Choosing that Perfect Wine

for a Dinner Party

Here you find yourself having been invited to a dinner party and decided to bring the host a bottle of wine. But which type of wine should you buy? I am sure you have seen people seemingly bewildered in front of the wine shelves at the local grocery or liquor store. You have seen them, staring dumbly with no idea what wine to pick out. After you read this article, you can be assured you will never be one of those people.

Choosing a wine can be a tricky decision. You want your selection to please as many people as possible including your host. If you know ahead what is on the menu, the choice becomes easier. The general guidelines are as follows:

Light-bodied wines complement light food.
Full-bodied wines are needed when pairing with hearty food.

However, in the situation where you do not know the menu, it is ok as there are a few other key items to consider.

Host Preference

It is very important to consider the host. If you know the host well, you may want to select a bottle that suits his or her individual preferences. If you're less familiar with your host's favorites, select a popular wine variety such as Chardonnay or Merlot.

You can further customize the choice by selecting a wine that matches the recipient´s personality or intended usage. Are they more likely to open the bottle soon or age it in their cellar? Will they savor it during an everyday dinner or bring it out to impress friends? Do they have a fondness towards a particular wine or growing region?

Price Considerations

Of course all decisions must be balanced with respect to its price. In the situation of having a budget of $25 and above, your selections choices are wide open. A favorite of mine and a crowd pleaser is a Cabernet, a well rounded and highly excepted classic.

Ok, now let´s take a look at the $15 to $25 budget range. My suggestion here is that you just stick with a traditional Chardonnay or Merlot. They are both widely appreciated and just a bit less costly than Cabernets.

Even at $15 and under there are some really enjoyable choices. For $10 you can get Veramonte Cabnernet Sauvignon from the Casablanca Valley, located in Chile. Another great selection is the Australian Shiraz or the Sauvignon Blancs, both of which may pleasantly surprise the recipient.

Dessert Wines

Dessert wines are very popular and a great gift suggestion. To clarify, a dessert wine is one that is potent, sweet, and full of flavor. It is because of their sweet flavor the wine complements a dessert. Often extra spirits are added to raise the alcohol content. Examples of popular dessert wines include Muscat, Ports, Ice Wine and Sauterene.

Presenting the Wine

The gift of wine will be a hit with your host especially if you are creative in the ways to present it. Many wines have a natural food complement such as a certain cheese, bread, dessert, or main dish. Augmenting the wine gift with its known complement is a good suggestion. Also, consider including some fun accessories, such as wine charms or handmade wine tags. Perhaps just presenting it gift wrapped or in a gift bag will work for your situation, just be sure to add a nice handwritten card.

Contributor: Cally Wisham (Napa, CA)

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