Party Wines, like Nebuchadnezzar Champagnes, Burgundies, and Bordeaux wines are highly collectible and FANTASTIC for a party!
- Balthazar: A giant wine bottle with 12 liters inside, equivalent to 16 standard bottles.
- Barnyard: Describes an earthy, farm-like smell in some wines, often found in natural or biodynamic wines.
- Bottle Shock: A phenomenon that occurs when wine has been newly bottled or shaken during a long journey, causing its flavors to become muted.
- Bung: The stopper used to seal a wine barrel.
- Cat’s Pee: A playful descriptor sometimes used for certain Sauvignon Blancs with a sharp, pungent aroma.
- Foxy is a term for the distinctive musky flavor of some North American grape varieties, like Concord.
- Mousy: This is another term to describe a wine fault, which is caused by bacteria. What makes Mousy more interesting is the fact that it’s an aroma only certain people can smell it.
- Pét-Nat is short for Pétillant-Naturel, a naturally sparkling wine made by the ancient bottling method before fermentation is complete.
- And the Grandaddy – The Nebuchadnezzar! Named after a King, this is a substantial 15-liter bottle (which holds 20 regular wine bottles) and can serve about 100 people!
Other summer wines for a party are:
Sparkling: Some guests might enjoy a sparkling wine. You might also want one if you’re celebrating for a birthday or anniversary party. Unless it’s a really special occasion where you want to serve Champagne, you should go with Prosecco from Italy or Cava from Spain. They are both really enjoyable and more economical than Champagne.
Sweet wine: Depending on the group of guests, you might like to have a sweeter option on hand as some people do not enjoy dry wine. A few possibilities here include Moscato from Italy or Riesling from Germany.
Rosé: If you’re having a party in the summer or know that some of your guests enjoy rosé, having a few bottles on hand is a nice touch. Try a rosé from the South of France – Provence, for example, produces great rosés at great prices.
Here’s a good article about wines for your dinner party and don’t forget to include a pie with wine to compliment your wine and dinner.
Read more about wines with Valarie
Until next time…