8 Dinner Party Wine Ideas
When you host a dinner party for your friends, everyone will be willing to spend more money on the wine than the food. And if they’re not, you probably need new mates.
There’s a bottle for every occasion, and here are our suggestions:
Elegant Affairs
For eight people, choose two white and four red wines. Go classic and opt for Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Your centrepiece should be short, so choose some candles or small flowers. Serve champagne before seating your friends and place down namecards. Split up any couples and don’t sit yourself at the head of the table.
Intimate Dining
If you’re planning a dinner for couples, you should aim for rich foods, long conversation and close friends. Match the wines, so they complement each other and take note of your guests’ favourites. Prepare yourself in advance to avoid stressing-out at the last minute: ambience is the order of the day. Use unscented candles to soften the mood and opt for a DIY drink station.
Large House Party
Once in a while, you work up the courage to expose your house to a mass of merry acquaintances. Crowd control needs to be your first priority.
When choosing wine, go on just over half a bottle of wine per person. Quantity is your main objective, so select something decent but reasonably priced. Dot DIY drink stations around the house to break up crowds. Provide appetisers to line stomachs. If the weather permits, take it outside with a BBQ party and crack open a bottle of your best bubbly of Jacques Cartier Champagne for that extra sense of celebration.
Favourite Food Party
You usually crack out your favourite recipes on events like birthdays. Nothing fancy. Just your comfort foods.
To choose your wine, work around your dishes. Here’s an article on getting your food and wine pairings right. Keep your oven hot, so the meals can stay warm.
Last Minute Food
Dinner parties don’t always have to be meticulously planned to be a hit. Dress up takeaway foods with a homely touch and your best crockery. This kind of get-together usually happens when someone close to you has been promoted or some similar, unexpected event.
Your drinks should be your saving grace. No-one minds too much about dinner when they are armed with wine. Choose dry wines, such as Grenache or Pinot Blanc, which pair with a variety of foods.
Posh Parties
Perfect for life-changing celebrations, such as engagement parties or graduations, posh parties should offer the best of everything. Choose distinguished wines, such as Nebbiolo, Pinot Noir, Piesling, and Champagne. Keep your desserts tiny but strong. Your home should be comfortably warm and some music usually helps set the mood.
Pizza Party!
Pizza and wine are star-crossed lovers. We really can’t imagine one without the other. Even if it is delivery pizza!
Choose Sangiovese, Pempranillo, Nero d’Avola, and Primitivo – stunning red wines with this Italian dish.
Costume Party
It’s best to leave out the red wine at a costume party. All those crazy outfits can lead to drastic spills, so choose white wine or sparkling. Dramatic wine glasses add to the atmosphere. Choose themed, appropriate music too!
Produced in collaboration with Yapp Brothers, Wine Merchants
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