| Planning a Party with Wine.Entertaining can be a | | | | purchase and another great option is overlooked, |
| stressful event, but one way to ensure a good | | | | Champagne. Sparkling wines accompany many |
| for everyone including yourself is to plan ahead. | | | | dishes well, and are especially good to sip alone |
| By taking care of as many details in advance, you | | | | over good conversation. Be sure to keep it well |
| will have time to enjoy your company and take | | | | chilled, and don't open too many bottles in |
| care of the few unexpected things that arise. One | | | | advance or else they will go flat before getting to |
| area that is especially easy to plan in advance is | | | | the glass.How much to buy.If you will be serving |
| buying and serving wine.What to buy.What types | | | | primarily wine, or you know your guests will be |
| and varieties of wine you purchase and offer will | | | | drinking mostly wine by choice, you will want to |
| depend on what type of event you are hosting. If | | | | plan on one bottle for every 3 or 4 guests. If |
| you are having a stand-up party with mostly | | | | there will be beer and spirits, reduce your wine |
| appetizers and finger foods then you will want to | | | | cache to about one bottle for every 4 or 5 |
| offer both red and white wines. For white wine | | | | guests. For dinner parties, you will want to make |
| consider having two options, first a good | | | | sure every guest can have a glass of each wine |
| Chardonnay with ample oak tones that stand up | | | | served with each course. A bottle pours about 5 |
| to the many different foods that will be offered. | | | | glasses of wine, so plan on a bottle for 5 guests. |
| A second good white wine choice is a lighter and | | | | An extra bottle of the main course and desert |
| drier Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc. For red | | | | wine is always a good idea.How to serve.First, get |
| wines, avoid anything too big and bold. Instead a | | | | the wine to the correct temperature well in |
| lighter Zinfandel, Merlot, or Pinot Noir are all great | | | | advance of the party. Set out all of the glasses |
| choices.If you are serving a formal sit down | | | | where guests can easily access them, in close |
| dinner, you may wish consider having both a red | | | | proximity to the wine. Don't open it all right away, |
| and white wines on hand. But you should also | | | | and don't set the chilled white and sparkling wine |
| consider the food you are serving and match | | | | out at once. Just before guests are to arrive, |
| your wine selections accordingly. If you are | | | | open enough wine to fill glasses of the initial |
| serving a multi-course dinner event, don't be | | | | arrivals. After everyone has poured their first |
| afraid to offer different wines with each course. | | | | glass, you can then open more to replenish based |
| Encourage guests to pour just a half glass of | | | | on the rate it is being consumed. Keep sparkling |
| each wine if you will be serving different wines in | | | | wine chilled in an ice water bath, but white and |
| order to avoid over indulgence.Many times if your | | | | reds will be fine sitting out at room temperature |
| focus is solely on which white and red wines to | | | | for 30-45 minutes. |