As the holidays are fast approaching, I am often asked which wines to serve at parties. Here are a few situations to consider when choosing our wines for the holidays.
Are you hosting a diverse group of people?
Are you hosting a large group of people?
Are you hosting a small, intimate group of close friends or relatives?
Let us help you with your wine selection for these different events so that you will please the majority of your guests.
Hosting a diverse group of people for the holidays can be difficult to begin with. Selecting a wine that most people will enjoy is not! A universally enjoyed white wine is a Pinot Grigio – some of the best ones are from Italy and are very affordable. For a red wine, try either a Cabernet Sauvignon from anywhere in the world or a Chianti from Italy. Both these red wines come in a variety of price ranges and are enjoyed by most people. These wines also pair well with most foods.
Wine Choices When Serving to a Large Group
This is when you may want to offer 2 white wines and 2 red wines. For white wines I would suggest a Pinot Grigio and a Sauvignon Blanc. Both wines are very popular and different enough so that if someone doesn’t like one, they are sure to enjoy the other. As for red wines, I would suggest a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Merlot for enough of a variety and these are enjoyed by most people.
Are you having a few close friends for an evening during the holidays and not sure which wine to serve? For a smaller group, then you can certainly have a variety of wines for your holiday meal. You may want to spend a little bit more per bottle since you won’t have to buy as much wine for your smaller holiday group. You can expect to get 5 good-sized glasses of wine per bottle; this should help you decide how much wine you will need. Then you may want to try some different varietals if your group is open to new experiences. For white wine, try a Chenin Blanc or Gewürztraminer, and for red wine try a Syrah to go with a red meat and a Nebbiolo from Italy for a well-balanced wine to pair with many different dishes.
Now you are well-armed to go to your local wine store and get help finding these wines to enjoy for your holiday party.
Want to learn more about wine selections at your local wine store? Sign up for our Friday Wine Review. We send you a weekly wine with tasting notes and food pairing every Friday afternoon. Join us!
Comentarios