Retail and Development

The secret ingredient to Bliss & Blends’ energetic wine tasting events in Charlotte: Music

Bliss & Blends offers wine tasting bingo events, yoga and mimosas, Paint by Palate events and more.
Bliss & Blends offers wine tasting bingo events, yoga and mimosas, Paint by Palate events and more.

Bliss & Blends, known in Charlotte for its coveted wine bingo pop ups, will expand to its first brick-and-mortar location next month.

Founded by Selena Galloway, Bliss & Blends combines an informational wine tasting session with a fun night of bingo, music and charcuterie. At its new location on Sardis Road, opening Sept. 13, it will expand its event offerings to include yoga and mimosas and a crafts and champagne class, as well as more personalized private events and live music from violinists and saxophonists.

Bingo nights are lively at Bliss & Blends.
Bingo nights are lively at Bliss & Blends. Ms CJ Photography, LLC

WHAT IS WINE BINGO? At wine bingo (available for public ticket purchase or private event bookings), you get a party with a wine expert.

Accompanied by your wine glass and charcuterie, you’ll jam to classic party beats – think Beyonce’s “Soldier,” the “Electric Slide” or the iconic “Swag Surfin’” — all curated by DJ Cruz.

Bliss & Blends bingo cards.
Bliss & Blends bingo cards. Ms CJ Photography, LLC

[WINE TASTING TOUR: NC is home to one of the best wine tasting tours in the country, USA Today says]

Bringing a ‘different type of energy and atmosphere’

Bliss & Blends, which began hosting wine-forward events in October, was born from Galloway’s love for “drinking wine and just listening to music,” which she told us was a therapeutic escape for her.

“So I said, ‘Why not bring this concept to the public?’ I think it can be both entertaining and educational to do something like this on an event level. That’s basically how Bliss & Blends was created — just to bring this different type of energy and atmosphere,” she said.

Bliss & Blends bingo events include music and live entertainment, wine tastings and education, plus charcuterie pairings.
Bliss & Blends bingo events include music and live entertainment, wine tastings and education, plus charcuterie pairings. Ms CJ Photography, LLC

While conceptualizing her wine bingo events, Galloway added her own twist on the classic wine tasting by adding a DJ and charcuterie boxes that include strawberries, cheese, crackers, grapes and pepperoni.

“So I kind of curated the wine tasting bingo to fit what I wanted the event to be to the public,” she said. “I just wanted to add a more fun component to it and an educational component to it.”

Selena Galloway created Bliss & Blends out of her love for drinking wine and listening to music.
Selena Galloway created Bliss & Blends out of her love for drinking wine and listening to music. Ms CJ Photography, LLC

[NEW WINE CAFE: Postino Wine Cafe recently made its NC debut in Charlotte and Raleigh]

How does wine bingo work?

  • Each event includes a tasting of 15 wines (including white, red, sparkling, dessert and rosé).

  • Participants receive a booklet detailing each wine’s flavor and food pairing suggestions, along with a snack-sized charcuterie selection in a to-go container.

Charcuterie is included at Bliss & Blends wine tastings.
Charcuterie is included at Bliss & Blends wine tastings. Ms CJ Photography, LLC
  • Guests will use a three-tiered wooden flight stand to sample wines, guess which flavors they’re tasting and place their bingo chips accordingly. The key to winning the game is correctly identifying the wines and aligning your chips on the bingo board vertically, horizontally or diagonally. The first three bingo winners take home custom Bliss & Blends wine glasses.

A DJ helps bring the party to Bliss & Blends events.
A DJ helps bring the party to Bliss & Blends events. Ms CJ Photography, LLC
Bliss & Blends is located at 1811 Sardis Road North, Suite 235.
Bliss & Blends is located at 1811 Sardis Road North, Suite 235. Ms CJ Photography, LLC

Bliss & Blends

Location: 1811 Sardis Rd N, Suite 235, Charlotte, North Carolina 28270

Instagram: @blissandblendsllc

This story was originally published August 20, 2024 at 5:30 AM.

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Mari Pressley
The Charlotte Observer
Freelancer Mari Pressley was an intern on the Charlotte Observer’s Service Desk and CharlotteFive. She studies mass communication with a concentration in journalism, while minoring in writing and photography. Her previous experience includes interning for Credit Karma’s Editorial team and serving as Managing Editor at Winthrop University’s school newspaper, The Johnsonian.
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