wine help, please?

[Anonymous]

We're having a backyard party next weekend and I need help with wine. It's not fancy, about 50 people - round tables, metal folding chairs, backyard games and food catered by a local bbq joint. What kind of wine do I serve? I don't drink much, but am making a batch of sangria for my tastes. The hubby is picking the beers, but I want to have some wines here too...however I have no idea what to buy.

Are Beringer, Sutter Home or Barefoot brands ok for this type of get-together? I don't want to spend a fortune, but don't want to be trashy either. I noticed these brands offer a variety of types, so I could just pick a few varieties of one brand for convenience.

Also, do I just choose a "red", "white" and "rose", or do I get specific varietals? If specific, which appeal most to the masses?

Thanks in advance for your help!!

[Anonymous]

Yes those brands are fine and affordable. I would just buy white since you already have beer and sangria.

[Anonymous]

No, no, no. Those brands are not okay! You don't need to spend a gazillion dollars but for a few dollars more you can get some really nice wines. Given the weather I would focus on white. There are decent chardonnays and sauvignon blancs from New Zealand and South Africa that most people will like that will only cost you 10-15 a bottle. I would also have one bottle of red handy for those die hard red drinkers. I wouldn't bother with a rose. I love a good rose, but they are dicey. To find a good dry one, you may have to spend 20-30 a bottle, which I don't think is necessary given the casual nature of your party. Also, rose wine is not nearly as popular as white.

[Anonymous]

Yes, those are fine. I agree with going with whites. Jacob's Creek is the same price point, and very good. I would go with a Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio. Have fun at your party!

[Anonymous]

PP here. A decent wine store can help you find the above. Also whole foods has a good selection in the 10-15 a bottle range.

[Anonymous]

I would just go with red and white - I don't know anyone who drinks rose except my French SIL! I am not a wine expert, but I agree with the pp who said you can get better wine from smaller vineyards for about the same price. To me, Sutter Home and Beringer are really cheap - not sure about Barefoot. If you go to Total Wine or some place like that, they can certainly steer you toward something in your price point that is better than those wines.

[Anonymous]

Rose is bad- skip it. I'd have red and white since some people don't like white wine for whatever reason. Agree that you should go to Bassins or some other wine store, tell them your budget, and get some advice. It's a fun way to discover new wines, too.

[Anonymous]

You could also pick some wines with fun names and fun labels. I have done this for parties with non-wine-snobs in attendance and they seemed to get a kick out of drinking the "Cupcake" pinot noir or the "Bitch" Syrah.

You'll want more than one bottle of red. Even in the summer, a lot of my friends (including myself) are hard-core red wine drinkers. Red can keep for awhile, so you could always save it for the next party, or bring it to dinner parties if you have extra.

[Anonymous]

I agree with PP that suggested New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs - you can get them for about $10/bottle and they are relatively consistent and very light/summery. Try Brancott, Villa Maria, or if you want to spend a little more, Cloudy Bay or Kim Crawford are very good. You might also consider Prosecco - an italian sparkling wine that is sort of like a sweeter, much cheaper champagne that is great for summer. Again, about$12 should get you a decent bottle.

Agree on a couple bottles of red just in case. A few standbys that most people are OK with are Big House Red (californian) and Rosemount Shiraz (australian).

[Anonymous]

I think it depends on your friends. Non-snobby wine drinkers (my definition - someone who goes to dinner and just orders a glass of Chardonnay or Merlot without seeing even the most basic of wine lists to choose a particular brand) will think that Beringer or Barefoot are just fine. These folks would probably be perfectly happy with a Kendall Jackson chardonnay. If your friends know a little bit more about wine, then depending on your budget you can get some great and more interesting wines in the $8-15 range. You didn't say where you lived, but I'd highly recommend Arrowine in N. Arlington or Unwined at 395/Rt 7 in Alexandria.

A few ideas of wines.
Reds - it's going to be hot and you'll be outside. A good Beajoulais or other lighter red would probably go better than a heavy Cabernet or Syrah in my opinion.

Whites - you have lots of options. Sauvingon Blanc or Pinot Grigios are good options. There are also some interesting varietals from other parts of the world (eg Orvietos from Italy) that are not as common and have a lower pricepoint. You definitely won't find something like that at your local grocery store, though.

[Anonymous]

Thanks! You gave me lots of good info and I'm heading out to wine shop now, and at least I can go in there not feeling like a complete idiot!!

Thank you all so much!!

[Anonymous]

Costco in va sells wine-all good wines and great $