Hosting a painting party with Painting To Gogh is easy because our studio kits have everything you need, including acrylic paint and easels. Every painting class comes with an artist-led video to make the project accessible for everyone. All you need to do is bring your wine and your guests.
How To Choose the Best Wine for Your Paint and Sip Party
Paint and sip parties are a great option for everything from date night to team building activities for your work crew. With step-by-step instructions, anyone can create beautiful art. But for you to have a true paint and sip painting class, you need the right glass of wine to go with your painting instruction. This guide will help you choose.
Throughout the year, people tend to drink wines that match the season. Light and crisp wines are popular in the spring and summer, while full-bodied reds are popular in the winter and fall. Pair your choice of vino with a wine painting party that matches the time of year to make it a seasonally appropriate event. Here’s how:
Light, Crisp, and Refreshing Wines for Spring and Summer Paintings
If you’re having an art class in the spring or summer, consider pairing it with a bottle of wine that reflects the colors and flavors of the season. If your painting is full of pink hues, for example, consider a rosé wine which will match with its delicate pink tones.
Recommended Wine Types by the Season
For spring and summer painting experiences, consider these wine types:
- Pinot grigio/pinot gris: This simple, light, and crisp wine is popular in summer.
- Sauvignon blanc: The tropical and acidic flavor of this wine is reminiscent of summer vacations.
- Chardonnay: For guests who want something sweet, this white wine would be a good choice.
- Moscato: Another white wine with a sweet flavor that works well for spring and summer painting classes.
- Riesling: Riesling comes from white grapes and can have many different flavors from tart to sweet.
Heavier, Earthier, and Darker Wines for Fall and Winter Paintings
As summer turns into fall, your painting events may start embracing warmer tones, like browns, reds, and oranges. This change makes summer the right time to embrace your favorite red wine. Fruitier wines with a little bit of spice can also match the flavors of the season.
Recommended Wine Types by the Season
If you’re planning a paint night in the fall or winter, consider these options:
- Pinot noir: This wine has a more delicate flavor but a bold red color.
- Zinfandel: This variety comes in many flavors including medium-bodied and full-bodied varieties.
- Cabernet sauvignon: This wine is spicy and has currant flavors in it, which can add quite a bit of flavor to your party.
- Merlot: This wine is both fruity and spicy and tastes like fall.
Choose Wines Based on the Mood of the Painting
If you aren’t doing a paint party that is based on a particular season, consider pairing your wine choice with the mood of the painting.
First, consider the color of the wine. Are you painting a fun, whimsical garden gnome or snowman? Then choose a light and crisp wine. A pinot noir or Gamay would work well for this pairing. These light-colored wines have a light-hearted feel to them. Are you painting a moody, dark nighttime scene? Then a rich, bold red wine might work best. Consider a Syrah or cabernet wine.
You can also consider the aroma of the wine. An aromatic wine, like viognier, works well for a bright, colorful painting or a fun paint your pet night. A more subdued wine, like chardonnay, pairs better with a dark or subtle painting choice.
Choose Wines That Go With the Food You’re Serving at Your Paint Party
Private parties in an art studio or in your home often come with food. Even a virtual paint party may have a food theme that you communicate with guests before the event. Pairing your wine with the food enhances the meal and helps each ingredient taste its best.
As a general rule, if you’re serving poultry or fish, opt for a white wine. If you’re serving red meat, choose a medium red or bold red wine. For dessert, opt for a sweet white wine or even a sherry or port dessert wine.
Classic Wine and Food Pairings
As you plan your menu, use this quick list of common wine and food pairings:
- Vegetables: A sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio works well.
- Cheese: For soft cheese, choose riesling or chardonnay, and for hard cheese, choose a sweet or sparkling wine.
- Red meat: Pairs well with zinfandel, grenache, and merlot.
- White meat: Pairs well with St. Laurent or pinot noir.
- Dessert: Pairs well with ice wine, sherry, or port.
Wine and Painting Pairings for August
Just like with great food, the right glass of wine paired with a painting has the power to totally transform your drinking experience. We’re all about getting the most out of our summer, that’s why, to get you started on your art and wine journey, we’ve put together a list of wine pairings for our upcoming paint and sip classes.
Whether it’s a date night, girls night, or just a night out drinking with friends, we’ve got the combos that are guaranteed to have you asking for a refill.
CHARDONNAY & “COLORFUL POPPIES” (August 10th)
We’re kicking off our list with one of our favorite new paintings: “Colorful Poppies”. The unique canvas shape, playful floral motif, and bright pops of color make this painting a perfect pair for a bold and buttery Chardonnay. The many flavor profiles hidden in a simple glass of Chardonnay, from warm oakiness to bright citrus, reflect the possibilities for creativity in this painting. Customize the colors to fit your home décor. Perfect for a painting girls night out!
SAUVIGNON BLANC & “COME SAIL AWAY” (August 4th)
We ❤ a crisp, zesty Sauvignon Blanc to put a little wind in our sails. That’s why we’ve paired this wine with “Come Sail Away”, another unique canvas size debut on our August calendar. The simple design and wide perspective go perfect with the green, herbaceous flavors of a Sauvignon Blanc to put you in that breezy go-with-the-flow mindset. This pairing is sure to provide and elegant and relaxing paint night.
PINOT GRIGIO & “PIXIE PETALS” (August 27th)
“Pixie Petals” is a fun, easy painting perfect for a Sunday afternoon glass of Pinot Grigio. The delicate fragrance and light, floral notes of this white wine effortlessly pair with the simple brushstrokes that make up this painting. Ultimately, this graceful combination makes for a delightfully tangy addition to your weekend plans.
PINOT NOIR & “FANTASY UNICORN” (August 3rd)
We’re pairing one of the lightest reds with our most whimsical of August paintings. Fruity, silky Pinot Noirs don’t take themselves too seriously, and neither does our “Fantasy Unicorn” painting. This painting is magically both dark and light, just like a good Pinot, surefire to make for a carefree Thirsty Thursday. So ditch your average night out and create something fantastical with this pairing.
TEQUILA & “GOODNIGHT CHICAGO” (August 15th)
Okay, so techiniquila, our favorite creativity juice isn’t a “wine” per-se, but we couldn’t keep this pairing off the list! Not only does tequila combine perfectly with our “Goodnight Chicago” painting (because… tequila), but it goes even better with the Tacos we’ll be serving up. Whether you’re drinking a marg, sunrise, or shot, Tequila is a must-have on Taco Tuesday, and we promise it’ll make your painting look better, thus it’s a must-have on our pairings list!
MALBEC & “LOVE IN PARIS” (August 5th)
Paris at night is dark, rainy, and mysterious—full of romance and a little intrigue, just like a deep red glass of Malbec. We’ve paired our “Love in Paris” painting with a seductive Malbec, giving this Saturday night the potential to ignite some passion. The deep black and blue tones bring out the velvety softness in the wine (and maybe someone special too). If you’re looking to create a painting date night in Chicago with a little mystique, look no further than this combination.
CABERNET SAUVIGNON & “TROPICAL SAIL” (August 24th)
Cabernet Sauvignon makes us feel bold and adventurous. Maybe it’s the high alcohol content… maybe it’s because we’ve paired it with our colorful new sunset getaway painting! Some people say the dryness, thickness, and pepperiness of a cab can be little overwhelming if not paired with food, and to that we say: adventure is the only sustenance we need! Make a statement at this Thursday wine and painting class and sail to places unexpected!
