Start with the question, then choose the bottles. A vertical compares one label across years; a horizontal compares wines from the same year and region or style (Decanter’s tasting-format guide).
You might want to explore how a favourite differs between vintages or decide which regional style you prefer. The tasting doesn't need to establish a definitive ranking. An enjoyable evening and a clearer idea of what to buy again are perfectly useful outcomes.
Write the question in one sentence
Try “I'd like to compare 3 Quintet vintages” or “I want to explore which of these Cabernet-led wines I prefer”. Keep that sentence beside the sourcing list so an interesting idea doesn't become an unrelated collection of impressive labels.
Decanter suggests 3 or 4 successive vintages as a manageable starting point for a vertical (Decanter’s tasting-format guide). If consecutive years aren't available on suitable terms, explain the gaps or revise the plan. Completeness isn't compulsory.
Adapt one of these Australian briefs
- Quintet across seasons: request a few named releases and gather their blend details.
- Giaconda Chardonnay: compare estate-label vintages, allowing for documented production gaps.
- Margaret River in one year: select named Cabernet-led wines from an agreed vintage.
These are example briefs, not available stock. Giaconda records no 2020 Estate Vineyard Chardonnay because of bushfires (Giaconda’s wine archive). Keep facts like that in the plan rather than replacing a missing year with a different label unnoticed.
Make the event requirements clear
Confirm quantity, total budget, intended audience and deadline. Decide whether the tasting depends on the complete group or whether a smaller set still answers the question. Put acceptable alternatives in writing.
Request the available history for older bottles and note different sources. Agree delivery rather than assume an event date guarantees it. Allow time to check what arrives against the proposal before the occasion.
Keep technical notes and impressions separate
Decanter recommends gathering producer technical sheets to compare the growing season, blend and winemaking information (Decanter’s tasting-format guide). Give those facts their own space on the sheet, separate from what you notice yourself.
Our suggested fields are wine, year, format, history, serving order, personal impressions and “Would I buy it again?” Use consistent glassware where practical, provide water and a way to spit, and keep pours modest. Nobody needs to finish a glass to take part.
Don't make one tasting prove too much
Different vintages also mean different bottle ages. Decanter describes vertical tasting as a way to explore development, seasons and changing techniques, not to isolate a single variable (Decanter’s tasting-format guide). Bottle histories may differ too.
Write your observations before comparing verdicts. “I preferred this today” says something useful without declaring a permanent winner. If a bottle seems unusual, record the uncertainty rather than confidently diagnosing a cause or condemning the whole vintage.
Use what you learned in the next brief
Update the inventory and record which wines or styles you'd like to explore again. If the tasting changes your intended opening date for bottles you own, note that separately from the producer's guidance.
Tell Aaron and the team what you preferred in your own words. A preference is more actionable than a borrowed score. Then review the budget before turning a good evening into another order.
Give the tasting one useful question
| Fictional brief | Comparison | What to record |
|---|---|---|
| Follow one Australian label | A few sourced vintages of the same wine | Different years and each bottle’s known history |
| Explore one vintage and region | Different labels with a shared year and regional focus | Producer details and your own preferences |
| Understand your preference for maturity | A younger and a documented older example of one style | What you enjoy, without claiming one represents every wine |
These are planning examples, not stocked tasting packs or tested recommendations. Keep quantities and serving responsible, and use appropriate handling for mature wine rather than applying one decanting routine to every bottle.
Check the research references
These are the references used on this page. Addresses are shown as text; the site's reading links stay on WineInvestments.
- Decanter’s tasting-format guidehttps://www.decanter.com/learn/advice/what-is-a-vertical-tasting-51353/
- Giaconda’s wine archivehttps://giaconda.com.au/our-wines
Put the research into a brief.
Tell Aaron and the team what you'd like to find, what you already own and what you want to spend. You don't need every detail settled before asking.
Tell us what you're looking for