Wine and Dine Your Party Guests

Hosting a dinner party presents a wonderful opportunity to get together with friends and relax. Whether you are planning a couplesʼ night, a girlsʼ night out, a bridal shower, or just a neighborhood barbeque, the possibilities are endless for making a memorable evening for you and your guests. Set your theme to enhance your evening.

If you choose to serve wine for your party or special occasion, you may find that choosing a wine that will go well with your meal and one that pleases everybody at the table can be difficult. You probably have your wine of choice tucked away, but perhaps that is as far as your knowledge of wine goes. Donʼt panic. Choosing a wine is easier than you think. All you need is a simple guideline that explains which wines generally go well with what foods.

White wines are popular with most people. The most popular white wines provide both a sweet and dry blend that may help you narrow down your list.

Chardonnay wines are generally more full-bodied and rich. They are also one of the white wines with more distinct differences from bottle to bottle, depending on where the grapes are grown and how the wine is aged. With Chardonnay, you will generally find citrus scents and flavors, especially grapefruit and lemon. Chardonnay goes well with fish and chicken dishes, but is also a good choice for roast turkey, smoked salmon, mild cheeses and fresh oysters.

Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio Wines first became popular in Italy and is now grown in France, Germany, Australia, and the U.S. Pinot Gris is generally one of the more crisp and acidic white wine types, the taste also varies depending on where it was bottles. Pinot Gris tends to have a better taste when it is younger or not aged as long. Pinot Gris are dry, crisp and refreshing, and a wonderful for the summer. They are traditionally full of fruity flavors and can even be found in a spicy variety such as pepper or arugula. Serve with Seafood dishes, mild cheeses with crackers and light pastas. Remember that it is best to avoid pairing acidic wine with acidic foods, like tomato-based sauces.

Riesling is one of the oldest white wine types. Founded in Germany, Rieslings can be either sweet or dry and is both fresh and light. Reislings seem to get even fresher tasting the more they age. Rieslings are characterized by floral and fruit aroma, such as apricot, melons, and citrus. This is a very elegant wine that can be served with spicy foods, especially Asian, crisp salads, fresh fruit, poultry. and cheese.

You should remember that white wine is best served in clear glass containers instead of the frosted variety. White wines are generally serves at a temperature of between 40-50 degrees to give the best flavor.

When your choices are made, you might want to accent your table with wine themed party favors, such as coasters or bottle stoppers. By following this simple guideline for choosing a white wine, you are sure to be the hit of your event!