Buzz
Chances are, you received a few bottles of wine over the holidays, and you’ve likely finished them by now. With your next event approaching, it’s time to head to the wine shop. Whether you’re throwing an elegant dinner or bringing wine for a casual gathering, the pressure is on. You want to pick a wine that’s both affordable and sophisticated, but above all, you need to ensure there’s enough for everyone at the party.
While wine isn’t a necessity for a great time, running out of it too soon can definitely spoil the fun. The good news is that we have a straightforward method to help you determine just the right amount of wine to buy, ensuring no one leaves empty-handed. Follow these tips to always know exactly how much wine to bring to any gathering.
The Essentials of Wine Calculations
How much wine you choose to pour at home is entirely up to you. However, a standard serving of wine at a restaurant typically ranges between four and five ounces. A regular bottle of wine contains 750 milliliters, or 25 ounces. This translates to about six glasses of wine at four ounces each, or five glasses at five ounces—five ounces being the more common size. When sharing with friends, it’s safer to assume that one bottle yields four glasses if poured generously, as guests tend to pour more freely than professional servers.
Figuring Out the Right Amount of Wine
You may have heard the rule of thumb that suggests bringing one bottle of wine per person, assuming everyone will drink around four glasses over the course of the evening. While this often works, it doesn’t account for the type of event you’re hosting. A more accurate guideline (courtesy of Love to Know) is to plan on one bottle of wine for every two guests for every two hours of celebration.
Let’s Break it Down with Some Numbers
Imagine you’re hosting a four-hour party for 10 people. According to the two-hours-per-bottle rule, you’d need one bottle for every two people, and since the party lasts for four hours, that doubles the amount you need. This means you'd require 10 bottles of wine, which aligns with the ‘one bottle per person’ approach.
For example, if you're hosting a two-hour book club with 10 members, you’ll want to make sure you have at least five bottles of wine on hand (at a minimum).
It’s always better to have too much than too little
It’s always wiser to have a little extra wine than to run out. Start by calculating how much you'll need, and then grab a bottle or two more, so you don’t spend the evening stressing over whether someone might drink a bit more than expected.
For more information on which types of wine are best for different occasions, be sure to check out this article on Love to Know. And if you’re on wine duty for a friend who's going through a rough time—whether they've just been dumped, laid off, or had a rejection—forget about the math and just bring as much wine as you can carry.
