Plan on making the holidays merry with a little bubbly or brew?  Let your friends at Brookshire Brothers help you!

Here’s a handy guide to help you determine how much and what type of wine you’ll need for your event.

Cocktail Parties

How much is enough?

• ½ bottle of wine/person for each 2-hour period.
• If your event begins before 5pm, or you are also serving liquor or beer: 
½ bottle of wine/person per 3-hour period.

What If It’s Self Serve?

• If guests will serve themselves, add 10% to your estimate.

Dinner Events

• Plan on 1.5 glasses per course per person.
• Each 750ml bottle will provide five 5-oz. servings.

Do the Math:

• For each course multiply
[# of guests] x [1.5]  /  5 = # of bottles you will need per course.

How to Choose Wine

• Events before 5pm (or for outdoor events in warm weather): 
70% white wine, 30% red wine
• Events after 5pm:
 40% white wine, 60% red wine

White Wine Choices:

• In general, Moscato and Chardonnay are popular, and also very versatile.
• On a warm day, you may also choose to serve a crisp, refreshing Sauvignon Blanc.
• If you are serving spicy foods, Riesling pairs perfectly.
• Fruity desserts and sweet appetizers pair wonderfully with white dessert wines.

Red Wine Choices:

• Pinot Noir is the most versatile and an excellent red wine choice for warmer weather.
• Merlot is a popular crowd pleaser because of its chocolate flavors and soft finish.
• Zinfandel offers jammy fruit flavors that pair well with grilled foods.
• Full-bodied wines like Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah are recommended for pairing with beef, lamb, other hearty main courses and dark chocolate desserts.

Craft Beer is king when it comes to entertaining!  Craft breweries are popping up across the country. This growing beverage favorite now makes up the majority of breweries in the U.S. Beer, like wine, comes in different styles and colors and is excellent for pairing with food. In addition to popular domestic and imported pale and light lagers there is a whole world of specialty beers on the market.  Variety is the spice of life and there are dozens of seasonal beers that celebrate any occasion.  The possibilities are endless, but here are a few varieties to consider.

• Shiner
• Shock Top
• Goose Island
• Sam Adams
• Sierra Nevada

How to Serve?

Straight from the bottle or in a pilsner glass provide glassware when at all possible. Beer tastes best from a glass rather than from a can or bottle.  

How Much to Plan For?

A beer drinker may consumer 2-4 bottles/cans at an event.