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Original poster

How much wine?

219 replies

WashAsDelicates · 04/04/2023 17:42

I'm hosting a dinner for 7 people aged between 16 and 60. One of the adults will contentedly make one glass last the whole evening. At the other extreme is the one who will drink every drink you give them. Both are generous hosts.

How many bottles of wine should I buy?

OP posts:
redbigbananafeet · 04/04/2023 19:44

WashAsDelicates · 04/04/2023 18:07

I'm ever so slightly gobsmacked!

I imagined it would average out at about 3 glasses per person, including the 16yo (yes, he would, but no, it isn't), so 21ish glasses. 4.5 glasses per bottle makes that 4.5 bottles. So I thought I might need about 5 bottles.

But you lot are telling me I need at least twice that?! If you exclude the one-glass guest, you're saying people drink more than 2 bottles at one sitting, over the course of a meal?

As you can see, we're not big wine drinkers!

Absolute minimum 1 bottle each and 3 spare.

midgemadgemodge · 04/04/2023 19:44

bostonchamps · 04/04/2023 19:02

ps @midgemadgemodge faux fascination at other people's drinking habits is very MN2021. We've moved on.

It's not faux

I am genuinely amazed

The op asked / I would not have and I would have far less in than most people here

On reflection I won't change my obviously stingy habits though - especially when the people promoting them are rude

turnthebiglightoff · 04/04/2023 19:45

If you were a big eater, and you went to someone's house for dinner and they served you 1/4 of a chicken breast and half a carrot, you'd be pissed off.

Use that logic.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General food
Figaroo · 04/04/2023 19:46

Never presume people will bring wine. What if they all show up with flowers and chocolates, and you were relying on them for your dinner booze?

I would get 6 white and 6 red as a minimum. Leftovers can be saved for gifts/ next party/ Christmas/ a rainy day.

p.s. in my part of Europe there are 7.5 glasses in a bottle 😭

generalexpert · 04/04/2023 19:47

Buy lots and drink what's left. What's the issue??

TheSnowyOwl · 04/04/2023 19:49

generalexpert · 04/04/2023 19:47

Buy lots and drink what's left. What's the issue??

Quite!

Okunevo · 04/04/2023 19:53

I'd go with six. One between the 16 year old and the one glass drinker, a bottle each for the others. All the same to match the food.

QueSyrahSyrah · 04/04/2023 19:53

Tighginn · 04/04/2023 17:44

All the wine.

Plus a couple for luck.

Seriously, for generous hosting, at least one bottle per head plus a couple extra. Call it 10 for 7 people. More if you don't know whether people will drink red or white.

Much rather have too much than not enough, as long as it's not opened then no problem, keep it for next time.

QueSyrahSyrah · 04/04/2023 19:57

@Figaroo Switzerland by any chance? Breaks my heart every time I visit GrinGrin

maddy68 · 04/04/2023 20:00

Min of 7

PinkSyCo · 04/04/2023 20:03

8 bottles and then another 4 just incase.

bluebottle23 · 04/04/2023 20:07

I'd go two bottles per person. Then all bases are covered and if you have left over just save for another occasion.

Oblomov23 · 04/04/2023 20:09

As much as possible. The thought of not having enough is too awful. So, 12 at least. Plus who knows which is going to drink red or white.

Figaroo · 04/04/2023 20:12

QueSyrahSyrah · 04/04/2023 19:57

@Figaroo Switzerland by any chance? Breaks my heart every time I visit GrinGrin

Yes! Once you‘ve paid over £5 for 100ml of wine, you don’t forget it quickly.

Luckily for me you can get decent wine relatively cheap in the supermarket!

adriftabroad · 04/04/2023 20:12

TheSnowyOwl · 04/04/2023 18:20

It should be half a bottle of red and half of white per person plus some fizz to toast. You need at least ten bottles.

Agree with this.

Mammyloveswine · 04/04/2023 20:14

Id go 3 red, 3 white, 1 blush, 1 desert wine and 1 Prosecco!

NoSquirrels · 04/04/2023 20:14

Bloody hell, this thread is a bit nuts.

I’d buy 3 white, 3 red, and 2 bottles of fizz. I reckon you’d have some left over and anyone who knows you’re not a wine drinker and is a big drinker themselves will bring a bottle.

gogohmm · 04/04/2023 20:17

For 7 people assuming you drink wine yourselves and guests are likely to bring a bottle, I would buy 2 fizz then 3 red, 3 white. I'd also have the option of a g&t, whiskey, rum etc available either before or after eating.

Littlethingsmeanalot · 04/04/2023 20:17

NoSquirrels · 04/04/2023 20:14

Bloody hell, this thread is a bit nuts.

I’d buy 3 white, 3 red, and 2 bottles of fizz. I reckon you’d have some left over and anyone who knows you’re not a wine drinker and is a big drinker themselves will bring a bottle.

What happens if they all want white then, and when you’re sitting having a drink before dinner, drink it. So nothing left for dinner.

Wallywobbles · 04/04/2023 20:18

Any drivers because that should alter the maths a bit

Wallywobbles · 04/04/2023 20:20

And what are you eating. We'd start with fizz, then have wine according to what was served.

Littlethingsmeanalot · 04/04/2023 20:20

gogohmm · 04/04/2023 20:17

For 7 people assuming you drink wine yourselves and guests are likely to bring a bottle, I would buy 2 fizz then 3 red, 3 white. I'd also have the option of a g&t, whiskey, rum etc available either before or after eating.

Again what happens if all seven want white? What happens if they ask for wine before eating?

UnashameLabelHo · 04/04/2023 20:20

it is a horrible feeling as a host to think you might run out of drink. And it’s worse, come to think of it… to be a guest thinking you’re going to run out of drink! I have a friend who just gets four bottles of wine for dinner when we go over and it’s drinks and snacks before dinner for quite a while, then a looong dinner and I feel VERY anxious when we’re on the last bottle. Just have back up! Arrive at 6pm and they keep yakking til 12am and I AM going to need more than she thinks.

We usually have 100 ish bottles of wine in the house but they’re not all the same or may not pair with what I’m making and I still have to shop for a party.

gogohmm · 04/04/2023 20:21

Oh and I would get a couple of bottles of upmarket soft drink eg sparkling elderflower in case people aren't all drinking!

Diorinthecountry · 04/04/2023 20:25

@Wallywobbles she's making herby fish.

Do people still match drinks with food? I do but I know a lot of people who don't. I've noticed white wine isn't in favour anymore but sherry is back with a bang.

Op cointreau is a good after dinner drink with lots of ice. Oh remember bags of ice if you don't have a ice machine.