There are many ways to be a remarkable host and leave a lasting impression on your guests. The best way though? Serve the best wine and plenty of it. Not only are your guests going to remember good wine, but you as the host are also going to have a good time after a glass or two of any of the wines on this list.
1. Traminette Whitecliff Vineyard & Winery 2020
We are starting out with a crowd pleasing and affordable white wine from the Hudson Valley. Traminette mirrors the Gewurztraminer grape giving this wine by Whitecliff Vineyards a fruity and light flavor. This is a dry white wine which is important to keep in mind when food pairing.
Price: $18.99
Pair with white fish, oysters, mushrooms, Asiago, Gruyere or Manchego
2. Sauvignon Blanc Frog’s Leap 2021
This particular Sauvignon Blanc is special because the winemakers at Frog’s Leap have stayed true to their roots and still make this wine with 100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes 40 years after its first debut. Although keeping this tradition has resulted in a low yield for the 2021 vintage it has also resulted in a wine that has high acidity, is refreshing and complex in flavor. The lower yield of this vintage makes it slightly higher in price than the before mentioned Traminette, but still a great price for a wine worthy of a dinner party.
Price: $22.99
Pair with seafood, chicken, green salads, cheddar cheese, Parmigiano Reggiano, and Swiss cheese
Read more about this wine here.
3. Reisling Eroica Gold 2014
This slightly acidic Reisling has notes of orange marmalade which makes it just a tad sweet and very crisp. Coming from Colombia Valley, Washington State’s largest wine region, the grapes used in this Reisling have been subjected to growing conditions that create fruit forward and aromatic wines. You will note the heavy fruit and aromatics in the Erocia Gold Reisling 2014 upon the first sip.
Learn about the rich history that went into making this remarkable Reisling here.
Price: $28.00
Pair with heavily spiced dishes, curries, and shellfish
4. Chardonnay Dr. Konstantin 2021
Chardonnay is a go to for deciding what white wine to serve, but that hardly narrows it down. If you want a trustworthy showstopping Chardonnay, you have just found it. Dr. Konstantin’s Chardonnay has so much to offer. It is aged in French oak barrels and gives you apple, ripe melon, and lemon flavors with an almond finish. Make the right choice and serve this Chardonnay over any other you had in mind.
Price: $18.99
Pair with shellfish, white fish, goat cheese, and fresh fruit
5. Cabernet Franc Rosato Channing Daughters 2021
This wine is pretty in pink and you are going to want it at your next wine and cheese night. It has high acidity and a nice savory weight on it to make it a well-rounded and balanced sipper.
Price: $23.99
Pair with raw seafood, white fish, salads, and fresh cheeses
6. Chelois Hudson Chatham Winery 2020
The Chelois grape is a hybrid of American and French grapes and it is highly ranked. This wine in particular resurfaced and gained popularity again in the 1990s and for good reason. Chelois is an extremely drinkable red wine. This is a (classy) party wine, and your guests will love the high acidity and bright red fruit flavors it has to offer.
Price: $36.00
Pair with hazelnuts, lamb, pork, and warm spiced dishes
7. Pinot Noir Robert Sinskey Vineyards 2017
With so many beautiful and exciting Pinot Noir wines out there, it is hard to know which one is worthy of presenting to your guests. Look no further than Sinkey’s 2017 Pinot Noir. It is exciting and unexpected with its red berry and plum flavors complimented by notes of lavender and vanilla. The adventure of this wine comes with a slightly higher price tag than some of the other wines on this list, but it is worth it.
Price: $50.00
Pair with pork, game meats, and rich cheeses
8. Zinfandel Rancho Zabaco Heritage
This bold and spicy red (a.k.a. me if I had red hair) comes from Sonoma, CA. A region where Zinfandel grapes prosper. You can expect delightful flavors of red berries while drinking this wine and do not be surprised by the ginger and pepper finish. This Zinfandel is everything you could want for a red wine.
Price: $15.49
Pair with beef, lamb, poultry, and rich sauces
9. Syrah Montes Alpha 2018
In this Syrah you will find spices like nutmeg and clove on the palate which is complimented by a spicy finish. Although this is a full-bodied wine with a ton of flavor it is still full of freshness and is a crowd pleaser.
Price: $19.99
Pair with grilled lamb or pork and heavily spiced meats
10. Eaten By Bears Cereghino Smith 2017
This wine is a blend of Mourvedre, Petit Syrah, and Syrah making it an interesting red. This wine comes from the Hudson River Region and has earthy flavors like cedar and tabaco. This is a bit of an off the beaten path wine but is celebrated by many restaurants in the Hudson Valley including, American Bounty at the Culinary Institute of America. Serve this red to make for intriguing wine folly.
Price: $18.99
Pair with beef, venison, or other lean meats
11. Cabernet Sauvignon Lenz
This is another beautiful red coming out of New York. This cabernet sauvignon comes from the North Fork of Long Island and is aged in oak barrels. This aging gives the wine some oaky spice that compliments the flavors of red currants and raspberries also found in the wine.
Price: $24.99
Pair with red meat, aged cheeses, rich sauces, kale, or spinach
12. Sherry Osborne Pedro Ximenez
For a conclusion wine let’s talk dessert. Choosing a sherry as the dessert wine at your dinner party is an excellent choice. It will leave your guests with a warm, rich, and sweet taste to take home with them for the evening. This Osborne Pedro Ximenez is an excellent choice, especially in the winter months because it has notes of toffee, raisins, and chocolate. A little Sherry goes a long way, so I recommend a 1-2 ounce pour at a time.
Price: $30.99
Pair with almonds, hard cheeses, or nothing at all
Conclusion
Whichever wines you choose to serve at your dinner parties this year, as long as they are from this list, your guests will not be disappointed. If you go rogue…well, I am not held accountable for the dwindling number of attendees at your parties. Once you have chosen your wines to serve go check out this post on which cookbooks you need to reference to make the food that you are serving edible. Go on now drink, eat, and drink more.
