Bring the Traveling Vineyard to a social gathering
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

Rachel Nudelman, a consultant for Traveling Vineyard, displays the wines currently being marketed tasting parties. The idea is similar to a Tupperware party, but with wine.

Are your cupboards full of storage containers and cooking gadgets? Your end tables decorated with enough candles? The scrapbooks complete?

Then a wine tasting party is the next event you should host.

Williamsville resident Rachel Nudelman, a consultant with Traveling Vineyard, "turns your living room into a tasting room."

Serving some of the most rare blends from various regions of the world, Nudelman offers tastings of five wines, a mix of white and red varieties.

The wines are made at "boutique wineries," and produced in small quantities. Traveling Vineyard purchases a boutique's stock, giving the company exclusive access to those particular flavors. Boutique wineries produce fewer than a 1,000 cases per year.

"All of the wines we bring to sample aren't found in stores," Nudelman said.

Tasters at the parties rate the wines and can order bottles of their favorites, which will be delivered to their home by Traveling Vineyard. Prices range from $8.99 to $20 per bottle.

Nudelman also offers tips when wine tasting and selecting.

"The best way to describe it is like a Tupperware or purse party," she said. "I come in with the wine and all the accessories, even the glasses."

Nudelman joined the company when she was living in Florida and has started hosting parties in Western New York.

Nudelman said these types of parties are new to the area, but interest in wine has been growing nationwide.

In 2002, Traveling Vineyard was founded by Geerlings and Wade. A team of traveling wine consultants were trained to provide in-home wine tasting events to consumers.

For information on the company, visit www.myttv.com. Contact Nudelman about a party at, floridawinelady@yahoo.com or at 850-276-9316.