r/wine • u/MysteriousPin4280 • 19h ago
Wine newbie needing help! Friend's a wine lover, what are some good red & white bottles to bring for a dinner party?
I'm heading to a friend's place for a dinner party and I'd like to bring a couple of bottles. The thing is, my friend is really into wine, and I know pretty much nothing. What are some good options?
I'm hoping to get one red and one white bottle. My budget is around $20-$40 per bottle, so nothing too crazy. I just want to bring something that tastes good and shows I put some thought into it, not just grabbed the first thing off the shelf.
Since I'm a complete beginner, any and all recommendations are welcome! Your help would be a lifesaver.
Thanks in advance!
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u/Mrcostarica 16h ago
A Rioja reserva from Spain, a California Zinfandel, a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, a Malbec from Argentina or a Carmenere from Chile.
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u/MysteriousPin4280 9h ago
hank you so much for this amazing list! This is exactly what I needed—so many great, specific options from different regions.
I really appreciate you listing out so many reliable choices. I'll be on the lookout for a Malbec from Argentina and a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. This gives me a lot to work with!
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u/sleepyhaus 3h ago
Do you know what they are serving for dinner? That could help a lot with narrowing down selection. There are some Swiss Army Knife wines that go with a lot of foods, but none will truly be correct for everything. Even so: Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, Dry Riesling (unless serving heavily spiced food, then off-dry Riesling), Beaujolais, Chenin Blanc from the Loire or South Africa, Barbera from Piedmont, Chablis, Muscadet, good Cotes du Rhone, Spanish Garnacha, are all very versatile. But if the food is something like barbecue, then you will want a bigger, bolder red, I'd suggest a Northern Rhone Syrah, for instance. SE Asian or Indian foods (big categories, I know) often like wines with a bit of residual sugar, like German Riesling, Gewurztraminer, etc.
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u/what-tf1 17h ago
Something French is a good place to start, you can get great quality and not break the budget. Best thing to do is go to a local wine shop and let the employee geek out. Second best is a Beaujolais Cru or Sancerre (red and white options respectively).