Red or White? What to Consider When Purchasing Wine for Your Event

When planning your event’s beverage lineup, selecting the right wines can feel like both an art and a science. One of the most common questions we hear from clients is:“Should we buy more red or more white wine?”And the answer is... it depends! While a 50/50 split may feel like the safest bet, your event’s unique factors can (and should) guide a more thoughtful selection. Here are a few key things to consider before stocking your wine table:

1. Time of Year & Weather Conditions

This might be the single biggest factor.

• Outdoor Summer Events - If your celebration takes place outside in warm or hot weather, white wines and rosés tend to be more popular. They're typically served chilled, making them refreshing and easy to sip in the heat.

  Tip: Standard reds can feel heavy and warm when the sun is blazing, but if you still want to offer red, consider a light-bodied red that’s meant to be chilled, like a Pinot Noir, Beaujolais, Gamay. These pair beautifully with summer fare and still satisfy red wine drinkers without weighing them down.

  
  

• Cooler Seasons or Indoor Settings - In fall or winter, or inside a temperature-controlled venue, red wines tend to hold their own. Guests may gravitate toward a cozy glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, or Malbec to complement heartier dishes and cooler temps.

2. The Event’s Style & Menu

Pairing wine with your food is a great way to narrow your choices.

• Lighter menus (seafood, salads, chicken, vegetarian dishes) tend to pair better with whites like Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, or Chardonnay.

• Heavier menus (steak, pasta with red sauce, grilled meats) lean toward reds like Zinfandel, Syrah, or Cabernet.

If your menu is varied, offering a balanced mix of both red and white allows guests to pair at their own pace.

3. Guest Preferences

Think about your guest list:

• Are your guests mostly casual wine drinkers or more on the enthusiast side?

• Do you know if the crowd tends to favor reds or whites?

If you’re unsure, lean toward versatility:

• A crisp white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or a dry Riesling often pleases a wide range of palates.

• A light to medium-bodied red, like Pinot Noir or Merlot, is usually a safer crowd-pleaser than a bold Cabernet.

4. Daytime vs. Evening

Daytime events usually call for lighter, lower-alcohol wines—think whites, rosés, and sparkling options.

Evening events, especially those with a plated dinner, can handle richer reds and more complex whites.

Our Final Recommendation

If you're still torn between red and white, here’s a simple strategy:

• Start with a 60/40 split in favor of the style that suits the season, time of day, and food.(Warm weather & lighter fare? Go 60% white. Cool weather & hearty food? Lean 60% red.)

• Include a rosé or sparkling wine for added flexibility—it bridges the gap between red and white and adds a celebratory touch.

• Consider chillable reds to keep red wine drinkers happy, even in the heat.

Cheers! 🥂