With all of the forthcoming celebrations, now is the time to get organized and let the wine be the easiest part of your entertaining. The following are some common questions.
Can I use the same glass for red, white, Champagne, tea and water?
One glass can easily be used for all except the bubbly. For all-in-one serving, look for a glass size in between the traditional white and red. But for Champagne, the flute is the best choice. Without the rolling celebratory bubbles, this style of wine loses its luster in traditional stemware.
How many servings are in a wine bottle?
A standard wine bottle holds 750 milliliters, which is about 25 ounces. The average pour for any glassware should be about 5 ounces, giving you five servings per bottle. (Keep in mind if you are “filling” wine glasses, especially large red wine stems, expect to get much less per bottle.)
How much wine do I need to buy?
It may seem excessive but a good rule is it is better to have too much than not enough. For a wine-only gathering (no cocktails or beer) lasting two hours, plan for two to three glasses per person. So for a party with 20 guests, 12 bottles would be sufficient. For a four-hour dinner party, plan four to five glasses per person. A four-hour dinner party for eight guests would require roughly eight bottles.
Should I rent glassware or buy?
If you’ll be entertaining more than 30, rental makes sense. Renting costs, on average, a little under $1 per glass but most importantly there’s no clean up or future storage issues. However, if you entertain large groups regularly, you may want to keep your eye out for end-of-season bargains on wine glasses in chain stores for a future glassware stash.
How do I get red wine stains out of my carpet?
I always keep a bottle of Wine Away on hand for stains. It’s the best remover I’ve found for carpet and upholstery and costs about $9 a bottle. If you don’t have a wine-specific cleaner, as a last resort, use a paper towel to blot up as much of the stain as possible, saturate the spot with cold water and blot again. Then, mix a paste of three parts baking soda to one part water and put over spot. Let the paste dry, then vacuum.
How much should I spend per bottle for entertaining?
There’s no one-size-fits all answer but if it’s a large cocktail party, choose a wine that sells from $8 to $12. Retailers often offer Christmas specials and added discount incentives on quality wines making it easy for great values. For a dinner party, best advice is spending as much as you can afford. If you slaved in the kitchen preparing perfect foods, sauces and desserts, showcase the best wine your budget will allow.