How to Choose Wine for a Dinner Party
Written By Sarah Coombs
Picking out wine can be hard. There I said it.
Varietals, regions, dry, sweet, tannic, fruity, acidic, oaky. There is a lot to consider! Wine shopping can be especially overwhelming when you’re picking out wine for others to enjoy. You want to get something everyone will love and let’s be honest, you want to impress your guests. But drinking wine is fun and shopping for wine should be fun too. So we asked our two favorite sommeliers, Bill Summerville and Scarlett Carrasco Polanco, for their best wine shopping tips.
First and foremost, when picking out wine for the table, Bill says, “Choose your favorite wines and tell your guests how much they’ll love them. Seriously.” While Scarlett suggests always, always starting with bubbles - something crisp & refreshing like a Cremant de Loire or Cava Reserva. Bill’s insider tip for bubbles - the less expensive it is, the colder it should be served. Otherwise, both our somms agree you can’t go wrong just keeping it simple - good acid, medium body, and moderate fruit pair well with food.
But what grape is the best grape?
Scarlett’s favorite food-friendly varietals for white wine are chenin blanc & riesling, and cabernet franc & gamay for reds. Bill tends to lean Italian with sangiovese, barbera, and nebbiolo as his go-to’s. However for seafood specifically, Bill recommends the Spanish region Rias Baixas, renowned for its white wines made from the albariño grape.
Where in the world?
If you find yourself wandering through the wine shop from region to region not knowing where to land, Bill’s simple advice is to serve wine from the same region as the food that’s on the table. Regionally, Scarlett leans towards the Loire Valley in France, “but you also can't go wrong with central Italy; wines from Chianti, Emilia-Romagna, and Umbria are exceptionally tasty and food friendly.”
Let’s get more specific. Tell me a wine that never disappoints.
Bill- “Gruner veltliner from Austria is always a winner with its high acidity, minerality ,and subtle nuances. Beaujolais (gamay in general) is another favorite. Its supple fruit and silky texture always leave you wanting more.”
Scarlett- “I love Athletes Du Vin Cooperative wines. They operate out of the Loire Valley and produce chenin blanc, cabernet franc, gamay, pineau d' aunis (a fun, little-known grape), sauvignon blanc and more for a modest price.”
There are many notable wine shops in the the Twin Cities but our favs are France44, Henry & Son, Lowry Hill Liquors, & South Lyndale Liquors.
Remember, in the end it’s less about the wine you’re drinking and more about who you’re sharing it with!