Private and group wine tastings for home gatherings, celebrations, wine clubs, and corporate events — built around what your guests actually want to learn, not a standard script.
I'm WSET Level 2 certified with Distinction. I conduct wine club tastings at Carfagna's Market & Ristorante in Columbus, work the floor at Uncorked Wine Tastings in Dublin, and manage The Northern Nook, a vacation rental property on the Leelanau Peninsula. Through Matt Dinovo Wine Consulting, I lead private and group tastings across central Ohio and beyond.
What a Tasting Looks Like
A session runs 90 minutes to two hours. We taste a flight of four to six wines — moving through structure, from lighter to heavier, or around a theme the group chooses. The conversation follows what the room is actually tasting. No prepared lecture; questions are welcome at any point. The goal is for everyone to leave trusting their own palate more than they did walking in.
Every session closes with a written takeaway: a recommended bottle list based on what the group enjoyed. Not a generic wine list — specific bottles, why they make sense, where to find them.
What's Included
Flight design and wine selection for the theme. I guide the tasting, explain each wine, and answer questions — walking through appearance, aromas, and structure with real context for what's in the glass. Stemware is provided, along with a tasting note card for each guest to keep.
Wine is sourced separately. I provide a wine shopping list so you can purchase ahead, or I can source the wines and pass them through at cost with zero markup — whichever works better for you.
Sample Tasting Flights
Examples pulled from my own cellar to show how a four-bottle session can be structured. Every flight is tailored to your group.
Same Grape, Three Continents: The Malbec Arc
Most people know Malbec from Argentina, but the grape started in Southwest France and takes on a completely different frame in California. Tasting them side by side makes terroir obvious in ten minutes.
- Château Famaey Cahors Malbec 2020 (Southwest France)
- Mi Terruño Uvas Malbec 2025 (Mendoza, Argentina)
- Caymus Vineyards Red Schooner Voyage 12 (Andes / Napa)
- Rodney Strong Reserve Malbec 2019 (Sonoma County, California)
Cal-Ital vs. Native Italy
Italian varieties grown in their home regions poured alongside California producers working with those same grapes. A favorite format for dinner parties and Italian-food lovers.
- Fattoria di Magliano Heba Morellino di Scansano 2019 (Tuscany) vs. Benessere Sangiovese 2017 (Napa Valley)
- Poggio del Concone Sangiovese In Bianco 2025 (white Sangiovese from Tuscany, poured blind)
- Tenuta Giustini Vecchio Sogno Negroamaro 2023 (Puglia) & Casa Girelli Nero d'Avola 2023 (Sicily)
- The Westhoff Pioneers ITA/I-01 Red (Teroldego, Sagrantino, Negroamaro & Nero d'Avola grown in Santa Barbara)
Cool-Climate Peninsula vs. California Mountain
How lake effect and latitude in Northern Michigan compare against elevation and sun in Sonoma and Napa using the exact same grape varieties.
- Black Star Farms Arcturos Cabernet Franc 2022 (Leelanau Peninsula, 12.0% ABV)
- Peterson Bradford Mountain Estate Cabernet Franc 2018 (Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma)
- Miner Family Winery Cabernet Franc 2022 (Napa Valley)
- Blustone Vineyards Pinot Noir 2023 (Leelanau Peninsula) vs. Metzker Terra De Promissio Pinot Noir 2016 (Sonoma Coast)
Who This Is For
Private & Home Gatherings
Dinner parties, birthdays, anniversaries, couple experiences, wine nights. Small groups in their own space, guided through a flight built around their palate and curiosity. Works equally well for a room full of first-timers and a group that's been collecting for years.
Wine Clubs
Structured flights for established clubs or groups already meeting around wine. Good for a club that wants to go deeper on a specific region or variety — or for a new group looking for a guide through its first few sessions. Closes with a recommended list for the club to explore independently.
Corporate & Client Events
Team events, client entertainment, hospitality. A guided tasting creates a shared experience that actually generates conversation — and doesn't require wine knowledge to enjoy. Sessions are approachable by design; no one needs to know anything walking in.
Two Ways to Work Together
Bundled — Flat Fee
A single flat fee covers everything: session design, facilitation, stemware, and a tasting note card per guest. Wine is sourced separately at your option. The right fit for home gatherings, one-time celebrations, wine club sessions, and most private group events.
Hourly — Itemized
An itemized hourly rate covering session time, with any additional costs billed at cost. Preferred by corporate clients who need transparent billing and by groups that meet regularly. Same session quality, different structure for the invoice.
Pricing is available on request — get in touch and we'll figure out what makes sense for your group and format: matt@mattdinovo.wine
The Background
Working behind the bar teaches you something reading about wine can't: most people already know what they like, they just haven't been given permission to trust it. Pouring wine club flights at Carfagna's and helping guests on the floor at Uncorked — talking with first-timers, collectors, skeptics, and people who apologize for not knowing the right words — has shaped how I run every session.
I've tasted firsthand across California, Northern Michigan, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Canada, and Argentina. WSET Level 1 certified (October 2025); WSET Level 2 certified with Distinction (July 2026). I also manage The Northern Nook, a vacation rental property on the Leelanau Peninsula in Northern Michigan, which helps me see hospitality from the guest's perspective. The credentials keep the stories honest; the floor work and hosting are what make the sessions actually work.
Get in Touch
Tell me about your group — how many people, what the occasion is, and whether you have wine preferences or want recommendations built in. We'll work out the format and a number from there.