Party Planning
The beautiful Pioneer Valley is the perfect place for an outdoor spring or summertime garden party, a cozy, indoor autumn dinner or a festive holiday celebration. Whatever the occasion and whatever you need, it is our pleasure to provide you with unparalleled choice, quality and service. From a simple, everyday occasion to the most sophisticated affair, our employees truly have a passion for what they do and they love to share that passion with our clientele. Whether it’s entertaining in the home or office, gift giving or simply indulging in life’s finer pleasures, let our staff of experts help you create a celebration of taste!
Tips for the Host
Consider letting everyone pitch in with preparing the meal. Offering guests wine flights will guarantee great conversation. Try presenting wines from a specific region or grape variety. Encourage your guests to talk about their favorites, and create mystery by covering the labels so your friends have to guess which wines they are tasting.
Tips for the Attendee
Wine is always a welcome hostess gift whether it is for a small meal, or a large gathering. Always consider the situation before you decide to bring a bottle of wine. Merlots and Chardonnays are always a safe bet. If you prefer to bring a special bottle of wine, encourage the host to save it for a small dinner or special occasion. Always remember to let the host decide.
Wine as a Gift
Searching for the perfect holiday gift? Table & Vine carries the perfect bottle for your clients, co-workers, and your favorite wine aficionado. Make sure to select the bottle of wine that will please the recipient. Will they open the bottle right away, or save it for a special dinner? Make sure the wine ages well if you are presenting it to a collector, who may prefer to store it in a cellar.
Consider one of Table & Vine's many wine accessories to complement your bottle. Try packaging it with a drip stopper, wine charms, or a beautiful corkscrew.
Planning Your Special Event
How much wine should you buy? Typically, one 750ml bottle of wine will yield six 4-ounce glasses. At a standup party, guests typically consume an average of two glasses of wine per hour. Therefore, if you expect fifteen guests for a party, you will need thirty glasses of wine, or five bottles. For a sit-down party, the ratio becomes one bottle for every two people; so a dinner-party for six people will require three bottles of wine. Remember that these are general guidelines only; it's always best to keep a spare bottle or two on hand.
If you're still not sure, try using our party planning calculator for an accurate estimate.
Budgeting Your Party
For a small party, try starting with a less expensive wine, and then featuring a premium wine for the main course. For larger parties, it's best to stick with moderately priced crowd-pleasers like Chardonnays and Merlots. A magnum (the equivalent of two 750 ml bottles) is always a good way to purchase large quantities.
Serving Wine
A separate wine table is a great way to avoid overcrowding. For larger parties, try using two wine tables set far apart. Always remember to set your wine table with a corkscrew, glasses, and small towel for drips or clean up. Open a few bottles prior to your guests' arrival, and let them open more as need be.
