any wine experts?
 

our neighbors have invited us over for dinner. several other couples too. he is a successful author she is of japanese birth. we want to take along a bottle of wine (this is good etiquette, yes?)

so what should we take. we dont know what is being served. should i call and ask so i know what will go with it? (as if i knew.)

i thought maybe jsut take a good bottle of liebfraumilch. mrs w said no to that but didnt really have a reason.

any good ideas?

saki?

tom w

Here's my $.02:

If you don't know what's being served, it's just a shot in the dark so if you insist on bringing a wine then take your pick - it won't really matter. For a random pick, a good Chardonnay would probably work since it's fairly neutral, but you still run the risk of it not working with the food being served. Depending on your relationship with the host, you *may* be able to ask what is being served, but in most instances that can be interpreted as tacky.

In my experience, your best bet is a sparkling wine which goes with anything and can be appreciated by all. Be sure to keep it on the "cheap" side, less than $50/bottle. Something like a bottle of White Star would be good. Anything more would be too celebratory and out of place for the type of gathering you describe.

I'd just bring a bottle of decent wine, and if it works with the meal, they'll use it. If not, then they will use what they planned on using in the first place.

In other words: If I was making dinner, I would have a wine already in mind to go with it - I couldn't depend on my guests to know what to bring, right? If they happen to bring something that would work even better with the meal, then theirs gets uncorked. If they bring something that wont work, I'll stash it, and use what I wanted to in the first place.

Easy, bring 2 different kinds. One is never enough anyway.:)

...most of the whine experts have been banned.

Screw the wine, bring some shine

Bringing a bottle of wine as a gift when invited to dinner is certainly good etiquette. You should consider the bottle a gift and not have expectations that it will be served with the meal. Your host may well have selected specific wine (or wines, if they're like my friends...) to go with each course.

It's difficult to recommend an appropriate wine without knowing anything about your hosts. For example, white zinfindel (you know, the pink stuff...) is the most popular type of wine in the U.S. But giving a bottle of the stuff to someone who is even slightly serious about their wine is both a waste and something of an insult.

A nice, light, dry white is a safe bet. I'm not much of a Chardonnay fan, most are over oaked with too little acid in the pursuit of that elusive "buttery" mouth feel. But a nice Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc or Fume Blanc would seem a good bet.

My $.02,

- JimY

Here's my choice, Landmark Overlook Chardonnay 2003. Fantastic and a bargain at around $24. :)

well i asked another person about it earlier today who i happened to bump into.

she recommended a chardoney, which i bought but it might be tacky anyway since i only paid 8.99 for it.

at least it doesnt have a screw lid.

oh well.

tom w

Know why you dont drink red wine with fish?
It makes them drunk and abusive!

Tom,

That's a nice thought for a gift.
There are before Dinner Wines or Appertive's, or something with dessert.

Since your Host's wife is from Japan, maybe something from there, like Midori melon liquors, would be appropriate for the occaission. There is always Sake, too.

Bon Appetite...Paul :)

ah my fav quote from sideways can play in here

Jack: If they want to drink Merlot, we're drinking Merlot.

Miles Raymond: No, if anyone orders Merlot, I'm leaving. I am NOT drinking any fcuking Merlot!

I overlooked the Japanese angle somewhere. How about some plum wine?

http://champagnegifts.com/id100048list283product.html

Is it that kind of party?:D

Seriously get something reasonable, if you know what they like I'd get them that. They can enjoy it and thank you at a later date.

I like Merlot personaly, but I'm far from a wine expert.

Champaign goes with anything, anytime. Spend at least 25 bucks. Brut. Make it special - go buy some crystal champaign glasses to go with it. Bring the Champaign chilled. Do not pop the cork; slowly twist it out.
It'll be something remembered.