can also mask underlying flavors if used incorrectly; hence why there are distinct advantages & disadvantages associated with each method.

The positive aspect is being able to make an informed decision about which style suits your preferences best; however it may be difficult to truly appreciate both methods without having knowledge about how each affects certain grape varietals differently.

Shiraz Vs Syrah

Shiraz/Syrah grapes thrive in different climates but carry similar flavor profiles - dark berry fruit alongside savory spice notes like pepper & clove.

A Shiraz/Syrah tasting allows you to explore the subtle nuances between these two popular grapes with concentrated aromas & flavors providing easy comparison points for keen tasters & casual drinkers alike!

The high intensity fruit makes for an enjoyable tasting experience as well as giving insights into how different climate conditions & winemaking techniques can affect flavor profile development.

Bordeaux Blend

Bordeaux blends are wonderfully complex mixtures that encompass many red wine varieties including Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon & Petit Verdot amongst others all hailing from France's iconic wine region – Bordeaux!

Making up these blends is a balancing act – achieving perfect harmony between delicacy & power through judicious blending – that only a skilled winemaker can master!

Trying various Bordeaux Blends during tastings helps develop your skills when it comes to judging and appreciating quality as well as how certain components combine harmoniously together; however it does require dedication in order to fully understand how each component plays its part in creating beautiful tasting wines!

Selection of Wine Flights

How To Organize a Wine Flight

Here's how to organize a wine flight in 6 simple steps:

1. Choose the wines you want to feature in your flight. Consider the variety, style, and region of the wines you choose to make sure there is a nice range for the tasting

2. Select the bottle sizes that you want to offer. Most wine flights include 3-4 ounces of each wine and may feature various selections from 2-ounce poppers or mini-bottles

3. Place the bottles in an attractive and organized fashion on your serving platter or tray. Make sure each wine type is clearly labelled and all wines are easy to reach and sample

4. Fill individual glasses with small amounts of each wine and set them out in front of each taster

5. Serve each taster a sample of each wine, starting with the lightest bodied and ending with the fullest bodied wines so that they can experience the range of flavors in between

6. Serve some snacks that are complementary to the flavors in your flight selection - such as cheese, crackers, or cured meats - to help bring out the nuances in your wines even further!

FAQ's About Wine Flights

Why is it called a wine flight?

The term “wine flight” was coined by wine enthusiasts in the mid-1980s as a way to describe a selection of different wines that were served in small portions. This term has become more common in recent years and is often used when discussing wine-tasting experiences.

The term "flight" is used to describe a selection of different wines because it evokes the image of taking a journey, or a flight, around the world of wines.

The variety of wines in a flight helps to introduce tasters to new styles and regions, just as a plane journey can introduce travellers to new cultures and countries.

How much wine is in a wine flight?

The amount of wine in a wine flight typically depends on the number of wines being featured, as well as the size of the servings. Generally, a tasting flight will include about four to six ounces of wine per person.

With a wine flight you can sample several wines without committing to a full glass by ordering these smaller servings, which are typically 2 ounces each.

And if you're a sommelier or wine buyer, you'll be pleased to know that spitting out your wine into a spittoon is standard practise.

Those in their industry may taste hundreds of wines in a single day, so taking care of their taste buds is essential (and it this method also stops them from getting intoxicated!)

But don't panic; if you're just a casual wine aficionado who wants to explore different wines (without getting drunk), a wine flight is the perfect way to enjoy a selection of wines at once.

Keep in mind that a normal wine flight includes five to fifteen 1oz pours, or the equivalent of one to three glasses of wine.

Read our related wine articles:

What's the difference between a wine flight and a wine tasting?

A wine flight is a selection of different wines that are served in small portions in order to allow the taster to experience several different types of wines at once.

A wine tasting, on the other hand, is a more comprehensive experience that usually includes discussing the wines and their flavors, aromas and origins in greater detail.