Exclusive Wine Tasting Events

Curated Wine Tastings for an Exceptional Experience

Each exclusive wine tasting is curated to deliver an exceptional, memorable experience. Karen MacNeil works closely with clients to craft luxury wine experiences customized to the audience and purpose of each event, from executive retreats and client appreciation experiences to sales incentive awards and personal celebrations.

These tastings are more than bespoke opportunities to taste fine wine. They’re immersive journeys through the world of wine, featuring rare vintages, rich storytelling, and dynamic interaction. Karen blends the art of winemaking with thematic depth and elegant pairings to create an experience that’s both enlightening and unforgettable.

Exclusive Wine Tastings with The Top Wine Expert in America

Karen’s events aren’t just about wine, they’re about creating lasting connections. Each tasting experience is built around sensory storytelling and meaningful interaction. Whether the tasting takes place at an elegant venue, a private vineyard, a corporate meeting room, or virtually, Karen’s events leave a lasting impression.

Her exclusive tastings have helped global companies excite their teams, build loyalty with their clients, and heighten the impact of their events. Within an hour, audiences are “transported” to an exceptional world of delicious wine, while experiencing the rare opportunity to engage with the leading wine expert in America. Karen is the only American to have won every major wine award given in the English language.

Signature Wine Tasting Themes for Your Event

Karen offers a library of curated tasting themes that can be tailored to your guests and the occasion. Each topic below can be customized as a stand alone experience or integrated into a larger program.

Wine & Sensory Exploration

What Makes Great Wine Great?

A rare opportunity to taste the traits that define the world’s finest wines.

The Inside Sensory World of Wine Tasting

Karen can teach your group the sensory techniques pros use to amplify the flavors of the wines they drink.

Wine and Chocolate—The Ultimate Tasting

In this exciting pairing event, Karen leads you through a tasting of different styles of Champagne with an assortment of different chocolates from white to dark. It’s delicious, fascinating—and a lot of fun.

Taste Wine from the Ancient World

Ever wonder how and where wine began? In this tasting, Karen takes you on a journey deep into wine’s origins, and you’ll taste wines from Armenia, the Republic of Georgia, Turkey, Greece, Lebanon, Israel and more! (Can be combined with a dinner of historic cuisines).

Global Wine Journeys in One Evening

Bordeaux vs Napa Valley: The Two Greats

Taste and compare the two most iconic regions in the world for luxury Cabernet Sauvignon.

Pinot Noir Around the World

Some of the most expensive and rare wines in the world are Pinot Noirs. Taste and explore the styles of Pinot across the globe from Burgundy to California to Oregon.

Cabernet Sauvignon Around the World

From Bordeaux to Italy to China, top class Cabernet remains the world’s most celebrated and collectible wine. This immersive experience is unforgettable.

Wine for Business and Leadership

The Business Person’s Guide to Wine

Build wine confidence for professional settings.

What Makes Wine Expensive?

A wine’s price is not arbitrary. Learn the four key factors that make an expensive wine worth buying.

Your Core Values, Seen Through the Lens of Wine

Whatever your company’s core values, Karen can build a leadership and/or sales event around them. Wine is a metaphor for greatness, growth, and resilience.

Have a theme in mind?

Exclusive Wine & Food Dinners

Karen’s tastings can go beyond what’s in the glass. She designs exceptional wine and food pairing dinners and experiences, working directly with your venue’s chef. For her unique pairing dinners, Karen sources exceptional, hard-to-get wines. Her deep connections in the industry mean that your guests will experience rare wines as they dine, making the event truly memorable and one-of-a-kind. During her wine and food pairing dinners, Karen will present the wines, sharing with guests what makes each pairing special. As always, Karen works closely with her clients to insure that the wine and food pairing experience meets their event goals, whether it’s a client dinner, team gathering, or company getaway.

Karen’s private wine and food pairing dinners are designed to be both meaningful and memorable—whether for four guests or four hundred.

Get pairing ideas for your next event.

Man and woman drinking red wine in the restaurant

Client Testimonials

"She is, quite simply, an extraordinary presenter."

“Karen is a consummate pro whose passion for wine easily ignites the interest of her audience, while also educating and entertaining them. She has conducted live and virtual wine events for us globally that have proven to be a uniquely effective way of strengthening our client relationships. She is, quite simply, an extraordinary presenter.”

David Beveridge
Managing Partner, Shearman & Sterling

"A memorable experience for our group"

“Karen’s unique combination of wine connoisseur and journalist brings the experience alive in a very engaging and magical way. Karen arranged for stunning settings for our wine and food pairings, creating a memorable experience for our group.”

Alison Plessman and Allison Libeu
Partners, Hueston Hennigan LLP

"One of the most knowledgeable wine educators"

“Karen MacNeil is one of the most knowledgeable wine educators and thoughtful communicators we work with. Our programs are always more polished, meaningful and relevant when Karen is involved.”

Patsy McGaughy
Communications Director, Napa Valley Vintners

"An incentive trip of a lifetime"

“At Lexus, our philosophy is to make the most of every moment in a way that makes a difference. Karen MacNeil’s experience combined with her extraordinary ability to engage our dealers made for an incentive trip of a lifetime.”

Steve Waddell
Lexus Central

"There is no other agency we would consider to support and strengthen our brands"

“Karen MacNeil’s team brings both a professional and creative eye to the task at hand. They have perfected the balance between research methodology and artistic inspiration to produce work that is educational, concise and on-strategy. Within the wine category, there is no other agency we would consider to support and strengthen our brands.”

Rebecca K. Robinson
Brand Manager, Moet Hennessy USA Estates & Wines

"She is a true talent, sophisticated, worldly, timely and extremely efficient."

“Karen is the most charming, pleasant, understanding and insightful mind in the wine world… her expertise has strengthened and improved our programs, at all levels…strategy, education, experiences, knowledge and inspiration…. she is a true talent, sophisticated, worldly, timely and extremely efficient.”

Jean-Charles Boisset
Owner Boisset Family Estates

Want a tasting that creates a lasting impact?

FAQ: Exclusive Wine Tastings & Luxury Wine Experiences

What Is a Wine Tasting Event?

Wine tasting events are curated gatherings where guests taste exceptional wines that revolve around a theme. Led by a wine expert, these events usually include the stories behind the world’s most fascinating wines and the people who make them. When your wine tasting is led by Karen MacNeil, expect an interactive experience designed to entertain, educate, and engage guests at any level of wine knowledge.

What Should I Expect at Corporate Wine Tasting Events?

At a corporate wine tasting event, expect a professional setting where colleagues can enjoy and learn about wines together. It often includes guided tastings, food pairings, and networking opportunities.

Experience the difference that truly exclusive wine tastings—lead by a pro–can make. Karen MacNeil is the top wine expert in America. Whether you’re planning a corporate gathering, a private celebration, or a virtual event, Karen will create and deliver an unforgettable experience.

How Do Virtual Wine Tasting Experiences Work?

Virtual wine tastings involve guests joining an online session where they taste pre-selected wines, guided by a wine expert. This format allows for interaction and learning from the comfort of home. For your virtual tasting, Karen will arrange to have wines sent in advance to your guests.

start planning your tasting experience today