If you're going to throw a cocktail party, you need to have a selection of wines available for your guests. But buying wine for a party is much different than selecting wine for your own consumption. You can't be expected to know what everyone likes, but if you stock the bar for your cocktail party with a reasonable selection, everyone should be happy.
Instructions
1. Know how many people you're expecting. Not everyone at your party will drink wine, but knowing the number of guests will help you estimate how much wine you need. There are roughly five glasses of wine in a bottle, and you can expect people to have approximately one drink per hour.
2. Think red and white. Like liquor-drinkers, most wine-drinkers prefer one color over the other. Even if you don't have the exact flavor they usually drink, they'll feel comfortable substituting what you have if it's the color they normally drink. Be sure to have both red and white wine at your party.
3. Take the popular route. If you know your guests well, you may know what type of wine most of them drink. In that case, get some of that. If they're always talking about Merlot, get a popular Merlot. Like fashion, wines can be trendy. Find out what variety of wine is "in."
4. Keep the price down. Even wine connoisseurs attending a cocktail party don't expect you to serve exquisite wine. They expect a small variety of drinkable wines. Don't feel you have to buy expensive wine for your party to be successful. If you're having a large party, buy fewer varieties and a larger quantity of each. You often get a volume discount if you buy a whole case.
5. Ask, when you don't know the answers. The sales staff at most large wine stores are very knowledgeable. Don't be timid about asking for help. They know which Merlot is currently popular and what white wine most people are drinking.
Tags: cocktail party, wine your, your party, , white wine