We commence our “Hosting for the Holidays” series with essential tips on beverage etiquette, as recommended by Morton’s Certified Sommelier and Beverage Manager, Sara Fasolino. 

First, as a host, you have to figure out how much the average drinker will have throughout the evening.  Plan on 1.5 glasses of wine per person, per hour (there are about 4-5 glasses of wine in a 750 ml bottle)…or 2 beers per person, per hour. So say you have 20 people coming over, and they’re average drinkers.  Then you should have about 1 case of beer and 4 bottles of wine for each hour you want to be serving alcohol at your party.

If you go to your local retail store, they should (if it’s legal in your state) give you a case discount, even if you mix the case. The majority of people are going to drink standard wines and beers, so make sure you spend the bulk of your budget in those areas. You may love a good Belgian Trappist Ale, but chances are the majority of your guests would prefer a pilsner.

Which brings us to the mix.  For the beer, I would get 1/3 of the inventory as something ‘specialized’ …something seasonal and local…and the remaining as something a little more crowd pleasing, such as Stella Artois.

When it comes to the wine, I would focus on the varietals that people seem to like the most. (Pinot Noir is super hot right now, and everyone likes it. Plus, if you’re having a sit-down dinner, it pairs well with a variety of different foods.)  You should also do a 50-50 split between red and white wine.  For the white, I would do either Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay, both of which are total crowd pleasers.  You could also do a smaller portion of a sweeter white, such as a Riesling.  This is a good, general formula to make sure everyone has something they enjoy.

Now the hard part….making sure everyone has a full glass. For a ‘stand up and mingle’ kind of party, you should make everything accessible to the guests so they can serve themselves. Don’t forget to have bottle openers and corkscrews handy and within reach. You can do this with a stand-alone bar if you have one, or use a long folding table covered with a table cloth. Just make sure that whatever you are using is covered so it does not get stained. That said, keep the table perhaps on an area that is not carpeted…spills happen. The beer and wine that needs to be chilled can be put in a large, nice looking bucket…just make sure it doesn’t leak.

For a sit-down dinner, keep the beer close by in a nice looking, ice-filled container (they sell these most everywhere), again making sure you have something underneath to catch the spills or the sweat!  For the wine, have one bottle of each of the varietals you’re serving within reach of the guests, so it’s easy to pass the bottles. So maybe you have a bottle of Pinot Noir, Riesling and Chardonnay at each end of the table and a trio of bottles in the middle, depending on the size of your party.

As for the glassware, don’t skimp! No one likes to drink out of plastic…it makes the beverage taste funny.  For about $2 a glass, you can find stemless wine glasses that can be used for both wine and beer. They’re dishwasher safe, and you can even give your guests a Sharpie and have them write their names on them so they don’t get lost!  If you were willing to part with them, you could even give the glasses away as party favors (just make sure they’re empty before your guests leave!).

I hope these simple tips are helpful as you prepare for your holiday party.  Cheers to you and yours, and may you have a safe and happy holiday season!

Sara Fasolino
Beverage Manager/Certified Sommelier and Mixologist
Morton’s The Steakhouse

What will you be pouring at your holiday party?  The more traditional wine and beer…or do you get more adventurous and offer punches, cocktails or liqueurs? 

Click here to view all the “Hosting for the Holiday” blogs, including recipes and decorating tips.