The questions you must ask
When it comes to planning wine for your next event, there are a few questions you must ask yourself.
What type of event is it?
This is very important. Details such as how formal the event is will help you understand what sorts of wines you will need.
Where is the location?
The environment for an event matters especially when there’s wine involved. Whether you are drinking inside or outside, for example, is important to know.
What is the food menu?
Pairings are everything at any dinner involving wine. You do not want to spoil dinner with a wine that doesn’t enhance your menu.
Follow our wine recommendations, broken down by the event type, location and cuisine.
By Event
Luxury High End Events
If you’re hosting a luxury event, you will want to make sure you are serving your guests with the most elegant and sophisticated wine.
Here are some wines to help you consider for your next luxury event:
Barolo:
The king of italian reds, Barolo is rich and full-bodied wine that will certainly impress your guests. Serve it with delicate risottos (risotto with truffle, for instance), game meats or mushroom dishes.Langhe Chardonnay:
With hints of ripe fruit and an excellent minerality, this white wine has vibrant freshness. On the palate, it is warm and structured with a long aftertaste. This wine is best enjoyed with white meat.Etna Rosato:
This is a proud Sicilian wine. It offers delicate floral notes along with hints of cherry and ripe strawberry. It has a minerality and acidity typical of the volcanic territory where it is grown. It’s extremely versatile, pairing with any course.Franciacorta:
The most prestigious Italian sparkling wine, Franciacorta is characterized by its extraordinary fragrance and liveliness. With light spices and dried fruits, it is fresh and delicate. It is a dazzling accompaniment to cured meats, cheese, or risotto.
Casual Events
A more relaxed event still calls for good quality wine. The main goal is to satisfy every guest with the right wine selection, while also staying within your budget. There are an array of delicious Italian wines that everyone will enjoy.
Here are some wines to help you consider for your next casual event:
Nero d’Avola:
A juicy and bodied wine, this Sicilian red pleases everyone. It comes at an excellent price, making it great for any sized event. It pairs greatly with rich meat dishes & burgers.Greco di Tufo:
This wine is lively, with fresh citrus and fruity notes. It’s perfect for an easy-going meal. Most importantly, it offers good value for money. Pair it with pastas, risottos and seafood dishes.Salice Salentino Rosato:
With fruity and floral notes of strawberry, this wine is refreshing. It is an excellent value for money. Works wonders with soups, salads, dry cheese and cured meats.Oltrepo’ Pavese:
This sparkling wine has enough flavour to impress but at a great price. Made from Pinot Noir, this wine has exotic fruit, floral, and brioche flavours. Perfect complement for any type of appetiser.
Gala Dinners
Galas often means a long guest list and multiple courses. You are going to need multiple wines that will not only impress, but also come at a reliable price tag. Sounds daunting. Have no fear - there are plenty of sophisticated Italian wines that will please both guests and your event’s budget.
Here are some wines to help you consider for your next gala dinner:
Cannonau:
This wine is intense enough for any red wine drinker. It is warm in flavour, with cherries, herbs, and unique spice flavours. Elegant and suitable for grilled meats & veggies, charcuterie & cheese boards and so much more.Gavi:
Dry and fruity, this fine white wine usually works for everyone. It is a classic of Italian white wines and has a price perfect for large scale events. White fish, seafood and shellfish are Gavi’s best friends!Toscana Rosato:
Tuscany offers a well-balanced rosé, great for all sorts of meals. Every guest will love its traditional pale pink rosé colour. Pair it with delicate flavours, perfect for an elegant event.Alta Langa:
Everyone will need to toast at a gala dinner. Alta Langa has enough finesse for a gala dinner, but not at Champagne prices! It is an ideal combination with a variety of appetisers, pasta dishes and meat courses.
Christmas Events
Celebrations are always special, particularly holiday celebrations. Everyone is feeling joyous and excited. Therefore, you should choose a wine that enhances everyone's mood. There are many types of Italian wines that work well for festive parties. They offer unique options that will keep everyone in the most festive of moods.
Here are some wines to help you consider for your next Christmas party:
Barbera:
Juicy and structured, this red wine goes well for any celebration. Grown alongside the King Nebbiolo grape, Barbera charms just as well as its neighbour, and it pairs wonderfully with most of the Christmas dishes.Arneis:
ith bright acidity and excellent grape growing conditions, Arneis is a white wine to savour. Pair it with turkey, chicken or white fish.Langhe Rosato:
Made from Nebbiolo, this rosé has enough body for a winter holiday. Everyone will enjoy it's pretty floral and berry aromas, which complements a wide variety of dishes.Trentodoc:
A unique sparkling wine - Trentodoc will surprise everyone at a celebratory event. It has zippy acidity, a perfect intro to any celebration.
By Location
Indoors
Indoor events, particularly those in the winter, call for wines that convey warmth and celebration. While indoor events can vary in size and scale, there are reliable wines to achieve the perfect mood. This goes for all types and styles of wine, from sparkling to robust reds.
Here are some wines to help you consider for your next indoor event:
Morellino di Scansano:
With berry and spice, this red wine is very welcoming. It is great for winter events, where everyone is looking to stay warm inside. It also makes a great match for red meat dishes.Fiano di Avellino:
This medium-bodied wine can handle more robust dishes than other white wines. It is very sippable, with a unique minerality reflecting its Southern Italian origin, and complements superbly any white meat & veggie dish.Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo:
This rosé has a gorgeous and bold pink colour. Its structure and cherry flavours stand out. Most importantly, it's enjoyable all year round, even inside. Pair it with appetisers or light bites for a guaranteed success.Prosécco:
This go-to Italian sparkling is equally loved by all. It’s very economical, too. It needs a good chill, so it's a reliable pick for indoor events. It matches so many food varieties that you won’t go wrong.
Outdoors
With great weather for your event, you need exceptional wine to match. Outdoor events are an awesome occasion to enjoy the most refreshing of wines. Known for their brilliant acidity, Italian wines can do just that. Whether you are searching for a zesty sparkling or easy-going red, Italian wines have your back.
Here are some wines to help you consider for your next outdoor event:
Frappato:
Fun and well-priced, this light-bodied Sicilian red wine is full of red fruits and deliciousness. It pairs amazingly with white meats.Falanghina:
This Southern Italian white has wonderful acidity that will match any beautiful event outdoors. Seafood and bruschettas are Falanghina’s best friends.Aglianico Rosato:
Reminiscent of the beautiful Italian coastline, this rosé has enough structure for more robust outdoor meals, such asMoscato d’Asti:
The sweetness of this sparkling wine is fantastic for outdoor events, especially those during the summer.
By Cuisine
Pairing with meat
More often than not, meat dishes are featured at events. No matter if you are serving red or white meat, there is an Italian wine to make the dish especially delicious. Once you have your menu planned, accompany it with fantastic Italian wines, perfect for all sorts of meat dishes.
If you are serving meat-based dishes at your next event, then don’t miss our tips below:
Cannonau:
This elegant island wine offers aromatic dark fruits and spice. It’s great for any main course with red meatGreco di Tufo:
The pretty citrus notes and fantastic acidity of this wine make it perfect for white meats.Salice Salentino Rosato:
Affordable and fruity, this rosé will not break the bank. It will please all palates, especially when paired with appetizers.Franciacorta:
Lively and bold, this Italian sparkling wine is just as good as Champagne. It will make an impressive pairing with cured meats.
Pairing with fish
Planning a menu centred on fish dishes, most definitely needs wine. From shellfish to whole fish preparations, there is always a great Italian wine to pick. That goes not just for white, but for rosato and red as well, since the brightness of Italian wines works magic with fish. Knowing which ones to pair will add even more flair to your event!
Pair your fish dishes with the following wines, you won’t go wrong:
Pinot Grigio:
An easy-to-drink wine, Pinot Grigio is an unpretentious option that pleases everyone. With citrus and stone fruit notes, it tastes wonderful with any light fish and seafood meal.Vernaccia di Oristano:
This fortified wine offers unique dried fruit and honey flavour. It works wonderfully with smoked or spicy fish dishes.Etna Rosato:
Zesty and smoky, this Sicilian wine is versatile. It is a go-to for shellfish.Prosécco:
With its fresh character and iconic bubbles, the match between Prosécco and fish is just sublime. Try it with fried fish or fattier options, in order to balance your meal.
Pairing with vegetarian
Italian wines have always been a great accompaniment to vegetables dating back to the Roman times. There are specific wines that do particularly well with the most vegetarian dishes.
If you are serving vegetarian food at your next event, then pay attention to the below:
Teroldego Rotaliano:
Complex and aromatic, this wine offers a striking balance of sweet and spice. It makes mushrooms or any heftier vegetarian dish taste divine.Verdeca:
This vibrant wine features pretty floral and herb components. It is a great pick for fresh dishes, salads above all.Chiaretto:
Pale pink and light-bodied, this wine works well with crudites, tomato-based pastas and any kind of risottos.Oltrepo Pavese:
This relaxed sparkling wine is versatile and makes a great match with vegetarian pizzas.
Pairing wine with a full 3-course meal
Aligning a wine with each course may sound challenging. With a plethora of Italian wines available out there, it is quite fun to find a pairing for each meal. From simple starters to lavish main courses, each bite is even more delicious with the right wine to wash it down.
If you want to plan a full 3 to 5 course-meal at your next event, you are in luck - follow our tips below:
Prosécco:
This is an easy way to begin a meal and savour on any appetizers or small plates.Verdicchio:
A wine with elegant acidity, Verdicchio is lovely with any pasta dish or first course. It works with vegetables, seafood, and white meat.Aglianico:
This bold red from the Campania region can handle any heavier meat dishes.Brachetto d’Acqui:
Sweet and sparkling, this juicy red wine is great for chocolate and fruit desserts.
Pairing with other world cuisines
Experimenting with different cuisines can add more flair to your event. Yet, a unique cuisine does not limit your wine list selection. In fact, wine can enhance your event. There are Italian wines ready to be paired with foreign foods, no matter how bold or spicy.
Picking the right wine to complement iconic cuisines can be difficult, so follow our tips below and you won’t go wrong:
Indian:
With creamy curries, you cannot go wrong with a Barbera. For spicy tomato-based dishes, Pinot Grigio pairs wonderfully.Asian:
For those who love sweet and spicy Asian dishes, Pugliese Primitivo is a great choice. When encountering dishes with immense heat, the sweet twist of Moscato d’Asti will balance out the spice perfectly.Pub food & Burgers:
Sparkling wines, such as Prosécco, are always a great match to fried dishes. Dry white wines, such as Pinot Grigio or Soave, do wonders with fish. If you are ordering a burger or any red-meat dish, a Chianti or Pinot Noir won’t disappoint.
