A wine dinner is a great way to celebrate a special occasion, and such an event can bring people together and create a memorable experience for your guests. Whether you organize a wine dinner for your friends, family, or work colleagues, it is good to start planning early. This should not be a stressful time for you but a time when you enjoy great wine and food with your loved ones.

Here are some of the things to consider.

The theme

Decide what kind of wine dinner you want to host: casual, formal, or both? The menu will play an essential role in how you organize this evening; if it’s informal, go for more casual fare like pizza or pasta dishes; if it’s formal, consider steaks or seafood instead. The theme will inform the dress code, decor, and menu.

Number of guests, venue, and arrangement

Decide how many people you’re hosting. If you have a large group, it’s best to have them sit at different tables. If you have a small group, you can even host them at home or in a restaurant or lounge on one large table.

The wine

Buying good wine is one of the most critical steps toward creating a successful dinner. The first step is to choose the wines that will go with each dish. 

 Buy from reputable companies that will ensure your guests enjoy their experience. At The Roche’ Collection, we provide our clients with high-quality wine lists, and you can get all your premium wines made in Michigan from us.

Start with a wine list and choose wines that are appropriate for the occasion and your guests’ tastes. If you start planning early, you can also buy a few samples, taste them and make notes on the back of your tasting card. A good rule of thumb is to stock two bottles per person, with two people sharing each bottle.

Look for wines that complement each other well and have different characteristics. For example, red wines should be served with red meats and white wines with fish or chicken dishes. However, you can break the rules as many factors can influence the pairing process, such as the temperature or acidity level of both wines.

Choose the food

Deciding the menu is one of the most important things you need to do when planning this event. 

Once you’ve decided what foods you’ll be serving, use a spreadsheet to organize them into categories — red meats and poultry; fish; vegetarian dishes; sauces/dressings, etc. — so that everything will be ready when guests arrive. Create options to cater to people with allergies, vegans, or vegetarians who may be on your guest list.

Choose the food and wine pairing ahead of time so that you can prepare it ahead of time as well. For example, if you’re serving Italian cuisine, choose Italian wines with your meal (think Pinot Grigio or Merlot).

There are plenty of websites offering sample menus that you can use as inspiration before finalizing yours. 

Print some cards

Print some cards for the guests. Include information about each course’s food and drink pairings so everyone knows what’s coming next. They can take notes on what they like and dislike about each dish and wine pairings. Make the cards reflect the theme of the event. You can get creative on Canva or work with a graphic designer.

Decor and table set up

Set out flowers, candles, and other decorative elements on the table before guests arrive (this will help set the mood). Decorate your table and set up all the glassware and utensils needed for serving food, such as plates and forks, and knives. You can even get a local decor company to help out. Get some ice buckets for sparkling and white wines.

At The Roche’ Collection, we want to ensure that your dinner is a huge success. With our range of quality wine for luxury events or dinners, you will get something for your event. If you are in Michigan, Indiana, or Ohio, you can find our wine in all. Meijer Locations. You can also visit our Tasting Room, Twine Urban Winery, to try some of our wines.