How Much Wine Do I Need for a Party?

A bottle of red. A bottle of white. If only it were that simple!

When planning a dinner or a small-batch catering event, the question I get asked most is: How much wine do I need? Finding the answer is like solving an algebraic equation. So let’s all take a trip back to high school for a moment…

A bottle of wine contains 750 ml, which equals about 3 cups.
An average pour is approximately 4 ounces (or ½ cup). This means you’ll yield about 6 servings per bottle. But…
Being that people rarely pour an exact measure, and most over-pour, it’s more likely you’ll get about 5 servings per bottle.
According to Total Wine, most guests will consume 2 glasses of wine in the first hour of the event and 1 glass each additional hour. Using this formula, Total Wine offers a handy calculator that computes how much wine you’ll need based on the number of guests and duration of the party.

However, to accurately solve for X, there are a few additional factors to consider when determining how much wine is appropriate for your event:

Time of day: Is your get together scheduled for morning, afternoon or evening?
Type of event: Are you hosting a corporate party, birthday party or wine tasting?
Guest preferences: You know your friends and family best. Will they all adhere to the “2 drinks in the first hour” rule? Will you need a bit more or less?

Let’s Look at Some Examples

If you’re hosting a 2-hour breakfast, the Total Wine calculator will suggest you need 4 bottles of wine or champagne. But guests usually don’t drink as much in the morning as they do in the evening. Therefore, 3 bottles of champagne might be all you need. (The calculator will, by the way, adjust amounts if you’re planning on serving something other than wine, such as vodka for Bloody Marys.)

Similarly, if you’re hosting a corporate event where guests are expected to talk business, they will likely stick to 1-2 drinks total—even if the meeting or dinner runs a bit longer.

All things considered, I recommend you check in with the wine calculator and make slight adjustments as needed.

Still confused? Let our Personal Chefs do it for you! Our catering services specialize in suggesting the best wine in the right quantities for all of your occasions. From wine pairings and dinner parties to graduations and birthdays, we’ve got all of your food needs covered. Call us to book your next event: 502-783-7153