How to Estimate the Proper Amount of Wine to Serve at a Party

Give your guests more than one wine option.

It can be tricky to figure out how much wine to buy for a party. You don't want to end up with too much, but you certainly don't want to run out early. There's a certain amount of guesswork involved in making this decision -- you need to know your guests and whether they are light or heavy drinkers. A standard wine serving is 5 ounces and a bottle holds 25 ounces. For sparking wine, a serving is usually 4 ounces if it is poured into flutes.

Instructions

1. Determine whether your party will be a sit-down affair, a casual cocktail party or a wine tasting event. The amount of food and time involved in a function will affect the amount of wine that you need.

2. Plan for a half-bottle of wine per guest for sit-down dinners. This doesn't include dessert wines or wine for a toast. This could mean allowing for a full bottle per guest, or more for a long party or heavier drinkers. Once you have your estimate, add a couple extra bottles to be sure you don't run out.

3. Estimate two glasses of wine during the first hour of a cocktail party and one glass each subsequent hour. You can reduce this amount if you are also serving beer and mixed drinks.

4. Follow a traditional wine-tasting format by estimating one bottle for every 10 guests, serving 1 ounce per guest of each wine. For a small group, pour larger servings or set aside the leftovers for guests who want seconds of their favorites.

Tips & Warnings

• Cases of wine are an excellent idea for a party. If you only serve one kind of red and one kind of white, it will be easier to refill glasses as the party progresses.

• Don't forget to have soft drinks, water and fruit juices available for all of the designated drivers.

• Make sure guests are safe to drive or have a designated driver.

References

• That's the Spirit: Pary Planning Ideas & Hints
• Epicurious.com: How to Pick Wines for Weddings
• Wine Weekly: How to Throw a Wine Party