How to Bring the Right Wine to a Holiday 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 to just about every day in between, it seems someone wants to get together for a bit of end-of-year holiday cheer. It truly is a great time to bust out your best glasses and favorite recipes to welcome friends and family into your home. If you’re on the receiving end of the invite, though, a bottle of wine is a perfect gift. As people who throw a lot of parties and dinners, we’re here to let you know that a well-chosen bottle, whether newly purchased or from your cellar, makes a lasting impression and brings a smile to those who are lucky enough to enjoy a glass. Here’s some advice on how to bring the best bottle to your next soiree.
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Scout It Out: If you are expecting your bottle to be poured at dinner, do a little reconnaissance: Find out what is being served, and bring a great bottle to match. Make sure to let your host know what you have in mind, so they don’t have to worry about a pairing for the course you’re covering and follow through with a great selection.
Keep It Chill: White, rosé, or bubbles in your bag? Chill it in your home fridge for at least a day to bring it to the right temperature and keep it cool on the way over with an insulated bag or ice jacket. There are a lot of nice ones out there that make a great gift in addition to your bottle, and if it’s good looking enough to serve out of, you’ve saved your host a hassle. To paraphrase Prince, I’ve got a bottle in my chiller, and baby it is ready to pour.
Do the Math: You get about six glasses out of a bottle, so for a larger dinner or cocktail party, bring two or more bottles to make sure there’s enough to go around. The price per bottle can be inversely proportional to the number you are bringing, and this is a great time to pull some special bottles from your cellar that will be drinking perfectly now. If you’ve got a great story about discovering the wine on your trip to Italy, Napa, or France, that’s even better.
Bigger Is Better: Party situations are ideal for large formats like magnums or Jeroboams. This doesn’t have to be the most expensive wine in your collection; we have picked up reasonably priced big bottles in Tuscany, Portugal, Spain, and even Bordeaux, and we keep them on hand for when we have to pour for a crowd at home or to bring to a party, and many specialty wine shops have a wide selection of large formats. They really get people’s eyes popping and are great conversation starters.
Now and Later: It’s a nice gesture to bring two different bottles, one to be cracked open and enjoyed now and one to be 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’s from when it’s finally opened. Your host may be a little frazzled as 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’s going to be there and plan an appropriate pour. Don’t tell our families this, but we often open more accessible bottles for holidays and save the good stuff for our wine-loving (and more knowledgeable) friends. There’s no reason to pull a bottle of Méo Camuzet or Biondi-Santi out of your cellar if you’re just going to have to explain what it is and it won’t be fully appreciated. Sharing situations are a good opportunity for an appellation village wine from an under-the-radar producer or something that is equal parts interesting and delicious that doesn’t cost a fortune.
Inside the Box: Nothing makes an impact and gets the party started like a whole case of wine or bubbles all chilled down and ready to go. We once showed up at a barbecue in the Hudson Valley with an ice-laden plastic bin of top-shelf Prosecco, and we also pulled a case of vintage Champagne from our personal cellar to be served for the toast at our friends’ wedding at a restaurant in Soho. This is a total baller move, but hey, it’s the holidays, why not do your best to spread some cheer?
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