If you are hosting a dinner party or another event, you want to make sure that your guests are well fed and that they can enjoy a variety of beverages. Depending on the number of guests and the nature of the event, there are a number of different types of wine that you could serve. The larger the event, the more variety you will be expected to provide whereas small, private dinners do not require a full bar.
For a large event like a wedding, you will want to offer your guests two reds, two whites, and sparkling wine. A good quality bottle of Pinot Noir and a Cabernet Sauvignon are popular choices since they tend to please the large majority. In many cases, brides prefer not to drink red wine at their wedding for fear of spilling on their dress. As for white wines, a Savignon Blanc and Chardonnay are two top options. Like the red wines mentioned above, these are popular white wines that will be enjoyed. For toasts, you will also need some bubbly. Avoid any extremes when choosing your sparkling wine and opt for something semi-sweet. An extremely sweet or overly dry bottle of champagne will not go down as well as one of the semi-sweet variety.
As for entertaining at home, it’s usually a good idea to serve one red and one white. Keep your wines lighter during warmer weather since wine drinkers prefer a refreshing wine during the summer. You can also serve some bubbly if you are celebrating a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary. Take into account the food you will be serving and select your wines accordingly. If you would like to offer more than two types of wine, you can. However, when you give your guests too many options, it can be tough to decide. In addition, you could end up with three or more open bottles.
Remember, wine need not be the only beverage on the menu. You can also serve beer, sparkling water, and other non-alcoholic beverages. Even if you cannot chill all of your beverages, you can serve certain drinks with ice.