Game of Rhones a lighter approach to wine tasting

Like the trend in food, wine seems to be going casual. Or wine tasting specifically.

Here in Brisbane, we have the keenly priced monthly Swirl, Sniff, Spit, which attracts a broad demographic of people with all levels of wine knowledge; the annual Rose Revolution events; Pinot Palooza; and now Game of Rhones is coming.

"Tastings can be boring. Our aim is to bring fun and humour to wine tasting," Peter Marchant, a sommelier and Game of Rhones team member, says.

The event is meant to be a "tasting of serious wines rather than a serious wine tasting", he says.

It will feature about 100 wines showcasing Rhone Valley varietals such as shiraz, grenache, mourvedre, viognier, marsanne and roussane from producers such as Torbreck, Tscharke, Grant Burge, Schild and Voyager Estate.

"This is not going to be men in white coats sniffing wine. It's about taking the mickey out of wine-tasting a bit and making everyone feel comfortable.

"We have a rule - if winemakers start to talk about 'total acid' or 'baumé' we yellow-card them."

Attendees will be asked to vote for their favourite wine.

Part of the fun includes winemakers dressed as their favourite Game of Thrones characters, and a "torture chamber" - a room of participants blindfolded for tastings. Caxton Street's Statler and Waldorf Gastropub are providing food.

Game of Rhones will be held on Sunday, June 8, 1-6pm at Light Space, Fortitude Valley.

Tickets are $50 and include a take-home Riedel Ouverture Magnum wine glass.

Tickets available at gameofrhones.com.au.