Wine Box: Hold your own tasting

Ever thought of going along to a professional wine-tasting, but never quite dared, convinced it would be chock-full of pontificating wine snobs? Hang on, it shouldn't be like that: wine is fun. So why not make a few friends in the neighbourhood by organising your own tasting at home - they can be terrific, believe me.

Here are a few tips for those of you who have not arranged one before, plus a deliberately wide choice of wines to help your guests notice huge differences in style.

One bottle can serve at least a dozen tasters. Have plenty of bottles, by all means, but only a small amount is needed for tasting purposes - preferably poured into clear, tulip-shaped, stemmed glasses.

Cover the serving table with a white cloth (or even rolls of plain paper). A white background is important to show off the colour of the wine, as is decent lighting.

Provide writing paper (with full name of wines and vintages, if you have the time) and pencils so that everyone can make a few notes, which they can compare.

Keep the bottles in order of tasting, possibly by numbering and doing whites and reds in batches. Make sure 'dead' bottles and glasses are speedily removed.

Provide something to cleanse the palate - dry biscuits or bread, cold water or mild cheese - but keep food to a minimum.

Ban smoking until after the formalities.

Finca El Retiro Malbec 2000 (Waitrose, £5.99). Well-rounded, gently oaked and fruity Argentinian red that shows how well the Malbec grape grows there. Lots of soft tannins and very smooth in the mouth. A good wine for learning purposes.

Hardy's Nottage Hill Sparkling Chardonnay Brut 1999 (Safeway, £6.99). Quite mature for a cheapie Oz fizz with a bright, nutty flavour. Blind-taste it against a real French champagne - and see who picks the New World from the Old.