Help with Wine math

[Deleted]

I'm having a party at a restaurant. It will be in a private room at a BYOB Italian Restaurant. The only alcohol that I am providing will be wine. It is going to be around 25 adults. Would 18-20 bottles be too much? I'm figuring if I have leftover I'll just use it for Thanksgiving a few weeks later. I normally get 10-12 bottles for Thanksgiving but I'm also serving other cocktails. Also, what kind of wine would you get? I know my preferences. I'm doing a limited menu, but there will be vegetarian, seafood, chicken, and beef options. 

[emilyinchile]

Will people be driving? Obviously if so, there's no way most of them will down a whole bottle, and even half a bottle per person would be a lot.

[ellipses84]

On first thought, I’d hate to run out but maybe you want to so people get the hint it’s time to sober up and leave.

If it’s a long dinner, I’d plan on everyone drinking at least 2 generous glasses or half a bottle, then maybe half of them drinking a whole bottle so 20 is a good high estimate and you’ll probably have leftovers if someone doesn’t drink wine. Subtract some if you know certain people won’t drink. Will the restaurant provide glasses? If you are bringing your own, I’d use average / medium size (not large).

Sauvignon Blanc is good white that people tend to like even if they aren’t a huge wine drinker. Some brands are sweeter vs. dryer and it’s generally pretty affordable. If you are going to spend more per bottle on something, spend it on the red wine.

Eta: Here’s some other types I’d include, with about half red / half white, with at least 3 of each bottle. I’m always very happy with any $10-$15 wine and you can probably find a better deal on that quantity with Target Circle rebates, or from Total Wine / BevMo / Costco. If you don’t want to spend that much there are cheaper options like $4 “2-buck chuck” from Trader Joes or lots of wines in the $8 range (especially on sale). I won’t say brands because I usually just buy the best deal for the quality, like a $15 wine marked down to $10.99 instead of an $8 full priced wine, and check reviews online.

Cabernet Sauvignon
Pinot Noir
Zinfandel
Merlot
Chardonnay

[puppyluv]

Do people know it is BYOB and will guests be bringing their own if they dont want wine? If wine is the only thing to drink, I would do a case of red and a case of white (12 of each), just to make it easy. If people will also be bringing their own alcohol, i’d drop the number to 12-14 bottles.

[archiethedragon]

is this like a 5-9 dinner party or a 6-7:30 dinner party?

[hbomdiggity]

My crew tends to be heavy drinkers, so I’d plan on at least 20, but probably bring more because I’d split white and red and want to have enough of both.

For white, an Italian Pinot Grigio; for red I’d look for a montepulciano or barbera.

And since it’s a birthday, I’d do 6 bottles of Prosecco (bubbly)!

Do you have a Total Wine or Bevmo? They should be helpful in identifying crowd pleasers.

[Deleted]

To answer some questions.

It is known that this restaurant is a BYOB but I wouldn't expect anyone to bring anything, should I state that on the invite?

It will be from 5:30-9 on a Saturday, maybe a little bit later, it depends on which restaurant I book

My family members are big wine drinkers and make up 2/3 of the guest list.

People will be driving afterwards, several of us will likely go to a bar afterwards as well.

Great call on the Prosecco hbomdiggity,

The restaurant will provide the wine glasses and the bottles of wine will be on each table.

[ECB]

I would mention that wine will be provided on the invitation. Just to be safe!

[jennistarr1]

I say 12-15 sounds fine...but if you're ok with leftovers...why not!

[turkletsmom]

I vote for 20 bottles, especially since you'd use any leftovers right away after for Thanksgiving.

[fiddles]

For Italian I would have more red than white. If you're going to use the rest at Thanksgiving, 20 bottles seems good. Definitely include on the invite that wine will be provided.

[VillainV]

Ditto a case each of red and white, (especially if you can use the leftovers for Thanksgiving) plus enough Prosecco for a toast.

[jinkies]

I threw a party for my mom at a BYOB and definitely let guests know what we were providing for alcohol and that they could byo if they wanted something else. (I wasn't sure if the husbands of some of her friends would want beer, but we weren't providing it). It wasn't a big drinking crowd though so I'm not real helpful on the math.

Some of these responses are making me cry Pennsylvania tears. (Wine at Target? Costco? 😪)

[starlily]

I hate the thought of potentially running out of anything at a party, so I'd probably just buy a case each of red and white, plus a half case of sparkling, especially if I know I can use leftover bottles at a future date. Since it's at an Italian place, I'd go with a pinot grigio, a chianti or sangiovese, and a prosecco.

[eddy]

My level of anxiety could never handle being short. I would bring 20 and inevitability pick up like 2 more in the way lol.

[eddy]

Also you need extra because you can’t predict the white to red ratios. So you want to make sure you don’t run out of one.

[icedcoffee]

Italian restaurant during cold months mean it will likely be more red than white. Prosecco is not a bad idea too though. I’d do 60% red 20% white and 20% Prosecco.

18-20 bottles sounds good.

[heygrey]

The host in me cannot handle running out, so if your budget can afford it I'd get a case of each and hope for leftovers to use for Thanksgiving or later.

Are your people wine people? For people who aren't picky I'd choose a cab-sauv for a red and a pinot gris for white. If your people do know wine, I'd do a few bottles of Merlot or a Cab-Merlot, and few pinot noir. For white a pinot gris, a chardonnay, and rose. Bubbly would be nice for a toast!

Even people who are wine snobs will either A) bring their own to this venue or B) happily drink what you provide. I live in wine country and have personal preferences, but I have never ever turned my nose up at free wine.

[ZitchDog]

This might not be helpful if you have specific tastes, but there is a great deal at my local Costco (midwest) where you can get a case of chardonnay (12) for $60 or a case of a red blend for $60. I linked the brands they are offering below.

Chard: 19crimes.com/products/19-crimes-marthas-chard
Red Blend: www.totalwine.com/wine/red-wine/red-blend/casa-santos-lima-red-blend/p/232381750

ETA: $5/bottle is what appealed to me. 

[Deleted]

Thank you everyone for your responses!

[InBetweenDays]

Nothing to add except the Kirkland Pinot Grigio is pretty good and only $4.99/bottle. It's our go to white wine to just have at the house.

[sonrisa]

I'm just going to plug Vermentino and Arneis as Italian white wine options (I can't resist a Tuscan Vermentino. Maybe not for something like this where you'll be buy-in gin bulk so price matters. But just in general for people who like Italian whites).