How to Style a Ralph Lauren-Inspired Wine Tasting Table at Home

Ralph Lauren style feels like a warm invitation to stay awhile. Think rich plaids, cozy textures, vintage treasures, glowing candlelight, and a table that looks collected over time rather than purchased all at once.

I collaborated with In Good Taste Wines to launch their Winter Advent Wine Calendar and designed a Ralph Lauren-inspired wine tasting table at home.  It’s easy to recreate this look using things you may already have tucked away in your closets and cupboards.

And here’s the best part: You don’t need a formal dining room, expensive linens, or a perfectly coordinated collection of dishes. You just need a few thoughtful layers, a little imagination, and some friends who enjoy a good glass of wine.

Start with Layers, Not Perfection

One of my favorite ways to create a beautiful table is to use something unexpected as a tablecloth or runner.

For this gathering, I started with a plain white linen tablecloth as the base, then topped it with brown kraft paper as a runner so I could write fun tasting notes with a Sharpie marker.  The kraft paper is inexpensive and practical for other uses. Then, instead of a traditional table runner, I used a vintage Scottish wool navy-and-gold plaid blanket with fringe and styled it in the center of the table to add texture and warmth. Yes, a blanket I pulled straight from my linen closet.

The deep blues and greens immediately gave the table that cozy, Ralph Lauren-inspired feeling. A blanket or throw is a wonderful alternative to traditional table linens, especially when you’re entertaining outdoors.

Hostess Tip: Shop your home before shopping the store. Look through your linen closet for plaid throws, wool scarves, or even a pretty piece of fabric that could become your table runner.

Mix Vintage Finds with Fresh Flowers

To me, the most interesting tables tell a story. I love incorporating vintage pieces into my tablescapes, especially items not originally intended for entertaining.

For height, I placed a wooden riser I found online at Millstone Nursery in Memphis.  I follow them on Instagram, and they have lovely home decor and table setting pieces. I styled the top of the riser with a brass candelabra planter that I also purchased at Millstone, but it’s no longer available. I filled the planter with cheerful sunflowers, orange marigolds, and rich raspberry-colored blooms. The colors added warmth and played beautifully against the darker plaid.  I tucked in Pyracantha branches with bright green berries I clipped from the garden to add more texture and fill in the gaps. And from my hosting closet, I used vintage Aladdin plaid thermoses for pops of color and a touch of whimsy.

Don’t worry about making everything symmetrical or matching. Part of the charm of this style is mixing old and new, polished and rustic.

For the, candles I used this beautiful set of four Terracotta Honeycomb flameless tapers. They are battery-operated and come with a remote.

Hostess Tip: Create interest by varying the height of your arrangements. Taller candlesticks, flowers, and smaller vintage accessories add dimension to your table. Just make sure your guests can still see one another across the table. I knew guests would be picking up their wine and cheese and mingling on the patio, so I wasn’t worried the height would interfere with conversation.

Give Everyone Their Own Little Cheese Board

Instead of one large charcuterie board, I created individual cheese boards for each guest. I purchased the round boards several seasons ago, but these are a fun substitution. This is one of my favorite entertaining tricks because it makes everyone feel as though something special was prepared just for them.

Each board featured a small assortment of cheeses, salami, crackers, nuts, fruit, pickles, olives, and a bite of dark chocolate. These small bites are the perfect amount to pair with the mini wine bottles.  You don’t need to offer a dozen different cheeses or spend a fortune at the grocery store. A few delicious, thoughtfully arranged selections are plenty.

For an easy individual cheese board, consider:

• Two or three small portions of different cheeses (I used sharp aged cheddar, Parmesan, and swiss)
• A few crackers or crisp bread
• A small handful of almonds or pecans
• Fresh berries or grapes
• A couple of slices of salami
• A little something sweet, such as chocolate or dried fruit

I like to include a combination of salty, sweet, crunchy, and creamy.

And remember, this is a wine tasting, not a competition to see who can build the tallest charcuterie tower!

Make the Table Interactive

One of my favorite details was the brown kraft paper. Not only did it provide a beautiful foundation, but it also became part of the experience. Using a marker, I added little handwritten messages around the individual cheese plates and wine tasting stations. It’s such a simple touch, but it brings personality to the table and makes guests smile.

You could write things like:

“A merry little tasting”

“Sip, savor, repeat”

“Say cheese!”

Or add arrows pointing guests toward their wine, glass, and cheese plate.

I love anything that makes entertaining feel less formal and more fun.

Add Wine Tasting Cards

A wine tasting is even more enjoyable when everyone gets to participate. Speaking of wine, the Winter Advent Wine Calendar from In Good Taste Wine comes with 24 mini bottles. 24 opportunities to sip and explore premium wines from Italy, Germany, Austria, New Zealand, Washington, Napa, Sonoma, and more!

Open a new window each day to discover wines like a refreshingly light Sauvignon Blanc, a bold and adventurous Shiraz, and everything in between. It is the perfect gift for the wine lovers in your life (Hint: that could be YOU.) The best part one mini bottle is enough for a generous pour. No big bottles go to waste and everyone gets to try a new to them variety. Honestly, I haven’t sampled a bad wine in the bunch. The little bottles are also perfect to recycle as vases later.  Use this link to save $25 off your first purchase.  The box makes a great gift, and now is the time to purchase your holiday wine.

Along with your daily wine, you’ll get access to a video for each of the 24 days, giving you a guided tasting note, a bit of background on where the wine is from, food pairing suggestions, and tips on what to look for in the glass. Think of it as having a knowledgeable wine friend walking you through each pour.

For this gathering, I created printable wine tasting cards so guests could record their thoughts on each wine. The cards provide space to notice the appearance, aroma, and flavor of the wine, along with an opportunity to rate each pour. But don’t worry. No one needs to be a sommelier! Encourage your friends to describe what they taste in their own words.  Maybe it’s fruity, spicy, buttery, or simply delicious. The goal isn’t to get the answers right. It’s to start conversations, discover something new, and enjoy the experience together.

Download the free set of cards here.

Hostess Tip: Provide pens at each place setting and invite everyone to share their favorite wine at the end of the evening. You might be surprised by how different everyone’s preferences are.

You Don’t Need a Grand Dining Room to Make Beautiful Memories

If there’s one thing I hope you’ll take away from this gathering, it’s that entertaining doesn’t have to be elaborate to be memorable.  You don’t need a formal dining room or an impressive wine collection. You can create a beautiful evening on your patio, around your kitchen table, or anywhere you have room for a few friends.

Because while I love a beautifully styled table, I love what happens around it even more. The laughter. The stories. The conversations that continue long after the last glass is poured.  That’s what hospitality is really about.

So pull out that plaid blanket, gather a few favorite treasures, invite some friends, and pour the wine. Host with intention, not perfection. And remember, the most beautiful tables are the ones that tell a story.