FAQ'S

I’m buying wine for a dinner party – how much do I need?
How important is glassware when enjoying wine?
How do I know when a wine is ready to drink?
How do I know if a wine needs to be decanted?

I’m buying wine for a dinner party – how much do I need?

It depends on the format of your dinner. If the only beverage you will be serving is the wine, a general rule of thumb is one bottle per two guests. This will allow about 3 glasses per person over the evening. This can be split between red and white if both are being served over the duration of the meal.

If cocktails are being served first, you could probably assume one bottle per three guests, with the same net effect of 3 drinks per person. Keep in mind your responsibilities as host to not allow your guests to overindulge. Provide other choices for consumption that are non-alcoholic – appropriate sparkling water, virgin cocktails, fruit juice etc.

It’s better to buy one or two extra bottles ahead of time, rather than run out and have to switch mid meal. The extras can always be enjoyed later if not used.

How important is glassware when enjoying wine?

Years of research has been done into this topic by specialty wineglass companies like Riedel. The shape of the glass does change how we perceive the taste and aroma. The most important considerations are;
1) A thin rim or rimless glass – the beaded rim on some wineglasses interferes with your sensory perception of the wine.
2) The shape should be narrower at the top – this traps the aroma molecules and allows them to be concentrated, increasing the perceived scent.
3) Glassware needs to be colourless. Save the coloured glasses for water or other beverages, as part of the appreciation of wine is its colour.
All other considerations are a matter of taste and budget.

How do I know when a wine is ready to drink?

Keep in mind that 90% of the wines produced in the world are for immediate consumption. Chances are, if it’s a bottle you picked up at the liquor store from the regular shelves, it can be enjoyed right away.

The majority of white wines are designed for immediate consumption as well. There are a few exceptions ( top-notch Riesling, Chardonnay from Burgundy to name a few) but the easiest way to tell is to look at the bottle closure. A screw cap or plastic cork is an easy indicator of a wine not meant to be aged.

Price is a bit of a hint as to ageability. Generally, the more you paid for the wine, the better its potential to improve with age.

Certain grape varieties tend to improve with age. Highly tannic wines like Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Nebbiolo tend to improve in the bottle, as the tannins soften and integrate into the wine. Read the recommended drinking ages from a vintage chart, or from a good magazine like Wine Spectator.

How do I know if a wine needs to be decanted?

This is somewhat related to the above question. Highly tannic wines that are a bit young will improve greatly if decanted a few hours before serving. This is because the exposure to air causes a similar softening of the tannins to aging.

If the wine has sediment (NOT a bad thing!) it should be decanted gently to separate the wine from the sediment.

Lastly, wine in a decanter just looks more appealing. The colour shines through, and looks great on the table.

So – go ahead and decant. The only wines that shouldn’t be decanted are old, fragile wines that run the risk of losing the last of their haunting fragrance, but few of us are lucky enough to be cellaring 1961 Bordeaux, or 1985 DRC Burgundy.