Hosting Wine party, HELP!

[hotwine]

Hi Deal, and welcome to the board.

Suggest you approach your planning this way:

- Determine the number of adults present;

- Of those present, how many will drink wine?

- If any guests are semi-serious wine-lovers, plan to serve one bottle per couple; if they're only casual sippers, plan for 3-4 people per bottle.

- Suggest you provide a red, a white, and a bubbly. For the red, a Spanish Garnacha (Grenache in French), a southern Rhone, or a red Zinfandel. For the white, a Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc; and for the bubbly, a Spanich Cava or Italian Presecco. The whites and bubblies should be served chilled, the reds at cool room temperature.

If you're a member of Costco and you have a Costco handy, you can find all of your wines there at very affordable prices... $10 or less per bottle. If not Costco but you're a member of Sam's Club, try there.... they just don't have as good a selection as Costco. If not Costco or Sam's, go to a large supermarket that carries wines and ask a clerk for help. If none of the above, go to a good wineshop in your area and do the same.

- At Costco/Sam's/supermarket, look for party trays of sliced cheeses, hams and sausages. Also pick up several packages of party crackers.

- Cut up the cheeses, hams and sausages into bite sizes to match the crackers, provide a container of colorful toothpicks and stack of napkins, along with a stack of clear plastic cups for the wines, and you're in business.

Have fun!