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

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

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.

__________________
08 W251 R350
97 W210 E320
91 W124 300E
86 W126 560SEL
85 W126 380SE Silver
85 W126 380SE Cranberry
79 W123 250
78 W123 280E
75 W114 280

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.

__________________
It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

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

__________________
Question Authority before it Questions you.

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

Screw the wine, bring some shine

__________________
95 Honda Shadow ACE 1100.
1999 Plymouth Neon Expresso. 2.4 swap, 10.5 to 1 comp, big cams. Autocross time attack vehicle!
2012 Escape, 'hunter" (5 sp 4cyl)

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