How to Bring the Right Wine to a Christmas Party

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It’s that wonderful time of year when the invitations start pouring in. From Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve and just about every day in between, it seems like someone wants to come together to spread some end-of-year holiday cheer. It’s truly a great time to bring out your best jars and favorite recipes to welcome friends and family into your home. However, if you are the recipient of the invitation, a bottle of wine is the perfect gift. As people who host a lot of parties and dinners, we want you to know that a well-chosen bottle, whether purchased new or from your cellar, will leave a lasting impression and bring a smile to those who are lucky enough to enjoy it Face conjures up a glass. Here’s some advice on bringing the best bottle to your next soirée.

Explore it: If you’re expecting your bottle to be poured with dinner, do a little scouting: find out what’s being served and bring a great bottle to match. Be sure to let your host know what you’re planning to do so that they don’t have to worry about the right combination for the course you’re covering and can make a great selection.

Stay calm: White, rose or bubbles in your bag? Chill it in the home refrigerator for at least a day to get it to the right temperature, and keep it cool when you’re on the go with an insulated bag or ice jacket. There are many beautiful bottles that make great gifts in addition to your bottle, and if they look good enough to serve from, you’ve saved your host some trouble. To paraphrase Prince: I have a bottle in my fridge and baby, it’s ready to pour.

Do the math: You get about six glasses from one bottle. So for a larger dinner or cocktail party, consider bringing two or more bottles to ensure there is enough for everyone. The price per bottle can be inversely proportional to the quantity you bring, and this is a good time to pick up some special bottles from your cellar that are perfect to drink now. If you have a great story about discovering wine on your trip to Italy, Napa, or France, even better.

Bigger is better: Party situations are ideal for large formats such as magnums or jeroboams. This doesn’t have to be the most expensive wine in your collection; We have purchased large bottles at reasonable prices in Tuscany, Portugal, Spain and even Bordeaux and keep them on hand when we need to pour for a crowd at home or bring them to a party, and many specialty wine stores have a large selection of large formats . They really make people’s eyes light up and are a great conversation starter.

Now and later: It’s a nice touch to bring two different bottles, one to open and enjoy and another to set aside for a quieter moment. Make sure your host knows the difference between the two; Wrap the gift bottle and attach a card so they know who it came from when it’s finally opened. Your host may be a little confused when you and other guests arrive. So ask where you can put the bottle to be served and what else you can do to help.

You know who: Find out who will be there and plan an appropriate casting. Don’t tell our families, but we often open more accessible bottles for the holidays and save the good stuff for our wine-loving (and more knowledgeable) friends. There’s no reason to grab a bottle of Méo Camuzet or Biondi-Santi from your cellar if all you have to do is explain what it is and it won’t be fully appreciated. Exchange situations are a great opportunity to enjoy a village wine with appellation from a producer that is little known, or something that is equal parts interesting and delicious and doesn’t cost a fortune.

In the box: Nothing makes as much impact and gets the party going as a whole case of wine or champagne, chilled and ready to go. We once showed up at a barbecue in the Hudson Valley with an ice-laden plastic container of premium prosecco and also pulled out a case of vintage champagne from our personal cellar to serve for the toast at our friends’ wedding restaurant in Soho. This is a total move, but hey, it’s the holidays, why not do your best to spread some cheer?

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