At Wente Family Vineyards, family has always been at the heart of what we do, so we love a good sister story! To inspire your next get-together, we sat down with sisters Lea and Hanna from @hauste, known for their effortless approach to hosting, beautiful tablescapes, and bringing people together around good food and wine.

In this Q&A, Lea and Hanna share their favorite hosting tips, inspiration for creating a welcoming table, and the little details that can turn a simple gathering into something memorable.

What’s one small hosting detail that guests always notice, even if they don’t realize it?

MUSIC & LIGHTING!

People might not remember exactly what you cooked (unless it absolutely blows their socks off), but they will absolutely remember how the night felt. Was it cozy? Was it energetic? Did they feel transported somewhere else?

A curated playlist running softly in the background combined with perfectly lit mood lighting already gets you hosting brownie points before the first bite or sip even happens. We spend just as much time thinking about the soundtrack and lighting as we do the menu. It’s the difference between a nice dinner and an experience people will absolutely remember.

How do you choose wines for a gathering when you’re serving different foods and entertaining different tastes?

Pairing wine with food is fun, and we love thinking through those combinations. But here’s our real secret: when in doubt, pour what you love.

If you can genuinely talk about a wine, explain why you’re excited about it, what it tastes like to you, the story behind where you found it, other people will be drawn to that enthusiasm. Wine is so personal. Everyone has their own palate, preferences, and memories tied to certain wines. So use pairing as a starting point, but don’t let it stress you out.

At the end of the day, wine is about connecting with people. Open a bottle, start a conversation, and enjoy!

What’s your favorite way to make serving wine feel like part of the experience, rather than just another drink on the table?

An bit of an extension of the last question/answer… but seriously pour what you love! If you can tell people where you found a wine, what the region is like, why it excites you, or even just what flavors you’re tasting it becomes a moment, not just a pour.

The best part about wine is how personal it is. Everyone has their own opinion, their own taste, their own connection to it. That’s exactly what makes it such a powerful hosting tool.

What’s a hosting “rule” you’re happy to break?

1.  Seating couples together.

We seat them near each other, but not directly next to one another. It makes people actually interact with the whole table instead of just their partner. Plus, it keeps the conversation fresher and lets couples have a little space to experience the party separately.

2. Making everything from scratch.

There’s this pressure to prove your worth as a host by making everything yourself. But there are sooo many instances where a store-bought element is actually arguably better than spending three hours in the kitchen. Strategic shortcuts aren’t cheating, they’re smart hosting!

3. No shoes in the house.

To each their own, we absolutely respect it. But this is one we simply can’t get behind (though we suspect if we were living in NYC, our opinions might shift). If you’re a shoes-off household, we applaud you and will absolutely comply when we’re guests in your home. But sometimes an outfit needs the shoes, and for that reason alone, we’ll keep breaking this rule.

For more hosting inspiration from Lea and Hanna, follow @hauste on Instagram and TikTok, explore their website, and subscribe to their Substack. And if you’re ready to bring a little @hauste inspiration to your own table, don’t miss the branzino recipe they created with Wente Family Vineyards, now available on their Substack.

Here’s to good food, great wine, and more reasons to gather!