Choosing the right wine for a dinner party

If it’s the former, there are plenty of thoroughly enjoyable wines in the $10-$15 price bracket. Cool-climate chardonnay and pinot noir are both very food-friendly, so you won’t go wrong if you choose a label from the Yarra Valley, Adelaide Hills, Tasmania or virtually anywhere in New Zealand. Wines that have won more than one show trophy are a further cut above.

But you don’t need to spend a fortune to drink well. Up to $25 would be appropriate for a special occasion – and you can get away with less for a relaxed evening with friends.

If you’re knowledgeable about wine, but know that’s not an interest shared by your hosts, the risk is bringing along a bottle of something really special, only to see it blithely put away in a cupboard while cheap and cheerful plonk is served. It’s a problem easily solved with a little preplanning and tact.

Ring a day or two before and ask your hosts what they plan for dinner so you can “bring along a bottle of wine that will perfectly match the cuisine”. Not only will you know whether to choose red or white, you’re subtly letting them know that you care about what’s in the glass as much as what’s on the plate. (Alternatively, if the hosts have already planned wine-food matches, they can politely advise the matter is in hand.)

On arrival, ask for a corkscrew, or twist the cap and hand over an opened bottle, “so it has time to breathe before we enjoy it”. Everyone gets to sample the fine wine. No-one is offended.

If you’re an inveterate beer drinker, take a good wine as a gift but then also take along a few beers for your own consumption. Cascade Premium, Peroni Nastro Azzurro or Asahi Super Dry will all make a stylish impression.