You receive a dinner invitation and you want to bring some wine to dinner party. Good for you for thinking of such a nice gesture. When the invitation is extended, you can offer to bring the wine for the evening.

Inquire as to what will be served, so that you can select an appropriate wine. For instance, if beef, game or other meat will be served, you may bring a red wine that will complement the entree. If fish, seafood, poultry or other lighter fare is in the offing, a white wine would be more appropriate. If you’re not sure what goes with what, ask for help at the wine shop or the person in the liquor department at your supermarket. If the party will consist of more than four guests, you should bring along more than one bottle. Just for information purposes, one bottle will serve 4 to 6 glasses of wine.

On the other hand, if you just want to bring along a bottle or two of a wine you have tasted and found to be of good quality, present it to your host or hostess upon arrival. Since he or she has probably already selected the wine for the evening, your gift can and should be added to his wine rack or bar for him or her to enjoy at a later time.

If you’ve brought along champagne, the rules change a bit. The host or hostess can suggest, or offer, to ice it down right then and serve it with dessert, or keep it for another occasion (hopefully for the next time you come for dinner).

It’s not necessary to spend a great deal on any of your wine selections, but I would advise not to bring inexpensive or plain “table” wine. My point of reference is that if the bottle has a cork (and not a plastic one for the champagne), you’re headed in the right direction.

Filed Under: Wine & Libations