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Do You Know This About Wine?

By Wanda Haynes
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Leftover sparkling wines can be used to macerate fresh fruit. But only serve the macerated fruit to adults –  the alcohol is still present after the bubbles have dissipated.

When entertaining guests, do a few calculations to keep things organized  – such as estimated portions per guest. A standard bottle of wine holds 750ml which is around 25.4 ounces. This is approximately six glasses of wine – a size that enables two people to enjoy three glasses of wine each. If wine is purchased at $20 per bottle, then the cost is about $3.33 per guest and if less is spent per bottle, the cost per guest will be lower.

In many areas, a 10% discount on six or more bottles of wine is often available. Purchase in quantity and watch the savings add up.

Ice wines (a type of dessert wine produced from grapes that have been frozen while still on the vine) are in much smaller bottles – 375ml is the average size. Harvesting and producing ice wine is very labor intense which brings the cost up and often limits availability. Average costs for ice wine are about $35 per bottle. However, most guests will only partake in a glass or two of these desert wines which pairs beautifully with gelato, cookies, and fruitcake.

If you’re on a tight budget, consider purchasing Champagnes and other sparkling wines in bigger bottles. A magnum equals two bottles of Champagne, a Rehoboam is equal to six.     Salmanazar is equivalent to12 bottles. The ultimate high roller is the Nebuchanezzar –  equal to 20 bottles of Champagne, and can serve over 120 guests.

An average bottle of Champagne has over 40 million bubbles. Careful, these bubbles are short-lived, and trying to keep any sparkling wine for more than a few hours is a mistake. Leftover sparkling wines can be used to macerate fresh fruit. But only serve the macerated fruit to adults –  the alcohol is still present after the bubbles have dissipated.

True Champagne is only from France. However, there are plenty of other sparkling wines on the market. Franciacorta is from Italy and offers lots of silky bubbles for the price;  also available in Franciacorta rose. Prosecco is another great option, and cava from Spain is a sparkling wine that is also offered in a sweet version.

 

Some Classic Pairings       

There are some wines that pair with certain dishes better than others, ranging from sweet cranberry relish to an earthy green bean casserole. Look at the meal as a complete composition and try not to pair each side dish with a separate wine.

There are a few safety nets when choosing wine for a dinner party. Ask guests to bring a bottle of their favorite wine. Or select one white, two red blends, and a sparkling or a desert wine.