Though not usually a worry at our house, where we typically have a case on hand to satisfy our own compulsions, Apartment Therapy’s The Kitchn recently posed the question: How much wine should we plan, per guest, for a sit-down dinner, or even a holiday hors d’ouevre party?
For sit-down dinners, a good rule of thumb is a half bottle per guest, with the possibilty of an additional glass of port or dessert wine after dinner. If you are only serving hors d’ouevres, plan on a guest consuming two servings in the first hour, and one – two servings each additional hour. With a 750 milliliter bottle holding five portions, you’ll need about three or four bottles for a one hour function with ten people. For a two hour event, you will likely be fine with six bottles.
Cases are a wonderful idea this time of year. Consider getting one of red and one of white, preferably all the same kind. Excellent party-friendly choices would be a Sauvignon Blanc, and a Pinot Noir. Sticking with the same wines all night aids a host in keeping a guest’s glass filled, without waiting for an empty glass in order to switch wines.
Don’t forget what may be the best party tip of all: Plan to have a special drink on hand for all the designated drivers! Sparkling cider drinks, or chilled fruit juice blends served in martini glasses will help to insure that all of your guests have a fabulous night.
Leave a Reply