How to Choose the Best Wine for Your Paint and Sip Class

So you want to attend a wine and paint class – but you don’t know which wine is best.

What’s the best wine for a paint and sip class? Which wine should you choose? Is it better to paint while sipping a chardonnay or a zinfandel?

Today, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about choosing the best wine for any painting class – whether you’re attending one of our virtual Paint and Sip Live painting classes or an in-person studio class with something else.

Buy a variety of wines

First, if you’re hosting a virtual Paint and Sip Live class at home with friends, we recommend buying several varieties of wine.

Some people like reds, while others like whites. Some people don’t drink wine at all – so stock up on beers, mixed drinks, or non-alcoholic beverages.

Generally, party rules state you should have at least one red, one white, and one pink wine to choose from. However, you know your fiends better than anyone, and feel free to break party rules.

If you’re hosting a larger party, then you might need more bottles. You can still mix things up. If you need to buy two reds, for example, then buy a cabernet sauvignon and a pinot noir. They’re both red wines but they’re very different from one another.

Just like with investing, diversification is important. Mix up your wine and beverage selection if hosting a virtual painting class – and you won’t disappoint any of your guests.

Choose regional wines based on the painting class

Are you painting a famous Italian sculpture for your painting class? Consider choosing a wine from Italy, which gave birth to renowned sculptors like Michelangelo and Bernini.

Are you working off a Picasso? Choose a Spanish wine. If your painting class is French-themed, then drink like Monet and opt for a French wine.

Putting a regional focus on your wine and paint class is fun. It gives every class a unique spin. Instead of mixing wines from different regions, you can make each class as memorable as possible by choosing wines from the artist’s home country.

Sign up for multiple classes with different themes – and you could easily travel the world through wine.

Choose light, crisp white wines for summer painting classes

Fruity, light, and crisp white wines are ideal for summer painting classes. Temperatures may be hotter. You and your guests may want something cool and refreshing.

Pinot grigio, also known as pinot gris, is a simple, light-bodied, dry and crisp wine popular on summer wine nights. Sauvignon blanc is similar, but with more tart, acidic, herbal, and tropical fruit flavors.

Or, if you and your guests like something more sweet, then chardonnay, Riesling, and Moscato may be the right white wines for you.

Choose a full-bodied red for winter painting classes

A full-bodied red wine may be more appropriate for winter painting classes. The right red wine can warm you up for the duration of your painting class.

Popular red wine varieties include cabernet sauvignon, known for being full-bodied with herbal notes and currant flavors. Some also like merlot for being fruitier and spicier with less tannic than cabernet sauvignon.

Others appreciate pinot noir for being a delicate and fresh red wine, and it’s popular for those who want a less full-bodied red wine. Zinfandel is all over the board, with some zinfandel varieties being medium-bodied and other being full-bodied, but most zinfandel varieties are zesty overall.

Consider wine pairings with food

Are you serving food when hosting your painting class? Good wine pairings can enhance the meal.

If serving chicken and fish, then white wines are popular. Sauvignon blanc goes well with chicken, for example, while many experts recommend chardonnay or pinot noir for salmon and other types of fish.

Other wine and food pairings to consider include:

Vegetables: Sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio, sparkling wine, or champagne.

Soft Cheese: Gewurztraminer, Riesling, and other sweet wines; or rich white wines like chardonnay and viognier; some soft cheeses pair well with medium or bold reds.

Hard Cheese: Sweet wines, sparkling wines, medium reds, and bold reds.

Red Meat: Medium red or bold reds like Sangiovese, zinfandel, grenache, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, Malbec, or Syrah.

Desserts: Sweet white wines or dessert wines like ice wine, sherry, or port.

White Meat: Rich white wines; or light red or medium red wines like St. Laurent, pinot noir, and Sangiovese.

Celebrate with champagne

Some of our students are celebrating something. We’ve hosted couples celebrating an anniversary, for example, or students celebrating graduation.

Whatever the occasion may be, it may call for champagne. Painting with champagne is fun, and it gives your event a more celebratory feel.

Pair wine with cheese, bread, and crackers

If you’re hosting a virtual painting class, we recommend stocking up on food as well. Buy cheese and crackers.

There’s a reason wine and cheese nights are popular: wine and cheese pair nicely together, and they’re great for snacking while you paint. Having a proper meal during a painting class might not work, but snacking on appetizers is perfect.

We ship you everything but the wine

At Paint and Sip, we ship all the painting materials to your address. We ship you everything except the wine. We pick the best paintbrushes, paints, and other materials, but it’s up to you to select the best wine or other beverage for your big night.

Schedule a virtual paint and wine class with Paint and Sip Live today. Flex your creative muscle, have an unforgettable night with friends, and sample delicious wines while doing it.