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Wine people, your input again, please
Since I have three parties in the next 6 weeks, I'm going to place one big order at the liquor store for a discount. I need to give him this by tomorrow (Wed) at 4 for it to come in in time for my first party on Saturday.
He said a normal bottle of wine (750 ml) will pour 5 glasses; one of the big bottles (1.5 L) will pour 10. Between the parties, I'll have a total of 75 guests to serve. My planning factor is that everyone will have two glasses of wine - I figure that balances out those who drink tons and those who don't drink at all.
Cabernet sauvignon - 3 large bottles (30 servings)
Pinot noir - 3 normal bottles (15 servings)
Chardonnay - 2 large bottles (20 servings)
Riesling - 4 normal bottles (20 servings)
Champagne (for the NYE party only, 30 ppl) - 6 bottles (30 servings)
Note 1: Regarding the choices, he initially suggested a pinot grigio and a merlot instead of the riesling and pinot noir, but when I told him the guest lists have more women (25 men to 50 women, roughly), he changed to the riesling and pinot noir. Seeing as how riesling's the only wine I drink, I'd definitely feel better having a riesling left over than a pinot grigio.
Note 2: The large v. normal bottle is tied to my selection - the large are a decent savings over the normal, so I chose them the two times I could.
Questions
1. Is 2 glasses per a reasonable planning factor? I'll be serving alcoholic punch at all three parties as well. For simplicity's sake, I do not plan to have other alcohol out (we do keep bottles of stuff in the cupboard if people really want something different, but I'm drawing the line on alcohol to do something to make these parties easier on me lol). I know lots of nesties aren't fans, but the punch is insanely popular here - think vanilla milkshake with nutmeg and bourbon. Damn good.
2. Do you agree with the varieties selected? I have roughly an even number of white & red servings - would you do that or go more one way or the other?
Re: Wine people, your input again, please
Hi! Re: question 1 - I think 2 glasses is a reasonable factor - considering the punch & the fact that guests will also bring wine. (hopefully). Also - the fact that your guests will have to drive home, if they drink you dry - you're done for the night anyways. Though - the way we pour we only get 4-4.5 glasses per reg. bottle and 9 per large. Be sure to pour carefully & not use oversized glasses or anything.
Re: question 2 - It is just a matter of personal preference and I think it is really nice that you are offering different varieties. (BTW - You can tell your wine vendor that I much prefer Pinot Grigio (Dry) to the Rieseling (Sweet) - & LOVE both Cabernet Sauv. and Pinot Noir (which is a lighter, easier drinking red). I took a seminar once re: wine and usually Pinot Noir is offered to novice (younger) wine drinkers - then they are encouraged to move up to Cabernet - which is more full bodied and sometimes needs to be enjoyed with food or bread to cut the strength.
Wish I could come.
I think two glasses per person will equal out just fine!
Personally, I think Riesling and Chardonnay are a little similar so I would recommend doing maybe a Riesling (since you said it was what you liked) and maybe a Sauvignon Blanc or a Pinot Grigio. I just think of dessert when I think of Chardonnay and Riesling so you may want to go for a dry white with the sweet white
As far as the red wine goes, I like Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz but I'm not much of a red wine drinker so those are really the only two I like but I think whatever he tells you for red is probably pretty good..
Good luck with everything!!!
I personally disagree that Riesling and Chardonnay are similar at all!! Chardonnay is NOT a dessert wine. It is dry or semi-dry.
I would use your guest's preferences to dictate what upi buy. If your guests are big into wine, I would definitely get more dry wine. To me, Riesling takes like Kool-aid. If your guests are more into the sweeter wines, go for more Rieslings. I would personally get more wine as well. Martha Stewart suggests for a party that there is one bottle per person total. It's the rule of thumb I always stick with. Sometimes I will buy a box or two of Black Box wines to have on hand for once the bottles are all gone, and everyone's taste buds are a little less sharp. I much prefer them over the cheaper bottled wines.
I agree with PP - I consider Chardonnay to be dry.
It's probably just because I'm not a fan of either of them that I throw them together as "wines i don't like" Sorry for not being right - don't want to lead you down the wrong path! :-)