How to Build a Wine Playlist (No, Really)

TL;DR

You already soundtrack everything else in your life. Why not wine? Here's how to build playlists that make wine taste better, feel more personal, and turn solo bottles into actual moments.

You have a playlist for getting ready to go out. One for working. One for driving at night. Probably one called "sad girl hours" or something equally specific.

So why doesn't wine have a soundtrack?

Music shapes how you experience everything. The right song can make a mediocre night unforgettable. The wrong song can ruin a perfect moment. You already know this instinctively.

Wine works the same way. The bottle is just the starting point. What you hear while you're drinking it? That's half the experience.

Here's how to build playlists that actually make wine better.

Why This Even Matters

Music literally changes how wine tastes. Not metaphorically. Actually changes it.

Play something upbeat and bright while drinking wine, and the wine feels lighter, more energetic. Play something slow and moody, and the same wine feels deeper, more contemplative. Your brain processes sound and taste in overlapping ways, so they influence each other.

But it's not just science. It's emotional.

The right song can turn "drinking wine alone on a Tuesday" into a whole vibe. It can make a dinner with friends feel like an event. It can make a random bottle you grabbed at the store feel special.

Plus, when you pair wine with music, you remember it differently. That bottle becomes attached to that song, that moment, that feeling. Wine stops being just a drink and starts being part of your actual life.

How to Start

Building a wine playlist isn't complicated. You're not trying to be a sommelier or a DJ. You're just trying to make the experience better.

Quick Start: 3 Steps to Your First Wine Playlist

1. Pick your vibe - Cozy night in? Main character moment? Pre-game with friends? Start with the feeling, not the wine.

2. Choose your approach - Going solo? Build a one-bottle soundtrack. With friends? Make it collaborative and let everyone add songs.

3. Pour and play - Open the wine, start the playlist, see what clicks. Adjust as you go. There's no wrong way to do this.

Now here's how to go deeper:

Start with the vibe you want, not the wine.

Are you trying to have a cozy night in? A solo main character moment? Pre-game energy with friends? The mood comes first. The playlist follows.

Once you know the vibe, pick wine that matches. Or pick wine first and build the vibe around it. Either way works. There's no formula.

Think about energy, not genre.

Don't get stuck on "this wine needs jazz" or "orange wine = indie folk." That's limiting and boring.

Instead, think about how the wine feels. Is it bright and zippy? Heavy and contemplative? Weird and unpredictable? Match that energy with music that hits the same way.

A funky natural wine might pair with chaotic electronic music. Or it might pair with the calmest ambient album you own. Trust your gut.

Make it collaborative.

If you're drinking with other people, let them add songs. Make the playlist a shared thing. Everyone gets to contribute what the wine makes them feel.

This is how you end up with playlists that are chaotic and perfect and tell a story. One person adds indie, someone else adds hip hop, someone drops in a random 90s throwback. That's the playlist.

Specific Approaches That Work

The One-Bottle Soundtrack

Pick one bottle. Build a whole playlist around it. Could be 5 songs, could be 20.

This works best when you're drinking solo or with one other person. Put on the playlist, pour the wine, let it evolve together. By the end of the bottle, you'll have a complete experience, not just a drink.

Example: A hazy orange wine and a playlist of dreamy, floaty tracks. Beach House, Cigarettes After Sex, Mazzy Star. The wine feels like the music. The music feels like the wine. It's a whole thing.

The Vibe-First Approach

Build the playlist first based on the mood you want. Then pick wine that matches.

This is great for when you're planning something specific. A rainy Friday night in? Make a cozy playlist, then grab a bottle that feels right for that energy. Having people over? Build a party playlist, then choose wines that won't kill the vibe.

Example: No Plans energy playlist - mellow, undemanding, background-but-good. Pair it with an easy-drinking red or a chill rosé. Nothing too intense. Just vibes.

The Moment Playlist

Some moments have their own energy. Capture it.

Sunday morning with coffee? That's a different playlist than Saturday night at 1 AM. First warm day of spring? Different than the first cold night of fall.

Build playlists for these moments, then figure out which wines live there too.

Example: Friday Eve Eve - that Wednesday or Thursday energy when the weekend is close but not here yet. Bright, optimistic music. Zippy whites, pét-nat, something fun and light.

The Chaos Method

Don't think about it at all. Just put on shuffle and see what happens.

Sometimes the best pairings are the ones you don't plan. The song that comes on randomly and perfectly matches the wine you're drinking. Those moments are magic.

Keep a running playlist and add to it whenever something clicks. Over time, you'll have a wine soundtrack that's entirely personal and completely yours.

What to Actually Play

Here are some prompts to get you started. Use them or ignore them. They're just ideas.

For light, bright wines: Anything that feels like summer or makes you want to move. Upbeat indie, pop, electronic. The kind of music that sounds good with the windows down.

For heavy, contemplative wines: Slow it down. Jazz, ambient, downtempo. Music that makes you think or feel things. The kind you listen to alone at night.

For funky, weird natural wines: Match the energy or contrast it. Experimental electronic, lo-fi hip hop, anything unpredictable. Or go the opposite direction and play something super calm.

For sparkling wines: Party mode. Dance music, hip hop, anything with energy. Or go classy with old school jazz. Both work.

For orange wines: This one's tricky because orange wine is so variable. If it's clean and mineral, try indie folk. If it's floral and dreamy, go with shoegaze or dream pop. If it's wild, pick something equally wild.

But honestly? Forget all of this. Play what you want. The wine will tell you if it works.

Make It Personal

The whole point of pairing wine with music is to make it yours.

Your orange wine might make you think of a specific memory, so you add that one song from that night. Someone else drinks the same wine and adds something completely different. Both are right.

Wine isn't meant to be objective. Neither is music. So stop trying to find the "correct" pairing and just build playlists that make sense to you.

Add songs that match the wine's color. Or the vibe of the label. Or the memory of where you bought it. Or nothing at all - just songs you want to hear right now.

The best wine playlists are the ones that feel true to you, not the ones that follow some rule.

The Bigger Picture

You already know how to do this. You make playlists for everything. You curate your life through music.

Wine should be part of that. Not separate, not formal, not serious. Just another moment worth soundtracking.

So next time you open a bottle, put on a song. See how it changes things. Add another song. Build from there.

Wine gets better with the right music. And music gets better with the right wine. Figure out your version of that loop.

🎵 Explore wines and start building your playlist

FAQs

Do I need to be a wine expert to do this?

Nope. If you can make a Spotify playlist, you can do this. It's not about wine knowledge, it's about what feels right to you.

Is there a "correct" way to pair wine and music?

No. The best pairing is whatever makes the experience better for you. Trust your instincts.

Should the music match the wine or contrast it?

Either. Both. Whatever works. Sometimes a funky wine needs funky music. Sometimes it needs the opposite. Experiment.

Can I use this for drinking with friends?

Absolutely. Make it collaborative. Let everyone add songs. The playlist becomes part of the hang.

What if I pick the "wrong" music?

There's no wrong music. If it doesn't work, just change it. That's the whole point of playlists - they're flexible.

How long should a wine playlist be?

However long feels right. Could be 5 songs for one glass. Could be 3 hours for a whole night. Just make sure you have enough music for however long you're drinking.

Does music actually change how wine tastes?

Yes. Science shows that music affects taste perception. High-pitched sounds bring out brightness and acidity. Lower frequencies enhance body and richness. But beyond science, music changes the emotional experience of drinking wine.

What's the best music streaming service for wine playlists?

Whatever you already use. Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music - they all work. The platform doesn't matter. The songs do.

Can I make wine playlists for specific occasions?

Definitely. Build playlists for Sunday mornings, rainy nights, dinner parties, solo Friday nights - any moment where you're drinking wine. Over time you'll have soundtracks for every vibe.

Should I make a new playlist for every bottle?

Only if you want to. Some people build one playlist per bottle. Some keep one running playlist and add to it over time. Some use the same playlist for weeks. All of these work.

What if my friends have different music taste?

That's the best part of collaborative playlists. The chaos is the point. Let everyone add what the wine makes them feel, even if it doesn't "match." You end up with something more interesting than any one person would make alone.

How do I know if a song pairs well with wine?

You'll feel it. If the music makes the wine taste better, feel more interesting, or creates a moment you want to remember - it works. If it feels off, skip to the next song.

Can I use wine playlists for other drinks too?

Sure. The principles work for any drink. Beer, cocktails, coffee, tea. Music changes everything. But wine is especially good for this because it's meant to be sipped slowly, giving the music time to work.

Do different wine styles need different music genres?

Not necessarily. A sparkling wine could pair with jazz, electronic, hip hop, or indie depending on the vibe you want. Don't think in terms of wine-to-genre matching. Think about energy and mood instead.