Kenaston Wine Market’s Handy Guide for Party/Event Planning

 

Determining how much wine to order for your function can be quite a challenge.  These simple calculations and common-sense ideas can help you with the task.  Keep in mind that these are only guidelines and actual requirements may vary according to your guests’ specific tastes.

 

Please be safe and responsible:  ensure that your guests are encouraged not to drink and drive and to arrange alternate transportation.

 

The Basics

 

  • One 750ml bottle of wine contains approximately 25 oz.
  • The standard glass pour usually contains 4 oz. of wine
  • A 750ml bottle will, thus, provide about 6 glasses
  • A 12-bottle case of wine will serve about 72 people at one glass per person

 

General Event Guidelines

 

  • The average person typically consumes approximately 3 glasses of wine, or 12 oz. per person.
  • Calculated as above, an event with 100 guests requires about 50 bottles.
  • To be really well-prepared, some hosts will order an extra case.
  • Thus, for 100 guests, the safe conclusion is to order 60 bottles (5 cases).
  • The percentage of red to white wine required will depend on time of year, foods being served and guest preferences.  Kenaston Wine Market’s professional Wine Advisors will be happy to help you with this decision.
  • If you do not consume all of your wine, Kenaston Wine Market will gladly accept returns (with original receipt) of all saleable bottles (with undamaged capsules and labels) up to ten days post-event.

 

The above guidelines are for a wine-only event.  If you are also serving beer and/or cocktails, the amount of wine required will be reduced.  Also, your function may require an MLCC “Occasional Permit” – more details on that are found below.

 

 

 

Guidelines for Your At-Home Event

 

At-home events can be fun, relaxed and inexpensive opportunities to entertain.  Here are a couple of ideas that may enhance the experience for you and your guests.

 

Sit-down Dinners/Dinner Parties
  1. Calculating wine consumption for a sit-down dinner is a fairly simple process.  For a multi-course meal, a different wine should ideally be served with each course.  Half a bottle per person is a reasonable guideline for consumption over the course of a dinner (more or less).  For a 4-course dinner, each person would be served a 3 to 4 oz. glass per course.  Thus, a dinner for 6 with 4 courses would require 1 bottle per course. For a “pot-luck” or family-style meal, it can be fun to try both a white and a red (or even a dry rosé) wine with dinner.  Once again, keep in mind that regardless of the mix of white to rosé to red, about half a bottle per person is a good bet.  Your KWM Wine Advisor can help you choose the perfect wine selections for your unique dinner party menu.
Wine Varietal Tasting
  1. This is a great opportunity to try different wine varieties that you may never have considered otherwise.  What’s Bonarda?  Albarino?  Is Muscat sweet or dry?  Have each guest bring one bottle of an unusual varietal and taste them in order from whites to reds.  For more fun and livelier conversation, do the tasting “blind” by “brown-bagging” the bottles.  Let your guests guess what they have tasted and perhaps even vote for their favourite(s).  Make sure you have some fresh baguette slices and a selection of finger foods for your guests to nibble on between wines.
     
  2. What are “Vertical” and “Horizontal” tastings?

     -A vertical tasting is a tasting of the same wines from different vintages.  For instance, the Lost Valley Shiraz from 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.

     -A horizontal tasting is a tasting of the same varietal of wine, such as Shiraz or Cabernet Sauvignon, from different producers and regions.

 

These kinds of tastings are great opportunities to determine the types of wines that you most enjoy and expand your wine knowledge.

 

MLCC Occasional Permits – Will You Need One?

 

The Manitoba Liquor Control Commission (MLCC or LC) has specific legal guidelines for the amount of alcohol that can be served at functions (such as weddings, socials, bar/bat mitzvahs, etc.) when they are held at a venue which requires an MLCC Occasional Permit for alcohol service.

  • A Permit is required if your function is at a community hall, church, synagogue or other public venue.
  • Occasional Permits need at least 10 working days from application date to be processed by the MLCC.  Further delays can also occur if the venue that you have chosen does not have a MLCC-assigned hall number.
  • Permits must be applied for in person by someone (the “Permittee”) who will be in attendance for the entire function.
  • There are basically 2 types of Occasional Permits – “Sale” and “No Sale”.  A Kenaston Wine Market Wine Advisor will be happy to advise you as to the requirements for your event.

 

Any person over 18 who will be present at the actual function is allowed to apply for the Permit.  Permit applications can be made at the Kenaston Wine Market or at the MLCC.  A Permit is not usually required if you hold a function on personal property, e.g., a house or a ranch.

 

There are careful calculations that must be made as to the quantities (“units”) of alcohol that can be purchased to serve at your function.  A KWM Wine Advisor will be pleased to discuss this with you in person. Review Manitoba’s Liquor Control Act  which contains all of the detailed rules, regulations and requirements respecting Occasional Permits. 

 

The staff of Kenaston Wine Market looks forward to helping you organize the perfect event!