Party On with wines that do “double duty”
If you’re planning a party this season, you may be wondering what wines to buy. It can be challenging to find wines that do “double duty” – pair well with the foods you’re serving and also stand on their own.
You can always play it safe and serve a single varietal of white and red – a Riesling and a Pinot Noir. These wines are what my friend calls the “hussies” of the wine world: they’re indiscriminate about what they’re paired with, go with virtually any dish and show everyone a good time – even without food!
You can be adventurous and take your guests on a little around-the-world journey out of their comfort zone. Here are some tips:
- Choose lesser-known and under-appreciated varietals, like Malbec from
- Buy by the case. Retailers often let you mix and match 12 different bottles and still offer a 10% case discount.
- Shop for bin-end sales. You can often find some real treasures when retailers have excess stock.
- Ask your local retailer for help. They’re always on the look-out for great values for themselves.
Plan on between a half to one bottle per guest, and be sure to stock up on inexpensive glassware.
What wines are good with the odd assortment of foods we usually have with a traditional Thanksgiving dinner and desserts?
How many different wine glasses are really needed and how do they affect the taste or experience of wine? I’ve been hearing that you need several different styles for the different reds and again for the different whites. Is there a catchall? What do you think about these new stemless glasses, or are they just a trend?
Here’s Michele’s response to the question of wine glasses …
The shape and size of the glass can enhance the aroma and taste of the wine. I went to a comparative tasting held years ago by stemware manufacturer Georg Riedel that made me a believer that the same wine really does taste different in different glasses.
I use Italian-made glasses that have concentric circles that really bring out the flavor of the wine. For me, the minimum number is one for white, one for Pinot Noir and one for other reds.
With stemless glasses the heat from your hand can make the wine too warm, so I’m not a fan. Plus, I hate fingerprints on the bowl of the glass!