Rules for Serving Wine at Your Next Dinner Party

Don’t be afraid to be bossy: When your guests ask you beforehand, “what should I bring?” please don’t say, “just yourself!” (cue the eye roll). Don’t be afraid to ask them to bring a bottle. Also, be specific; if you’re serving beef, ask them to bring their favorite red blend or if the menu includes poultry, ask for a crisp white.

kelsey-chance-575541-unsplash — Photo by Caroline Attwood on Unsplash

Buy wine by the case: We’re bringing out the big guns. If you have a go-to wine you love, preferably that’s on the less expensive side, buy it by the case and think of it as your “house-wine” to share with your attendees.

caroline-attwood-1525831-unsplash — Photo by Caroline Attwood on Unsplash

Run the numbers: I came across a handy-dandy wine bottle calculator so you won’t be stressed worrying if you have enough wine or not (because what is worse than running out of alcohol…nothing.). However, the rule of thumb here is to buy more wine than you need- you don’t want to be THAT host.

Relax: The most important rule. If you plan ahead and make sure all your boxes are checked, there should be no reason for you to be stressed: live in the moment, have a drink or two and enjoy the ones around you. Salud!

Rosenthal Winery

Located on Pacific Coast Highway, just across from the beach in the beautiful and scenic city of Malibu is Rosenthal: a surprisingly laid-back winery serving up delicious wine.

During our Uber ride to Rosenthal, I was wondering how many old rich men would attempt to hit on us, how many dirty stares we’d get from their plastic-looking wives and the countless shallow conversations I would have with locals who would brag about their millions and claim they’re neighbors with Leonardo DiCaprio. However, I am happy to announce that I was pleasantly surprised. Rosenthal Winery is anything but pretentious, it is a very laid-back and welcoming environment to mingle, listen to live-music and try the wine that is made straight from its own vineyard.

Rosenthal Wines has an extensive wine list: 18 to be exact. They have one label, Rosenthal, which 100% of its grapes are sourced from their Malibu vineyard, and Surfrider, which gives the winery the luxury of sourcing the best grapes all over California and creating delicious wine under Rosenthal’s roof. Their wines include red, white and Rosé.

My friends and I ordered five bottles: two bottles of Rosenthal’s 2012 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon as well the 2014 Estate Chardonnay and two bottles of the Surfrider’s 2017 Rosé. Side note: we had 13 thirsty girls (and two guys) so yes, five bottles was necessary.

Surprisingly, my favorite of the five (yes I tried each for research purposes) was the Surfrider Rosé. I typically do not like the sweetness of Rosé, but this one was light, fruity and oh so yummy.

Facetune_23-04-2019-19-37-32 — Celebrating the birth of my best friend, Katie Lange with a glass of Rosé!

A helpful tip for my readers: do not drink on an empty stomach! Rosenthal is not a restaurant, so pack your own food to enjoy with their wine and have yourself a picnic. Each friend was in charge of bringing one dish, and we ended up with a mouth-drooling buffet…it. was. awesome.

And bonus, on weekends Rosenthal has live music to dance to so you can work off the wine and the three servings of pasta salad you had.

If you want a perfect weekend afternoon to enjoy with friends or family, visit Rosenthal. You may or may not run into Leonardo DiCaprio, but nonetheless, you are bound to have yourself a wonderful, wine-filled day. Cheers!

Cooking with Wine

Drinking wine is easy, but cooking with it requires a bit more work. Cooking with wine may seem intimidating to some, however, here I have provided you with the need-to-knows on this technique, hopefully giving you the encouragement you need to give it a go. Wine enhances every dish and the best part is you get to drink whatever is left. So with that being said, let’s get cooking!

Use Chardonnay for extra richness. (photo by me)

Only cook with wine you’d drink: This does not mean you have to choose an expensive wine, however, wine releases all of its flavors into the dish so make sure you choose one that you would enjoy on its own.

Red or White?: The rule of thumb here is to cook with wine that you would typically enjoy it with. For example, white wine goes best with seafood and chicken whereas red wine is best with beef and pork.

Reduce. Reduce. Reduce.: Getting wine drunk off a few glasses is fun, but getting drunk off your food..not so much. Wine must be slowly reduced in order to achieve ultimate flavor and to allow the alcohol to evaporate.

Use Cabernet Sauvignon for high-acidity and richness. (photo by me)

Timing is everything: Cooking with wine requires patience and a little TLC. In other words, be patient and let the alcohol cook off before adding the rest of your ingredients. Your dish will have a harsh and boozy taste if not reduced properly.

My all-time favorite recipe using red wine:Classic Ragù Bolognese

Bodega Wine Bar

Located on the corner of Broadway and Lincoln, in the lively town of Santa Monica, is Bodega: a bar specializing in, you guessed it, wine.

Established in 2006, Bodega’s mission is to provide a casual, living-room type space, where people can sit back and enjoy each other’s company over a bottle of wine that won’t cost you an arm and a leg.

The wide space is filled with tables and couches which makes it perfect for both your girls’ or guys’ night out or your first date with your Bumble match.

The menu includes mostly small bites and pizzas that are meant to be shared, and bonus, nothing will cost you more than $14…sold!

But the main event is their extensive list of wines. At Bodega, they do not take their wine too seriously. In other words, they care more about drinking wine with good company than they do about knowing about it, which is why their selection is reasonably priced, without sacrificing great taste.

Our wine of choice for the night. (photo by me)

When my friend and I visited, we chose a bottle of Reckless Wine’s red blend. It was very smooth, almost velvety and full-bodied (am I a wine-connoisseur yet?) with flavors of blueberry and black cherries. Reckless Wine is made at Rebel Coast Winery located in Rancho Palos Verdes and is known for their red blend as well as being the first company to create cannabis infused wine.

And guess what? It gets even better. You can indulge in Bodega’s happy hour menu every day from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and get a glass (or two, or three) of wine for just $7 each and bottles for just $25. And don’t forget to pair it with their delicious margherita flatbread or bacon- wrapped dates starting at $8.

This bar is the perfect spot if you’re looking for an upbeat yet casual place to bring your friends or date, just make sure to arrive early to grab a table or couch because they do not take reservations.

Have a friend who doesn’t like wine (unacceptable!)? Don’t worry, Bodega offers beer and cocktails so everyone can get their alcohol fix.

If Santa Monica is too much of a trek, don’t fret. Bodega also has a location in the Paseo in the lovely and historic town of Pasadena. Cheers!

Charcuterie: Wine’s Perfect Companion

I can’t think of anything else that goes better with a bottle (or two) of wine. I am here to share my tips for creating the most perfect and delicious charcuterie board that will make you look like the sophisticated and classy SOB you were meant to be.

Cheese: In order to achieve texture and flavor on your board, choosing a variety of cheeses is key. I recommend choosing one from each group: aged, soft, firm and blue.

Meat: Choose three meats to pair with your cheeses. One safe option that you know everyone will love, like dry cured salami, and two more adventurous options such as prosciutto di parma and capocollo.

Sweet: For your sweet component, try fruit preserves or honey. The sweetness of the two is the perfect contrast to the saltiness of the cheeses and meats.

Savory: Salty snacks such as olives and marcona almonds are the perfect element for adding a salty touch to your board.

erik-dungan-1136787-unsplash — Photo by Erik Dungan on Unsplash

Fruit: Fruit is used for both presentation and flavor. With that in mind, add seasonal, vibrant fruit to your board for that perfect pop of color. I like adding grapes, figs and dried apricots.

Crackers: The most perfect bed for your cheese and meat. All you need is one type of gourmet crackers and you’re good to go.

The Spiel: Packing House Wines

Nestled in the quaint suburbia town of Claremont, California is Packing House Wines: a place where the wine is flowing, glasses are clinking and the wine buzz is creeping.

Packing House Wines is not only a restaurant, but is its own wine shop. Recently named “Best of” by the renowned Wine Spectator Magazine, the restaurant and shop is widely recognized for offering a well-curated and extensive selection of boutique wines. Packing House Wines also offers a classic, seasonal menu with new flavors and dishes to try every time you visit. This restaurant is a hidden gem, and I would be doing you a disservice if I kept this place my own little secret.

kpwine2 — My friend Kristen carefully selecting our wine for the night. (photo by me)

I love everything about this restaurant: the crowd, the ambiance, the food and, of course, the wine. Before you even take a seat, the waiter recommends that you first pick a bottle from their selection of wines to drink at your table. The immense selection and aisles of wine can be quite intimidating, but each bottle includes ratings and descriptions to help with your indecisiveness. However, if you wish to forego the enchanted wine aisles, they do have a wine menu for those who are more of a drink-by-the-glass kind of person.

Oh, and the menu! I could write an entire new post just about the menu. From the charcuterie board to the delicious risotto, this menu has something for everyone. When I took my friend Kristen for her first time, we ordered the charcuterie board to start and had the beef tenderloin special for the main course. We also ordered the chocolate mousse for dessert, but who’s counting calories? We were in total food and wine bliss.

Charcuterie + wine…what more could you ask for? (photo by me)

After you have spent a good few hours feasting and getting your drink on at Packing House Wines, it should not stop there. The Claremont Village (where the restaurant is located) has many bars and restaurants to hop to so you can keep the fun going.

If you are anything like me and enjoy nothing more than good conversation over a fine bottle of wine with great company, I suggest you plan your next gathering at the Packing House Wines. I promise you will not be disappointed.

So in advance, you are welcome.

Classy but Cheap: My Favorite Inexpensive Wines from Trader Joe’s

Wine can get expensive, especially for a college student like myself who wants to drink like the rich but still cringes at the delivery fee for Postmates.

I’ll take one of each, please. (photo by me)

Because of my love for wine and the need to stay on a budget, Trader Joe’s vast selection of inexpensive wines has become my specialty over the years and I am here to tell you my favorite wines that can all be purchased for under ten dollars.

Villa Cerina Montepulciano D’Abruzzo 2016 ($5) Try saying that fifteen times. For five dollars, the value is excellent. This Italian wine consists of red plum and cherry flavors that is delicious and well-balanced.

Picton Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2013 ($7.99) Cool and refreshing all packed in one bottle. Light and crisp with hints of citrus, this wine will take you back to the good old warm summer days.

Oh Trader Joe’s, you make me one happy woman.

Bodega Piedra Negra Rosado 2017 ($9.99) Rosé all day, baby. Acidic and sweet all at the same time, this rosé will leave you with a gleeful buzz. Pro tip: blend together rosé with ice, sweetener and any fruit of your liking for a delicious slushie!

How to Develop Your Wine Palate 101

Swirl it.

Apparently swirling your glass is not just for fun, but it is customary before your first sip. Wine has various aromas and swirling helps release them so that you may fully experience the smell and taste of the vino. Experts say that the easiest way to swirl (and not spill) is to place your thumb and forefinger at the bottom of the stem and make small circle motions and revel in all the delicious aromas emerging from the glass.

Sip it.

Now that we have swirled and smelled, it is time for the best part.

When tasting wine, the first sip is critical. Do not, I repeat, do not chug the entire glass. Instead, slowly take your first sip to enjoy and appreciate all of the flavors hitting your tongue. The expert way to take your first sip is to take a small to medium sip and gently swish the wine around in your mouth (this will allow for all the flavors of the wine to hit your taste buds) for about five seconds then swallow.

Identify Flavors.

It is important to know that different tastes register differently on your taste buds. For example, sweetness will register first at the tip of your tongue, while acidic flavors are second on the sides of the tongue and bitterness is last and is registered on the back. Different aromas and notes of the wine such as vanilla, berry, lemon or oak will all register separately, and if you are able to identify them, drinking wine will be a much more enjoyable experience for you and your taste buds.

Identify Body.

wine 1 — *We tasted notes of citrus and spice. Delicious! (photo by me)*

When talking about the body of the wine, it is not analyzing its shapeliness, but instead it is examining how the wine feels when we take a sip. The three categories when describing the body is simply light, medium or full body. The easiest way to determine a wine’s body for beginners like myself is the alcohol factor. Alcohol is what gives wine its density and texture. Generally, wines under 12.5% alcohol are considered light-bodied, while wines between 12.5% and 13.5% are medium-bodied, and any wines above are full-bodied and could possibly put you in a wine coma.

All of this wine talk is making me thirsty…Cheers!