How Much Wine to Buy for a Party
There is a formula. It takes thirty seconds, accounts for the length of the event and type of occasion, and means you'll never run out — or buy three cases too many.
· 6 min read
Key takeaways
- The base calculation: one 75cl bottle serves five medium pours. For a two-to-three hour dinner, plan one bottle per two guests. For a ninety-minute apéro, one bottle per three guests.
- Always add a buffer: one extra bottle per eight guests, minimum. Running out mid-evening is the one hosting failure that cannot be recovered.
- Mix matters: if you're serving both red and white, buy 60% white and 40% red for a mixed group. Adjust for the food.
- Leftover wine is not a problem. Unopened bottles keep; opened whites keep three to five days in the fridge; opened reds two to three days.
Frequently asked questions
- How many bottles of wine do I need for 20 people?
- For a seated dinner (two to three hours): ten to twelve bottles. For a ninety-minute apéro or standing reception: seven to eight bottles. For a long evening (four or more hours, dinner into late drinks): eighteen to twenty bottles. Always round up: one extra bottle per eight guests beyond the formula is the minimum buffer.
- Should I buy more red or white?
- For a mixed group with no known preference: 60% white (or sparkling), 40% red. Adjust for the food — a red-meat dinner shifts toward 60% red; a fish or vegetable menu shifts toward 70–80% white. In summer, rosé can replace up to half the white allocation.
- How long does opened wine keep?
- Opened white wine: three to five days sealed in the fridge with a stopper. Opened red wine: two to three days at room temperature or in the fridge (lighter reds in the fridge, fuller reds at room temperature). Sparkling wine: one to two days with a proper sparkling wine stopper — the bubbles dissipate quickly without one. The myth that opened wine must be finished the same night costs more money than almost any other wine belief.
- How much wine do I need for an aperitif before dinner?
- One bottle per four guests for the aperitif hour is the working figure — people drink at a measured pace when standing and grazing. If you're serving sparkling wine as the aperitif, budget it separately from the dinner wine. Plan to transition to still wine when food is served; most people switch naturally.
Not sure which wine to pick? Tell our sommelier what you are eating or the occasion and we will find the right bottle — or browse the full sommelia.ch collection.