wines for reception

[srf]

Our vegetarian reception menu includes bow tie pasta with two types of sauce, a fettucini mushroom and spicy red pepper. There will also be fruit, caesar salad and bread. We're planning to offer beer and wine. We are also planning to have berry pies, rather than a cake. Any suggestions for wine choices in the $7-15 range would be appreciated. Also, we will have 100 guests, so how many cases of wine would be appropriate?

[ANXIOUS HOST]

Hello.
It sounds to me like some wine from Tuscany is in order. Perhaps a nice Chianti Classico. If you enjoy french wine better, I would go with a Crozes Hermittage, which has the tannins of a chianti with more depth. I would order 50 bottles. Santé

[Innkeeper]

Would go with four cases even, if all will be having some wine. If you think half will drink beer; two cases. Solice Salentino would go with both sauces, and will cost half as much as the Chianti.

[Thomas]

Those two sauces do not sound to me like tomato.

Not sure what goes into your mushroom sauce, other than mushrooms, but I suspect it is a cream sauce of some sort. If so, white wine might do better--maybe a nice Soave. As for the spicy red pepper sauce--do you mean hot pepper? If so, you can go red but there is a white for that too: Riesling or Gewurztraminer. I make a red pepper sauce that is a sure match for Gewurztraminer--but it is not a hot sauce.

I suppose I am saying your menu does not give me enough information to make solid recommendations.

For the berry pies: coffee.