So, you’re invited to a party and you have no idea what’s on the menu. The next question is, what to bring? Wine is always a safe bet to bring to parties, but this can depend on the type of wine. To work for all potential scenarios and appeal to all palates, here are some must-have wines for parties that you cannot go wrong with!
Bubbles
What’s a party without some fizz? This is certainly your first port of call when choosing a party wine. Perfect to crack up open upon arrival, or chill in the fridge until toasting time, later on, bubbly never disappoints! When it comes to bubbles, however, each price point tends to have noticeable differences, particularly when it comes to taste.
You can often find a cheap bottle of red that has a good flavour, however, this isn’t always the case with cheap bubbles! Handpicked Prosecco or Villa Conchi Cava are both steady options that won’t break the bank, however, if it’s a special occasion and you really want to impress, you can never go wrong with a bottle of GH Mumm.
A crisp white
While bubbles are great for celebrating, a crisp white is a strong option to have up your sleeve if dinner is going to be served. While white wine is often deemed more accessible or less intimidating than red wine, there are still certain things to consider when choosing the right drop.
A Riesling or Moscato will be on the more intense, sweeter side but will pair well with spicy food. In case there’s seafood on the menu, a crisp, dry chardonnay may be the winner. Mill Keeper makes great California Chardonnay wines worth adding to your next dinner. However, the crispiest wine of all has to be either Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc – both light, floral and fruity, they’ll work with almost anything that’s put on the table.
A lighter-bodied red
If you don’t know everyone attending the party, then it’s a good idea to come prepared for different tastes e.g bring a bottle and red and white wine. Choosing red wine can be an intriguing but complex exercise, and with the options being so nuanced, it’s hard to pin down what people will like.
Similar to white wine, think about drinkability and what will work best with as many potential dishes as possible. A Pinot Noir or a Malbec are probably the best choices here. Light-bodied and easy on the palate, Both pair well with a variety of food such as chicken, pasta and fish. Some of our favourite Pinot Noirs have to be Oyster Bay, Yering Station and Penfolds Bin 23. If you’re leaning more towards a Malbec, Santa Julia Reserva, McGuigan The Plan, and Young & Co are great options.
A dry rosé
Rosé is made from the juice being strained from skins before it becomes too dark in colour, giving it its famous pink hue. Because of this, we like to call rosé the perfect ‘in-between’ wine. Along with a pint of cider, a glass of rosé is what comes to mind when we think of summer days sitting in a beer garden.
If your party is in the daytime, a dry rosé could be the perfect tipple to enjoy while the sun is out. Aromatic, and sophisticated, dry rosé wine is a great one to easily pair well with cheese boards, seafood and the perfect party nibbles … pizza! La Bohéme Act Two Dry Rosé, Cupio Pinot Noir Rosé and Gérard Bertrand Cote Roses Rosé are affordably priced rosés that seriously deliver.
Dessert or fortified wine
Of course, no matter what’s on the menu – there’s always room for dessert. Dessert wine is often the forgotten about/lesser-known wine category that doesn’t get the airtime it deserves. Typically sweet with a distinctive flavour and a higher alcohol content they can be the perfect accompaniment to fruit desserts like apple pie or peach cobbler, as well as white chocolate, and who can forget a cheeseboard? Common types of dessert wine include sherry, port and fortified wine. Fortified wine is where grape brandy is added to the wine to make it either dry or sweet and give it a higher ABV.
Ready to make some pour decisions? Sessions liquor store has an array of wines for you to start exploring one sip at a time!! Visit Sessions or chat with the team at one of their stores in Brunswick or Sandringham.