The college bowl games long gone and NFL playoffs nearly wrapped up, and it’s too cold to go outside for long. The days are still depressingly short, so what is there to do for some fun and excitement?

Throw a wine-tasting party. We have regular wine gatherings to seriously taste wines for a column, and other times just for fun and conversation. The wine is just to get conversations going. You can invite friends who know each other well or people who have yet to meet. We guarantee that after sampling a few of the wines, strangers and friends alike will find common ground for conversation.

There is no fixed formula to putting together a successful party, but a few tried-and-true elements have worked for us.

First, don’t take the wine too seriously, as we remind ourselves on a regular basis. It is fermented grape juice.

Second, don’t invite too many people. Six to eight people seems to work well for us since a 25-ounce bottle is hard to share with any greater number of people.

Third, serve plenty of food, because matching wine and food is part of the total experience. Sometimes we’ll have a wine theme, such as 2003 red Bordeaux, current California chardonnays or, as we did last month, current merlots under $20. Each invited guest brings a bottle and serves it wrapped in a paper bag. The group then votes on the wines to determine the favorites.

The results can be eye-opening, since the most highly touted or expensive wines often don’t win—or even place among the top wines. We like to greet our guests with a glass of sparkling wine or champagne. An inexpensive cava from Spain like Freixenet or an Italian Prosecco fills this role nicely, and can easily be found for under $12 per bottle. Have a nice selection of assorted cheeses along with crackers and bread. Pates and salamis also match well with the served wines.

Once you start tasting the bagged wines, the party will take on a life of its own. Encourage discussion and comments, and remember everyone is entitled to their opinion. People’s tastes vary widely, and it’s fun to discover your preferences without the influence of a wine’s label and reputation. Have the group keep score, if you want. If not, just enjoy the wines.

We like to finish up the party with some substantial food like grilled meat and sausages, a nice hearty soup, or a long simmered pot roast.

Call up a few friends and try a casual wine-tasting this weekend.

Wine finds

Chateau Souverain Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 ($20). Winemaker Ed Killian continues to make one of the best wines at this price point. Using grapes from the Alexander Valley, the 2006 cabernet has luxurious black cherry and plum fruit character with hints of licorice and soft mouthfeel.

Robert Talbott Chardonnay Monterey County Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Cuvee Carlotta 2005 ($65). Spicy baked apple and ripe pineapple nose with a hint of citrus. Deep golden color. Ripe and rich in the mouth with terrific ripe apple, and tropical fruit elements and a hint of coconut. Nice creamy finish. A big wine that, although pricey, delivers in the glass.

WillaKenzie Estate Pinot Blanc 2008 ($20). This reputable Washington state producer makes a very flavorable pinot blanc with a grapefruit aroma and peach, lime flavors. Good mineral note and crisp acidity.

Coppola Director’s Cut Zinfandel 2007 ($21). Concentrated, jam-my raspberry and blackberry fruit with a hint of chocolate and spice.

Chateau Souverain Alexander Valley Chardonnay 2008 ($15). Pear, apple flavors, buttery mouthfeel, nice oak.

Quickfire Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 ($19). A partnership of Terlato Wines and Bravo’s ”Top Chef”, Quickfire is new to the market. Good blackberry and chocolate flavors.

CORRECTION: Last week’s column featured Castello Banfi BelnerO, a blend of primarily sangiovese and other red grape varieties. Although Banfiwas one of many Tuscan wineries investigated for adulterating its brunello di montalcinos, there were no findings that it did. BelnerO was not developed as a substitute for brunello di montalcino. The unique, terroir-driven wine debuted last year.