How to Be the Perfect Dinner Party Guest As summer winds down, you may soon find yourself scheduling dinner parties instead of park picnics. Fall is the nesting season, after all, and cozy indoor feasts are the name of the game. But have you ever found yourself at a loss for what bottle to bring the host and hostess? Rather than send you off into the wild without a clue, we tapped St. Helena-based Beth Cash, Wine Club Directress of ACME Fine Wines, for her gifting pro-tips. The brains behind the leading shop’s dynamic series of wine clubs, Cash has more than few tricks up her sleeve for being the life of the party, and beyond. What wine makes for a good gift? I think it’s important to think about for whom you are bringing the wine, as well as the occasion. If you already know what they enjoy, that is a great starting point. I always like to bring something that I’ve tried and am excited to share its story, or offer a bottle from somewhere I (or they) have traveled.

For me, I feel as though I’m getting let in on a little secret if someone is enthusiastic about a wine and wants me to experience it. PRO-TIP: Did the host just get back from a long weekend in Sonoma? Grab a bottle of Sonoma Coast Pinot or Dry Creek Zinfandel to remind them of their trip. Be thoughtful about the bottle you’re gifting. best bc white wineThat in itself is delicious.best tasting homemade wine kits What wines do you avoid?best wine warehouse I avoid wines that I know are easily accessible for the recipient, like something they could buy from the closest corner store. best white wine making kit

Go to your local wine shop and talk to the staff. The good ones have curated their selection by tasting everything on their shelves. They’ll point you in the right direction. I also stay away from wines that appeal to a very specific audience, unless I know for sure that the recipient is a fan. For instance, it would be a rare occasion that I would gift an alcohol-rich fruit bomb, or on the opposite spectrum, a skin-contact Georgian orange wine. best wine not too expensiveAmphoras are cool, but not everyone “digs” them.best wine affiliate program PRO-TIP: Talk to your wine shop clerk for their current picks. buy french wine in londonIf you are unaware of the recipient’s personal taste—say, you’re a guest of an invitee—opt for a “just-right-Goldilocks” bottle.best wine for wine cake

How much is too much or too little when purchasing wine as a gift? You probably want to spend more than two dollars, but I wouldn’t worry so much about the price as the thought that went into the purchase. If you know the host, or they are an adventurous wine drinker, I’d ask your wine shop about up-and-coming wine regions or interesting varietals. best wine trips in californiaI love introducing people to varieties that are new to them, such as Trousseau Gris grown in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley or Teroldego from Trentino, Italy. A little effort says so much more than emptying your bank account. PRO-TIP: Don’t let the price tag dictate your gift. Find bottles that will resonate with the host. Any regions you love that can reliably “wow” hosts/hostesses? With so many epic wine regions around the world, it’s hard to name just one. Instead, I find that a host/hostess is always “wowed” when I bring a wine with some bottle age on it.

We’re so used to reaching for whatever wine is on the shelf at the store, and usually that’s the current vintage, because a majority of people are too impatient to age their wine (I know I am). But, for instance, Barolo (or Gattinara if you want Nebbiolo at a more affordable price), Chablis, Côte Rôtie or Napa Cabernet with at least 6–8 years of bottle age never ceases to impress a host/hostess. These bottles are little time capsules of history of a place and time, and make fantastic gifts because it gives the receiver an experience that they most likely don’t get to have on the regular. PRO-TIP: Seek out an older vintage from world-class regions. See our vintage chart for tips on shopping vintage bottles >>> Is it tacky to expect the host to open and share your wine gift that night? If you’re devious, the more exceptional bottle you bring, the more likely they’ll open it straight away. Bearers of Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé, or something similar, always reap the rewards in my home.

Or if you really want to push it, you can bring over an opened bottle of wine with the excuse, “it needed to decant.” I did not tell you to do this. You shouldn’t assume that the recipient is going to open the bottle you bring. This is a gift, after all. Bring something that you think the host/hostess would enjoy, not necessarily what you feel like drinking that night. PRO-TIP: Just buy a second bottle for yourself. Everyone wins, and your wine shop will love you forever and always. What if you don’t know the menu for the meal beforehand? Champagne pairs with everything.The holiday season, especially Christmas, is a time for family and friends to come together to celebrate. These celebrations carry with them many great traditions. Often times these holiday traditions include a large dinner. Many embrace the holidays by decorating their table with a gorgeous Christmas tablecloth, gorgeous candles, and beautiful china. These dinners also include various menu items.

Determining what to include on your menu depends on many factors. One key factor that typically contributes to the menu options is culture. Many cultures serve specific food and drink items on certain holidays. A great example of this is an Italian Christmas dinner. In Italian culture, certain food items are always a part of a Christmas dinner menu. Having the following items on thetable at Christmas dinner is essential to serving a true Italian holiday meal. Christmas Eve dinner, in Italian tradition, is a very light and lean meal. This means no meat or chicken. Therefore, the meal consists of fish and vegetables. Typical fish entrees include octopus, eel, or various types of shellfish. There are countless recipes on how to prepare the different types of fish. One other popular dish served at an Italian Christmas Eve dinner is pezzetti. This consists of pieces of ricotta cheese, artichokes, zucchini, or broccoli all fried in a frying pan. Cooking a mixture of broccoli and seafood in a saute pan is another popular appetizer in a traditional Italian Christmas Eve dinner.

Even Christmas dinner salads contain fish. Antipasti often contain swordfish, salmon, or tuna fish. A seafood salad or octopus salad is also often an appetizer. A staple of many Italian dishes is pasta, and Christmas dinner is no exception. For holiday meals, there are many different types of pasta dishes popular for serving. Typically Christmas, or holiday, include stuffed pasta dishes of many types. "Pasta in brodo," or pasta in broth, is a typical Christmas dinner starter. Pasta stuffings vary in different areas of Italy. Northern Italians prefer a tortellini with meat stuffing in an eel broth. In the Ferrara region, the pasta often has a pumpkin stuffing. Lasagna Bolognese and cannelloni are also popular, traditional options. Once your plates are full of delicious food, it is time to fill the wine glasses. Different types of wine pair well with various food choices, and courses. First, have both red and white wine glasses, carafes, and a corkscrew close by, to serve guests easily.

Prosecco, an Italian sparkling wine, is the perfect option to serve with appetizers, as it is light. A light wine also pairs well the fish and vegetables from Christmas Eve. The meat you serve with your Christmas Dinner determines what type wine to serve. If ham is on the Christmas platter, Vermentino, a soft, yet crisp white wine, is the perfect pairing. If turkey is the meat option, a young red wine from the Tuscan region, pairs well. A bold, full-bodied red wine made from the Sangiovese grape is ideal with red meat, such as roast beef or prime rib. After the hosts clear the remnants of Christmas dinner from the table, and guests can finally see the fabulous Christmas tablecloth, it is time to cover it back up again with dessert. There are six main types of Italian sweet breads popular for Italian Christmas dinner. While they are called "breads," they are more like desserts. Dusted with powdered sugar May contain cream or gelato Filled with spices and candied fruits

Flavored with Cinnamon, cloves, honey, or coriander Spiced with cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, dark chocolate, honey,and nuts Decorated with raisins and candied citrus peels Takes several days to make A golden yellow bread filled with nuts, raisins, and candied fruits Often, all six types of breads are available for the Christmas dinner dessert table. Also, cookies, cannolis, and other Italian desserts are other options. Holiday dinners are a popular tradition in many cultures. There are many key elements to throwing a Christmas dinner. These include a decorative tablecloth, candles, gorgeous china, and more. But most important, especially for an Italian Christmas dinner is what is on the menu. For a proper Italian menu, be sure to have fish on your Christmas Eve menu, delicious wines for each course, yummy stuffed pasta, and of course, various Italian Sweet breads for dessert. Dressing your table and obtaining all the pieces for a perfect Christmas dinner is easy to do on eBay.