"How much should I buy?" is the most common question Michael gets before any party. Here's the math he uses.
The basics
One standard bottle (750 ml) pours about five glasses of wine.
Most guests drink about one glass per hour at a party, a bit more in the first hour.
So: one bottle covers about two guests for a two- to three-hour party.
Quick chart (3-hour party, most guests drinking wine)
10 guests: 6 bottles
20 guests: 12 bottles
30 guests: 18 bottles
50 guests: 30 bottles
100 guests: 60 bottles
Adjust down if beer, cocktails or plenty of non-drinkers are in the mix; adjust up for a long dinner or a wine-loving crowd.
Splitting red, white and sparkling
Year-round default: about half white or rosé, half red.
Summer or daytime: lean 60–70% white, rosé and sparkling.
Winter or a steak dinner: lean 60% red.
Toasts: a 750 ml bottle gives about 8 small toast pours. For 50 guests, that's about 6 or 7 bottles of bubbly.
For a wine tasting party
Tasting pours are smaller, about 2 ounces, so one bottle gives roughly 12 tastes. For four to six wines and up to 12 guests, one bottle of each is plenty. Our at-home wine tasting guide walks through the rest.
Money-saving tips
Buy by the case. Many shops give 10–15% off a mixed case.
Ask about returns. Some stores take back unopened bottles.
Pick one red and one white that please a crowd instead of six different bottles.
Which bottles to buy
For big groups, Michael's crowd-pleasing pair is Terras Gauda "Abadía de San Campio" Albariño for the white and Willamette Valley Vineyards Whole Cluster Pinot Noir for the red. Both work for wine lovers and casual drinkers alike.
Or ask Sommelier on Demand: "Party for 30, mostly casual drinkers, $15 a bottle." The Party guide has more of his crowd-pleasers.
Or let Michael handle it: for a private in-home tasting, he gives you an exact shopping list sized to your group, then runs the tasting.
Booking holiday parties now. December dates fill fast. Bring Michael to your office holiday party, host an in-home tasting in Metro Detroit or Chicago, or ship virtual kits to a remote team.
