The host already has a great cellar. What do I bring?

Bring something they can't easily buy themselves: a small-grower Champagne, a wine from a region they don't normally drink, or a half-bottle of something serious they'd hesitate to open alone. The point is to bring a wine that's interesting, not to compete with what's already on their shelf.

The host doesn't really drink wine. Should I still bring a bottle?

Bring a non-alcoholic alternative instead. A serious de-alcoholised sparkling (Französ, Noughty, French Bloom), a craft kombucha, a good cold-pressed grape juice, or a bottle of artisanal vermouth or shrub for spritzes. These read as the same gesture as wine — something to open at the table — without putting the host in the position of pouring themselves something they don't actually want.

Is it OK to bring something I'd really like to drink with the meal?

Only if you've cleared it with the host in advance — 'shall I bring a bottle of red for the lamb?'. Otherwise it puts the host in the awkward position of either reorganising their evening around your bottle or quietly setting it aside. Default to the gift framing.

One good bottle beats two ordinary ones every time. The exception is when you've been invited for a long meal with several courses and the host has hinted that everyone's contributing — in which case bring a white and a red, both modest, both chosen with care.

What Wine to Bring as a Guest

The bottle you bring is a small message. Here's how to pick one that lands — and how to spend the right amount.

2026-05-26 · 6 min read

Key takeaways

Bring a bottle the host can keep for later — not one they have to open the moment you arrive.
A safe budget: CHF 25–40 for a casual dinner, CHF 40–80 for a close friend, CHF 80+ when there's something to celebrate.
Champagne, a good Burgundy, or a bottle from your home region are the three almost-always-right choices.
Wrap it, include a short note, and tell the host what it is so they're not guessing.

Frequently asked questions

The host already has a great cellar. What do I bring?: Bring something they can't easily buy themselves: a small-grower Champagne, a wine from a region they don't normally drink, or a half-bottle of something serious they'd hesitate to open alone. The point is to bring a wine that's interesting, not to compete with what's already on their shelf.
The host doesn't really drink wine. Should I still bring a bottle?: Bring a non-alcoholic alternative instead. A serious de-alcoholised sparkling (Französ, Noughty, French Bloom), a craft kombucha, a good cold-pressed grape juice, or a bottle of artisanal vermouth or shrub for spritzes. These read as the same gesture as wine — something to open at the table — without putting the host in the position of pouring themselves something they don't actually want.
Is it OK to bring something I'd really like to drink with the meal?: Only if you've cleared it with the host in advance — 'shall I bring a bottle of red for the lamb?'. Otherwise it puts the host in the awkward position of either reorganising their evening around your bottle or quietly setting it aside. Default to the gift framing.
Two bottles or one?: One good bottle beats two ordinary ones every time. The exception is when you've been invited for a long meal with several courses and the host has hinted that everyone's contributing — in which case bring a white and a red, both modest, both chosen with care.

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.

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