Planning wine for an event can feel more complicated than it needs to be.

How much should you buy? How many different bottles should you offer? What works with the menu? And how do you make the experience feel polished without overspending?

According to event planner Rochel Raitman, the answer is not to offer more. It is to make a few thoughtful decisions and present them with confidence.

Start with the Numbers

Running out of wine is every host's nightmare. Buying far too much, however, can tie up a meaningful part of the event budget.

Rochel begins with a simple baseline:

“For a seated dinner, I generally plan on about half a bottle per guest. For a celebration or a longer evening where wine is one of the main drinks, I plan closer to a full bottle per person.”

These numbers are useful starting points rather than rigid rules. The final quantity will depend on the length of the event, the number of guests who drink wine, whether cocktails or other beverages will be served, and how prominent wine will be throughout the evening.

For a shorter dinner with several beverage options, half a bottle per guest may be sufficient. For a longer celebration where wine is served from the reception through dinner and dessert, planning closer to a bottle per guest provides a more comfortable margin.

THE RULE OF THUMB

½

bottle per guest - seated dinner with other drinks

1

bottle per guest - longer celebration with wine served throughout

Four wine bottles arranged on a wedding reception table with white flowers, glassware, and blurred guests in the background. The bottles include dark red, rosé, and black wines with decorative labels.

Keep the Selection Focused

Hosts sometimes assume that offering more choices creates a more impressive experience. In practice, too many bottles can make the wine service feel cluttered and leave guests unsure of what to choose.

Rochel recommends focusing on the shape of the selection rather than its size.

“I'd much rather offer one excellent red, one crisp white, and perhaps a sparkling option to open with than overwhelm people with eight bottles they have to puzzle over.”

A simple, well-planned selection might include:

  • A sparkling wine for arrivals or a toast
  • A crisp white for appetizers and lighter dishes
  • A balanced red for richer entrées and heartier flavors

This approach makes the wine easier to serve, easier for guests to navigate, and more cohesive with the menu.

A focused selection also communicates something important to your guests: each bottle was chosen for a reason.

As Rochel puts it:

“It tells your guests, ‘I chose these for you,’ which feels far more gracious than a crowded bar cart.”

Make the Experience Feel Elevated

A memorable wine experience does not require the most expensive bottles.

Guests are often more influenced by how the wine is served, presented, and introduced than by the price on the label.

“Guests respond to experience far more than to price tags, and experience is almost entirely within your control.”

A few simple details can make the entire presentation feel more considered.

Display of kosher wine and beverages featuring sparkling wine, red wine bottles, and colorful drink dispensers beside a vibrant floral arrangement on a rustic table at an elegant event venue.

Serve Wine at the Right Temperature

Wine is frequently served too warm or too cold.

Reds served at a warm room temperature can feel heavy and overly alcoholic. Whites served directly from an icy refrigerator may lose some of their aroma and flavor.

Allowing a red to cool slightly or a white to warm for a few minutes before serving can make a noticeable difference.

A server pours white wine into a glass at an event bar, with several wine glasses, fresh lime garnishes, and bottles of kosher wine and handcrafted beverages arranged on the counter.

Use Proper Glassware

You do not need an elaborate collection of specialized glasses. A coordinated set of clear wine glasses is often enough to make the table feel polished.

Consistency matters more than formality.

Two wine bottles on a table at an outdoor wine tasting or gathering, with wine glasses, a glass decanter, cheese, grapes, and people blurred in the background. The bottle labels read Peraj Petta and Har Brachia.

Decant with Intention

Pouring an approachable red into a carafe can improve both presentation and flavor.

The wine has time to open up, while the carafe adds a refined visual element to the table. It is a simple way to make an affordable bottle feel more thoughtfully served.

Give the Wine a Story

One of the easiest ways to make a bottle feel special is to give guests a little context. Share where the wine comes from, why you selected it, what makes the producer interesting, or how the wine connects to the meal.

The story does not need to be long. Even one sentence can turn a bottle into a discovery.

"A one-line note about where it’s from or why you chose it instantly makes an affordable bottle feel like a discovery.”

That sense of connection is often more memorable than the wine’s price.

“People remember how a wine was presented and how it made them feel. They almost never remember what it cost.”

Simplify Food Pairing

Wine pairing can intimidate even experienced hosts, but Rochel recommends stepping away from rigid rules.

The most common problem is not choosing the “wrong” grape or region. It is choosing a wine that does not match the intensity of the food.

A delicate wine served with a rich, heavily spiced dish may be overwhelmed. A powerful red served with a light, fresh plate can dominate the meal.

Rochel’s advice is straightforward:

“Match weight to weight. Bold, hearty food wants a bold wine. Light, fresh food wants something crisp and bright.”

For richer dishes, look for wines with enough body and structure to remain present alongside the food.

For lighter dishes, choose wines with freshness, acidity, and a more delicate profile.

And when the menu includes a wide range of flavors, a dry rosé or an unoaked white can be a flexible choice.

“Pairing should make you feel like a thoughtful host, not a sommelier taking an exam.”

Thoughtful Hosting Matters More Than Perfection

The best wine service is not necessarily the most elaborate or expensive.

It is the one that feels appropriate for the event, considered alongside the menu, and welcoming to the people around the table.

Start with a realistic quantity. Keep the selection focused. Serve each bottle with care. Give guests a little context about what they are drinking. And choose wines that complement the weight and character of the food.

A few thoughtful decisions can make the entire experience feel more personal, polished, and memorable.

SHOP WINES FOR YOUR NEXT EVENT

Planning an Event? Let Us Help

Not sure how much wine to order, which bottles will work best with your menu, or how to build a balanced selection within your budget?

Our concierge team can help you plan the wine for your dinner, celebration, or larger event, from quantities and pairings to a focused mix of reds, whites, and sparkling wines.

Tell us about your guest count, menu, and budget, and we’ll help you create a selection that feels thoughtful, polished, and easy to serve.

CONTACT OUR WINE CONCIERGE

For more stories about the people, places, and traditions behind leading kosher wines, explore our Taste & Ritual series. It includes features on producers such as 1848, Essa, Binyamina, Shiloh, Carmel, Yatir, Kedem, Har Bracha, Herzog, Bartenura, Psagot, and 36 Degrees North.

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