We Tried It: Sofa Sommelier – An at-home wine tasting experience
Sometimes the best nights out don’t involve going out at all.
From the wonderful folks behind our much-loved Mystery Picnic experience, we are delighted to try Sofa Sommelier from AmazingCo, inviting a few friends around for an evening of in-home wine tasting. No taxis. No queues. Just comfortable chairs, good company, and six small bottles of wine waiting patiently on the table.
What we don’t expect is how much laughing we’ll do.
Related reading: Why You Should Give Cabernet Wine a Try
How Sofa Sommelier Works
The experience arrives at your door, complete with tasting notes, questions and activities, all accessed on your phone. One person takes on the role of “host” and reads out the prompts as you go.
In our case, Dad is in charge.
That alone sets the tone.
Each tasting comes with six wines from your chosen region (we chose Yarra Valley, though Barossa Valley is also an option). The wines are served in tasting-sized bottles, and the experience is designed for up to four people, with the option to upgrade for larger groups.
Chris’ review
Enjoying my retirement, I meet with a group of wine and cheese lovers for a couple of hours every Wednesday evening.
It’s a social event, but the main topic of conversation revolves around tasting wine and cheese, so you might expect that, after seven or so years of enjoying this wine group, I’d be thinking “there’s not much more to experience in the wine and cheese domain”.
Well, our latest Seniors in Melbourne adventure, Sofa Sommelier, from Amazing Co., put a decisive end to that train of thought with a sublime wine tasting evening in our home, shared with a few friends.
When purchasing the Sofa Sommelier experience, you can choose the wine region you would like to taste. We opted for Victoria’s Yarra Valley and, in a few days, 6 half-bottles of regional classic wine (1 x sparkling, 2 x white, 2 x red and 1 x dessert wine) were delivered to our door.
An email link from Amazing Co. gave us notes on the optimum temperatures for serving the wines and suggestions for creating food platters with the best cheeses to match, or pair, with each wine varietal… we were ready, chose a night and invited some friends to join us.
Linked to a digital experience via smartphone, we started slowly and progressed through savouring the wines, looking at brief descriptions of the wineries and tasting the cheeses. Laughter increased as the notes were intermingled with fun, competitive questions on the five S’s… Seeing, Swilling, Sniffing, Sipping and Swallowing or Spitting.
There was a useful educational element in the experience, but also hilarious moments as we answered trivia questions on popular songs that feature wine, actors or actresses who love wine and even as the night wore on, we had some karaoke.
I feel that Amazing Co. have put a lot of thought and expertise into the Sofa Sommelier experience, making it a real hoot. This is fun for experienced or novice wine tasters.
My takeaway moment from the evening was how wonderfully blue gorgonzola pairs with a sweet sparkling… Yummmm!
Related reading: The Ultimate Showdown: Prosecco vs. Champagne
Couch Karaoke: A Surprise Hit
A real highlight of the night is something called Couch Karaoke.
It sounds simple, but it is far more entertaining than expected.
We listen to snippets of well-known songs with wine or drink references in the lyrics. When the music stops, we have to finish the line. Bonus points if you could name the song and the artist.
Cue much confident guessing… and quite a bit of being wrong.
“Oasis – Champagne Supernova,” someone calls out, feeling very pleased with themselves.
It is silly, inclusive, and has everyone joining in — even those who claim they “don’t really do games”.
Wine, But Make It Friendly
The tasting notes are clear and approachable, with multiple-choice questions rather than intimidating wine jargon.
At one point, Dad reads out:
“Our next tasting is Bob Dylan Shiraz… oh hang on, Rob Dolan Shiraz!”
Later, while reading about wine appearance, he announces:
“Well, we talk about lovely legs in my wine group.”
That sets us off again.
One wine comes with a short explanation about oak barrels, including a fun fact about puncheons (large oak barrels) being used to create a smoother, more complex Chardonnay. We pair it with soft cheeses — brie and camembert work beautifully — and actually notice how the flavours changed.
Which surprises some of us.
Related reading: Benefits of Going Alcohol-Free: Health, Clarity, and More
Honest Reviews Welcome
Not every wine is a hit.
After one Shiraz, Mum sums it up neatly:
“It’s just dry and yucky.”
Dad doesn’t miss a beat:
“Oh, like me!”
The experience actively encourages you to share what you like and don’t like. There’s no right answer, no pressure to sound knowledgeable.
As Dad puts it:
“I’m really enjoying this. It’s really interesting. Not that I understand it, haha.”
And that’s kind of the point.
Food, Friends and Feeling Relaxed
We add our own cheese and charcuterie board, matching bits and pieces to the wines as we go. The questions about texture, flavour and food pairing spark conversation, but never feel like homework.
As the evening goes on, the laughter comes more easily. The tasting notes become funnier. The guesses become wilder.
Practical Details for Sofa Sommelier
How much wine do you get?
Six tasting bottles from your selected region. Each bottle is around 350ml.
Is food included?
No. They provide suggested cheeses to match and platter ideas, but you need to purchase food and snacks separately.
How many people can take part?
Designed for up to four people, with an upgrade available for groups of 5–10. (We had a group of 6 and honestly there was enough wine for all of to do tastings).
Is there a delivery fee?
Yes, delivery is charged separately.
Cost
$135 plus delivery.
Other At-Home Experiences from AmazingCo
If wine isn’t your thing, AmazingCo also offers:
- Pamper Experience: create luxe body treatments alongside mindful activities and trivia games.
- Chocolate & Games Night Experience: a chocolate-themed date night experience with sweet treats and games to connect with your loved one.
These follow a similar format — delivered to your door, guided through your phone, and designed to be shared.
Would We Do It Again?
Absolutely.
Sofa Sommelier is about slowing down, sharing a laugh, and doing something a little different without leaving home.
And if your tasting notes are occasionally interrupted by jokes about “dry and yucky” wines? All the better.
Heading off on your own Melbourne adventures? Join our Facebook Group and share your stories, ask questions and connect with others for further inspiration.
We love supporting local winemakers — and we love a good glass of wine enjoyed in moderation. Please drink responsibly and look after yourself and those around you. For more information, visit drinkwise.org.au
The Seniors in Melbourne team were gifted this experience from AmazingCo. All opinions are the writers’ own.
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