A good bottle of wine can make or break an occasion. There are several ways to choose the right wine for any event or meal, from considering your guest's palate preferences to the type of food you will be serving. You can also select wine for its aroma, flavor, and overall quality.
If you've ever been unsure of which bottle of wine to choose for a particular occasion, this is your guide. Learn the right wine to pair with any dish, and the right pairing for all the holidays, events, and occasions throughout the year.
Whether you're hosting a dinner party, planning a wedding, or stocking your home bar, it's always useful to have the perfect wine on hand. Although choosing wine for an event can feel daunting, if you start by learning about the five basic styles of wine, it's much easier to pick the right one for any occasion. From there, consider what food will be served with your wine as well as its price range before selecting a specific bottle.
We're not sure about you, but we're absolute suckers for a good glass of wine. It's such a classic drink, so versatile and delicious—and it can be paired with all kinds of foods, too.
Your favorite wine is already perfect just as it is. But if you’re looking to get a little more specific, we suggest -
The first step is looking at the color. Red wines are generally categorized by their color: light, medium, and deep. Light reds tend to be fruity and spicy, while medium and deep reds become more earthy, woodsy, and oaky as they grow darker.
If you're going to a friend's house for dinner, a light-colored wine like pinot noir or tempranillo is usually a good choice. These types of wines pair well with most foods, meaning you won't have to worry about knowing exactly what's going to be served.
If you're hosting a dinner party yourself and want more control over what type of wine will be served with each course, consider serving more than one type of wine—this way you can choose which wine goes with which course. For example, if you're serving an entrée that involves mushrooms or truffles (like mushroom lasagna), try pairing it with a medium-colored wine like cabernet sauvignon
For a Formal Dinner: If you're going to a formal dinner, then think about what you're going to eat and go with the wine that complements it best. If you have no idea what's on the menu, then better safe than sorry—pick out a SAUVIGNON BLANC or CARMENERE, which are versatile enough to pair well with most dishes.
We taste-test every wine we carry to ensure you’ll love it whether you’re sharing with friends or enjoying solo.