Wine Snobs the Game: Rules + Guide

Wine Snobs the Game

A idea from Forewood Games 

Sip, Bet, and Snob Your Way to Victory!

Think you know your wine? Think again! Wine Snobs is the ultimate game of blind tasting, bold bets, and deliciously over-the-top wine snobbery. Whether you’re a seasoned sommelier or just someone who loves a good swirl, sip, and guess, this game will have you laughing, strategizing, and competing for the title of ultimate wine connoisseur.

Here’s how it works: Three mystery wines. One blind taste test. Endless fun. Players wager their precious wine bottles on which wine they think will steal the spotlight—whether it’s the Best Wine Pairing with a dish or simply the Best Wine of the night. But beware—strategic Snub Tokens can block your bet or tasting, and the Wine Baron is always ready to lend a bottle... at a steep price!

From the suspense of the blind tasting to the drama of the final reveal, Wine Snobs is packed with twists, turns, and plenty of laughs. Will you be crowned the King or Queen of Wine? Or will you be left sipping in shame?

Grab your glasses, sharpen your palate, and get ready to swirl, sniff, sip, and snob your way to victory! Cheers! 🍷

Overview

Wine Snobs is a fun, interactive game where players bet on which wine they believe will be the best based on descriptions alone - like true snobs!

The game then unfolds in a series of five steps, blending strategy, luck, and your inner wine critic. The steps can be repeated for multiple-rounds of tastings and fun!

The goal? Accumulate the most wine bottles, your in-game currency, for your collection by making savvy bets and selecting the top wine in each round.

Game Setup

Give each player…

  • Wine Snob Player Board
  • 3 Voting Sticks (A, B, & C)
  • 12 Bottles for betting (1x 5, 2x2, 3x1)
  • 2 Wine Snub Tokens (max 1 per round)

One player needs to act as a Bank & Wine Baron for the game. Maintaining the Bank bottles for Winning of bets when needed or the Wine Baron for those who need to borrow bottles for betting.

How to Play

Wine snobs can be played in one round or over the course of a few rounds pending how many wines you wish to taste. The More Rounds the Better! 😉

Step 1: Introducing Our Mystery Wines

A designated player introduces three wines, referring to them as Wine 1, Wine 2, and Wine 3. These wines are described in detail, but their identities are kept a secret. Think flavor notes, region, grape variety—anything to build intrigue and give players clues.

A comprehensive example…

Wine 1: The French Classic

  • Region: Burgundy, France
  • Description: A refined, Old World Chardonnay with crisp acidity and a mineral-driven profile. Notes of green apple, lemon zest, and wet stone are complemented by a delicate touch of toasted almond from light oak aging. A true expression of its Burgundian terroir.

Wine 2: The Californian Charm

  • Region: Napa Valley, California, USA
  • Description: A bold and buttery Chardonnay that balances ripe tropical fruit flavors with creamy richness. Expect hints of pineapple, mango, and vanilla, layered with a luscious mouthfeel from malolactic fermentation and aging in American oak barrels.

Wine 3: The Coastal Surprise

  • Region: Margaret River, Australia
  • Description: A vibrant and fruit-forward Chardonnay that dances between citrus and stone fruit. Notes of peach, lime, and subtle hazelnut mingle with a crisp, refreshing acidity, thanks to the cool coastal climate. A modern take on a classic varietal.

Step 2: Time to Make Some Bets!

Now, it’s time to put your wine intuition (and your betting skills) to the test! Players place bets on which wine they think will emerge victorious, based on one of two predetermined categories:

  • Best Wine Pairing: Which wine goes best with the designated food pairing.
  • Best Wine: Which wine is the group’s overall favorite.

Betting Rules:

  • Each player has a collection of bottles valued at 1, 2, or 5 points.
  • Players can bet up to 4 bottles per round in any combination (e.g., one 5-point bottle and three 1-point bottles).
  • Player can choose to borrow additional Double Bottles from the Wine Baron.
  • Before betting, each player may use their Snub Token to block another player from betting on Wine 1, 2, or 3. This adds a layer of strategy to the game.

Step 3: Let’s Get Tasting 🍷

It’s time for the main event! Players participate in a blind taste test of the three wines, now labeled as Wine A, B, and C to obscure their identities. See Blind Tasting Setup in Detail

Players taste and discuss the wines, letting the wine snobbery flow freely.

See the Snub Token to see how you can add some drama to your Tasting Step.

Step 4: Voting Time ☑️

After tasting, each player casts their vote for the wine they think best fits the predetermined category (Best Wine Pairing or Best Wine) using Voting Sticks labeled A, B, or C.

Example:

  • Player A votes for Wine A (possibly believing it is Wine 2 or just genuinely prefers that wine) as the best pairing.

Step 5: The Reveal & Payouts 😮

The Pourer reveals the identities of the wines, matching each label (A, B, C) to its original description (Wine 1, 2, or 3).

Players compare their bets and votes to the actual results. Payouts are awarded as follows:

  • Players who correctly bet on the winning wine double their bottle wager.
  • Players who Bet incorrectly lose their bottles to the bank.

The game can continue for multiple rounds, with the winner being the player holding the most wine bottles at the end. See the “Multiple Round Playing” section.

The Snub Token

Token that can make the game have a twist:

  • During Step 2 or 3 you can make use of the Snub Token to make things difficult for another player. You can…
    • Block a Player from Betting on a Particular wine; or
    • This is great when you want to prevent someone from betting on a wine. For instance I prevent my French friend from being able to bet on the French wine in the Options of 1, 2, or 3.
  • Block a Player from Tasting wine A, B, or C. To make their voting more difficult.
    • This is great if you want to steal a wine away from another Player, like a true Snob!

Blind Tasting Setup in Detail

To ensure the mystery remains intact: You have two separate people Pourer + Server

The Pourer assigns Wine 1, 2, and 3 to groupings of poured glasses of the wine and makes note of which group (row or column) is which.

The Server at random would assign labels A, B, and C to the glasses.

The Server delivers the glasses without revealing the labels grouping (row or column etc).

After the voting round, the Pourer and Server confirm which wine corresponds to each label during the reveal.

FAQ

What happens if I run out of wine?

If you run out of bottles to bet, you can borrow from the Wine Baron (the bank). However, you must repay your debt with 50% interest, rounded up to the nearest bottle.

Example:

  • Player A borrows 6 bottles.
  • They must repay 9 bottles (6 + 3 in interest).

What happens if there is a Tie?

If during voting there is a Tie we use the run-off election format where the non-tie votes would need to re-vote for one of the tying wines. See below for an illustrative example.

Example of a Round in Action

  • Wine Descriptions are read aloud for Player A, B, C, D, & E.
  • Betting (can all be done at the same time):
    • Player A bets 4 bottles (2x2 points) on Wine 1.
    • Player B bets 3 bottles (1x5 points + 2x1 point) on Wine 2.
    • Player B uses a Snub Token to block Player D from betting on Wine2
    • Player C uses a Snub Token to block Player A from betting on Wine 3.
    • Player C bets 2 bottles (1x2) on Wine 3 & 2 bottles (1x2) on Wine 2
    • Player D bets 2 bottles (1x2 points) on Wine 1.
    • Player E bets 4 bottles (2x2 points) on Wine 3.
  • Blind Tasting:
    • Wines are labeled A, B, and C, tasted, and discussed.
  • Voting:
    • Players vote for the best wine. Votes are split between A (2), B (2) and C (1).
    • In the event of a Tie the player who voted for Wine C must re-vote for A or B.
    • The end voting results are then A(3) and B(2)
  • Reveal & Payouts:
    • Wine A is revealed as Wine 1.
    • Players A & D who bet on Wine 1 double their bottles.
    • All bets made on Wine 2 or Wine 3 would go to the bank.

Multi-Round Playing

Tips 

  • Keep It Fresh: Use different wine styles or themes for each round to keep players engaged and curious.
  • Plan Your Rounds: Decide in advance how many rounds you’ll play or set a timer to determine the game length.
  • Balance Complexity: Introduce more challenging wine profiles (e.g., subtle whites, off-dry wines) in later rounds to test players’ evolving palates.

Example of a Multi-Round Game

Round 1: Chardonnay Showdown

  • Wines: Classic Chardonnays from Burgundy, Napa Valley, and Margaret River.
  • Bets: Players place bold bets to start, testing their instincts.
  • Result: Player A wins big with correct bets on Wine 1 (Burgundy).

Round 2: Battle of the Reds

  • Wines: A Cabernet Sauvignon from Bordeaux, a Syrah from the Rhône, and a Malbec from Mendoza.
  • Snub Action: Player B blocks Player C from betting on Wine 3.
  • Result: Wine 2 (Syrah) wins, and Player D begins a comeback with strategic bets.

Round 3: Sparkling Surprise

  • Wines: Champagne, Prosecco, and Cava.
  • Votes: Players argue passionately over the Best Wine Pairing for oysters.
  • Result: Wine 1 (Champagne) takes the win, but Player E’s massive bet on Wine 3 secures the final victory.

Why Multi-Round Play Enhances Wine Snobs

Multi-round gameplay adds layers of strategy and unpredictability, making Wine Snobs the perfect game for a full evening of fun. Each round brings new wines, fresh debates, and more opportunities to laugh, learn, and compete. So gather your friends, open some bottles, and prepare for a night of swirling, sniffing, sipping, and snobbery! 🍷

 

Back to blog