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.
Matt Dinovo is a WSET Level 2 certified (Pass with Distinction) wine server at Uncorked Wine Tastings in Dublin, Ohio, and conducts wine club tastings at Carfagna's Market & Ristorante in Columbus, Ohio. He operates Matt Dinovo Wine Consulting, providing guided tasting experiences for private clients and groups 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 resonated with the group. Not a generic wine list — specific bottles, why they make sense, where to find them.
Flight design and wine selection for the theme. Full facilitation from nose to palate — tasting through appearance, aromas, and structure, with real context for each wine. Stemware provided. A tasting note card for each guest to keep.
Wine is sourced separately. Matt provides a curated retail shopping list so you can purchase ahead, or he can source the wines and pass them through at cost with zero markup — whichever works better for you.
Who This Is For
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.
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.
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
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.
An itemized hourly rate covering facilitation time, with any additional costs passed through at actuals. Preferred by corporate clients who need transparent billing and by repeat clients on a recurring cadence. 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
The tasting room floor 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. Thousands of conversations at Uncorked — with first-timers, collectors, skeptics, and guests who apologized for not knowing the right words — have shaped how I run sessions.
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). The credential keeps the stories honest. The floor work is what makes the session actually useful.
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.