Choosing a perfect wine for a dinner party doesn’t need to be stressful. Enjoy the process. As Michael Broadbent once said, “Drinking good wine with good food in good company is one of life’s most civilized pleasures.”

When planning the perfect dinner party, people like to go all out with the food, decorations, and music. While these are all essential in creating a fantastic celebration at home, one can’t forget about the wine! If you’re going to serve as a private chef in Charleston, you have to understand that food and wine always go together during dinner parties.

Providing the Perfect Wine and Dine Experience

Wine is no ordinary beverage—this alcoholic drink can bring people together, create a warm atmosphere, and improve the party’s mood. As a private chef, you not only need to plan out the perfect main course, appetizers and desserts for your client and their guests; you should also consider the ideal wine to pair with their meals.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that you can only transform a dinner party from an alright get-together into a meaningful celebration once you’ve chosen the perfect wine to pair with their meals. Unfortunately, selecting the right wines for the party isn’t as easy as it sounds; with the wide selection of wine available today, you may feel quite overwhelmed.

How to Choose the Right Bottle

Selecting the perfect wine for the party may seem almost impossible at first, but it’s actually quite simple. To choose the perfect bottle of wine, all you have to do is base your decision on the food you’ll serve. Once you pair great wine with delicious food, you can provide an unforgettable dining experience for your clients and their guests.

To create the best wine and food pairing, you can ask for your client’s favorite wine then think of a food or dish that matches well with the chosen wine. If you already have a set menu for the dinner party, then you can do your own research instead to find out which wine best goes with the dishes and desserts you’ll serve.

Below are some of the wine and food combinations we recommend:

White Wine and White Meat

Nothing spells “perfect pair” other than white on white! If your client or their guests love Chardonnay or if you’re serving pork, chicken, or fish for the party, then a bottle of Chenin Blanc would be perfect. 

On the other hand, if you’re going to serve green steamed, sautéed, or roasted vegetables, you may want to pair it with the light and dry flavor of Pinot Grigio.

Red Wine and Red Meat

Color-matching wine and food may seem quite strange, but trust us when we say that your client and their guests will enjoy your entrée much more by pairing red wine with red meat. 

Cabernet Sauvignon is perfect for dinner parties because of its light-to-medium body, but medium-red wine like Merlot will also do well with both red and white meat.

Sparkling Wine and Seafood

These wines are the perfect way of showing elegance subtly. Not only are they a great conversation starter, but they will also help with increasing the guests’ appetites. Sparkling wine, such as Champagne, has the perfect balance of dryness and bubbles, which complements seafood dishes like shrimp, shellfish, salmon, and oysters. 

Conclusion

The success of the dinner party will heavily depend on the food you serve and the wine you pair with them. As a private chef, you must ensure that the wine you offer the guests before, during, and after their meals must compliment the dishes well. Once you’ve selected the perfect bottle for the party, you’re sure to satisfy your guests and give them a one-of-a-kind dining experience.

Do you want to give your guests a totally new dinner party? Then, why not join in Food Fire+Knives’ cooking classes? With our reimagined cooking classes, you can engage in a personal conversation with a world-class private chef as they prepare your meal and share their expert culinary skills with you, your family, and your friends. Connect with us today to learn more!