Planning a dinner party for friends, coworkers, or family can be a complicated process. From ensuring everybody’s dietary requirements are considered to sourcing exceptional ingredients, a lot of work is required to guarantee a successful event. A superb variety of wines is a crucial element of any dining experience. However, if you’re not necessarily a wine enthusiast, it can be tricky to know what to choose. Therefore, here are some top tips for helping you select the best wines to impress your dinner party guests.
The first step in creating the perfect menu is to consider your guests’ preferences and dietary requirements - this includes carefully considering your wine selection. The best way to go about this is to ask what beverages your guests prefer before you take a trip to your local wine cellar. If you are expecting a guest who doesn’t like wine, ensure you offer them something else you're confident they’ll enjoy. It may come as a surprise, but not all wines are vegetarian or vegan. Some traditional wine-making methods involve animal-derived fining agents, such as bone marrow, casein (milk protein), egg albumen and gelatin. While most bottles list whether or not they are suitable for vegans on the label, ask a staff member or research the wine online before buying. Offering alcohol-free wine and other soft drinks for non-drinking guests is also good practice.
As well as your hand-selected table wine, you may want to greet your guests with a glass of something excellent on their arrival. Regarding wine, your fail-safe options are prosecco, cava and champagne if you want to push the boat out. Of course, you could always flex your mixology skills and create delicious wine-based cocktails, such as rosé sangria or Aperol spritz mimosas.
If you’re unsure of your guests’ wine preferences, opt for crowd-pleasing beverages for the best chance at success. While Cabernet Sauvignon is sometimes considered an acquired taste, there is no denying that it is one of the most popular types of red wine in the world. Rich, full-bodied and acidic, this deep ruby red wine pairs exceptionally well with red meats and strong cheeses. In terms of white wine, Chardonnay is remarkably popular due to its versatility, ranging from crisp and clean to rich and oaky.
Wine is commonly paired with the dishes with which it is served to enhance and complement the flavours and textures of both food and beverage. You can provide your guests with an extraordinary dining experience by selecting your wine varieties based on your menu. For example, if you’ve decided to serve delicate seafood such as lobster or muscles as a starter, opt for an equally light and refreshing wine such as Pinot Grigio. For richer dishes such as duck or lamb, choose a wine with more acidity, like Nebbiolo, to cut through the fattiness of the meat.
Not everybody is a wine expert. Fortunately, the staff at your local wine cellar or winery are likely very knowledgeable indeed. Explain your menu choices and the atmosphere you hope to achieve at your dinner party. The wine merchant will make professional decisions on your behalf, often allowing you to sample each beverage before committing to a purchase. Alternatively, you can find plenty of wine-related advice online, including pairing recommendations and interesting wine-making information.
Dessert wine is often considered an acquired taste due to its sweetness and richness. However, a well-selected dessert wine could take your sweet course from good to exceptional. Dessert wine, such as Gewürztraminer and Sauternes, is typically served in small glasses with the purpose of complementing delicate flavours without overpowering them. Serve red dessert wines slightly below room temperature and white between 43-46°F (6-8°C). You can read more about dessert wine here.
By now, you should have all the information you need to make informed decisions regarding your dinner party wine selection. However, shocking though it may seem, not everybody enjoys wine. Ensure you have plenty of alternatives for your guests; their enjoyment should be your main priority. Along with a delightful variety of wines, consider purchasing good-quality beer, cider, fruit juice and soda.