A fun holiday wine that is great to serve at a party is the Lady Bug Red Cuvee V. Not only is it visually appealing (it comes in a bottle with a green label and lady bugs all over it), but the flavors are wonderfully fruity, containing a combination of blackberry, plum, cocoa, oak, and pepper. The wine, made up of Zinfandel, Carignane, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon, is sure to satisfy a wide range of wine lovers.
Take People Up on Their Offers
It is etiquette for those attending a party to offer to bring something – a casserole, a plate of cookies, a spinach dip. While you may have trouble accepting this gesture, thinking that you should be the one to generate all the party goods, keep in mind that many people who offer to bring something typically really want to.
People enjoy showing their gratitude. When they are able to contribute to a party, they feel as if they are given the opportunity to do just that. If a person asks you if they can bring anything, and you are stressing over the drink selection, simply request that they bring a bottle of wine. This not only assures that they will bring something they enjoy, but it also allows you to subtly shrug your shoulders and point your finger in their direction if others do not like it. That, after all, is what friends are for.
Holiday parties can be hard to plan, but with the above tips you should at least have the wine list taken care of, leaving you free to worry about food and décor instead. More than anything, when it comes this time of year, keep in mind the wine you serve at your holiday party shouldn’t be that important: the holidays are a time for camaraderie, family, and love - three entities that not even the most expensive vintage can ever rival.
Article comments
1 - Box Wine Guy
I agree that box wines have been looked down on as party fare, and often rightly so. This year, though, I'm going to offer guests a selection of Free Range Wines in some less common varietals. It should be fun to get people's reactions - we've always done bottle wine in the past.
2 - Jack
May I disagree? Unless it's a party for mainly people you don't like, serving White Zinfandel or some other cheap swill is not cool. A much better and still inexpensive sweet choice are the 1 Liter bottles of German wine brought in by Terry Thiese & Co. (Rieslings and Sylvaners.)