Bracket, Taste, Win: A March Madness Wine Tasting Game

By now, the brackets have been circulated, the pools have been entered, and the heat is on. Who will win it this year -- the underdog, the proverbial new kid on the block? Only time -- and some heart-palpitating jump shots -- will tell.

If you are someone, like most of us at Bottlenotes, who loves college basketball and great wine, then why not channel your competitive spirit during March Madness while leveraging your love at whatever shindigs you host or attend?

Introducing: Wine Brackets.

Wine blogger extraordinaire Tyler Coleman (pen name: Dr. Vino) should be credited with the most clever recent rendition when he posted a bracket of wine brands in 2008 titled "Wine Madness." In it, he seeded the first set of brands, and let the community vote on who should advance. Mayhem ensued.

The same can hold true for you. Simply encourage each of your friends or couples to bring two bottles each. Create an Elite Eight bracket. Flip a coin to see which brands are matched up first. Sip, vote and see which brands advance.

Best of all, winner can take home one bottle each of the line-up.