Throwing the Perfect Winter Wine Party
We’re into November now and as much as we don’t want to think about it, winter is just around the corner. The weather is starting to hover around the freezing point overnight in some cities, some have gotten a dusting of snow already and just about the entire country is getting ready to bundle up for the coming months. All this means it’s the perfect occasion to throw a little party indoors, using the wine storage area designed for you by Harkraft. But before that, Harkraft goes through why it’s important to know what makes up an awesome wine party.
Pick Out the Right Wines
The world’s wine drinkers are roughly divided into one of two categories: those who prefer red, and those who drink white. While there is a portion of the population who like a blend of the two (rose wines), they’re generally divided along the red-and-white line.
Keeping this in mind, stock up on an equal amount of bottles of red and white wine, unless you know for certain your party will sway predominantly to one side or the other. Narrowing things down, you’ll also want to get into the subcategories of wine, picking up a bottle or two (depending on how many guests you have) of cabernet, merlot, riesling, chardonnay and whatever other way you want to make sure everyone will be happy.
Stock Up on Foods That Match Each Wine
Once upon a time, sommeliers were fanatically insistent that wines should match certain foods exactly and that they should never cross those boundaries, like pairing a sauvignon blanc with a t-bone steak. That’s changed a great deal now, as wine experts will tell you to eat whatever you’d like with the wine you love most, with your personal tastes and preferences trumping everything else.
However, there’s more than a grain of truth to what sommeliers have to say about food and wine, with certain pairings bringing out the best in their respective helpings. For instance, here are a few pairings to possibly keep in mind when going grocery shopping:
Make Sure You Also Have Cheese and Fruits, Too
One of the most classic wine pairings is with fruits and cheese. There’s such a huge variety in each that you can most definitely have a few options for each bottle of wine, with some of the most common fruits and cheese being:
When pairing cheeses or fruits to wine, just make sure to take the flavors of both into account. For example, pears have a slightly dry, sweet taste to them, and would naturally go well with a wine of the same nature, like cabernet sauvignon or pinot noir. Figs, on the other hand, have a delicate sweetness to them that pairs well with a white wine that won’t overpower them, like rieslings or pinot grigios.
But remember, at the end of the day, it’s your taste buds that reign supreme and if you want to pair chardonnay with filet mignon, then go right ahead. Just make sure you have ample choices for your guests so you can take into account their tastes and preferences.