| When you are entertaining, you need to provide | | | | and only a few of the drier, tart reds and whites. |
| more wines than just those that you enjoy. You | | | | Conversely, if you are entertaining experienced |
| need to provide a range of wine for every palate | | | | wine drinkers, you will probably only purchase a |
| when you entertain. You will need to provide | | | | few sweet whites and reds and several dry |
| white wine even if you prefer red. If all you ever | | | | varietals. |
| drink is white, you should still provide red for your | | | | Of course, knowing how much wine to purchase |
| guests. | | | | overall can be a daunting task. You can never |
| Not only should you provide both red and white, | | | | definitely know how much a crowd will drink, but |
| you should provide a full spectrum of red and a | | | | you can make a fair estimation. You know your |
| full spectrum of white. From sweet white wines | | | | guests better than anyone does, but most |
| to bold, dry red wines, you have several varietals | | | | crowds are comprised of non-drinkers, beer |
| from which to choose for every type of red or | | | | drinkers and wine drinkers. |
| white wine. | | | | In fact, at most parties, about half of the people |
| For white wine selections, you will want to be | | | | in attendance drink wine. These wine drinkers |
| sure to include a dry white selection as well as a | | | | usually have two glasses each, though some |
| fruity white selection. To appease the sweeter | | | | people quit with one glass and other people drink |
| palate, you should probably purchase Chardonnay | | | | three or four glasses. In the end, though, you can |
| or Chenin Blanc and to appease the more tart | | | | count on an average of two glasses per person |
| palate, you could purchase Pinot Grigio or | | | | that is drinking wine. |
| Sauvignon Blanc. | | | | Because only half of the people at your party will |
| Your red wine selections will be as varied as your | | | | be drinking wine, you can safely say that you |
| white wine selections. For a fruitier palate, you will | | | | need to provide one glass of wine per person |
| want to choose lighter reds such as Pinot Noir and | | | | who attends. However, if you are like most |
| for your guests with a palate for tart dry reds; | | | | people, you will prefer to err on the side of over |
| you will want to purchase Cabernet Sauvignon, | | | | abundance and provide one and a half glasses of |
| Merlot, Shiraz or Chianti. | | | | wine per person. |
| With such a wide variety of wines, you will also | | | | When serving wine at parties, you usually serve |
| need to know how much of each type of wine to | | | | five 5-ounce glasses from each bottle, so if you |
| serve when you entertain. As a rule, if the | | | | are going to have 20 guests, you should count on |
| majority of your guests were new to wine | | | | 30 glasses of wine, which divided by five, is six |
| drinking, you would probably be better off to | | | | bottles of wine. |
| purchase more sweet or fruity whites and reds | | | | |