What to Buy for a Wine Evening

A wine evening needs more than a selection of bottles. Plan for tasting glasses, water, small plates, cheese boards, snacks, serving tools and enough ice to keep white wine chilled. Buy or borrow the tableware and furniture before the final week, then check that you have at least two working corkscrews. This list also covers the easily missed items, including carafes, wine cards, coolers, waste bins and cleaning supplies.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Tablesqty 6
Chairsqty 44
Table runnersqty 6

Tableware

Wine glassesqty 180
Water glassesqty 50
Platesqty 50
Small platesqty 50
Cutlery setsqty 50
Carafesqty 8
Cheese plattersqty 6
Small bowlsqty 12

Kitchen

Corkscrewsqty 4
Wine openersqty 2
Decantersqty 3
Serving tongsqty 8
Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef's knifeqty 3
Measuring cupsqty 2

Equipment

Coolersqty 4
Ice containersqty 4
Bluetooth speaker
Extension cordsqty 2

Decorations

Table décorqty 8
Candle holdersqty 12
LED candlesqty 24
Wine list holdersqty 12

Lighting

String lightsqty 4

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 4
Bucketsqty 2
Mopsqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Champagne - 6 bottles
- Sauvignon blanc - 4 bottles
- Chardonnay - 4 bottles
- Pinot grigio - 4 bottles
- Rosé - 4 bottles
- Pinot noir - 4 bottles
- Merlot - 4 bottles
- Port - 2 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 12 bottles
- Spa Rood - 8 bottles
- Cola - 4 bottles
- Cola Zero - 4 bottles
- Tonic - 12 cans
- Apple juice - 4 liter
- Coffee beans - 1 kilogram
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Milk - 4 liters
- Oat milk - 2 liter
- Sugar - 500 grams
- Lemons - 12 pieces
- Ice cubes - 12 kilograms
- Baguettes - 12 pieces
- Crackers - 8 packs
- Grissini - 6 packs
- Brie - 1,5 kilogram
- Camembert - 1.5 kilogram
- Gouda cheese - 2 kilograms
- Blue cheese - 1 kilogram
- Goat cheese - 1 kilogram
- Grapes - 4 kilograms
- Pears - 3 kilograms
- Apples - 3 kilograms
- Figs - 2 kilograms
- Walnuts - 1 kilogram
- Almonds - 1 kilogram
- Olives - 2 kilograms
- Sun-dried tomatoes - 6 jars
- Hummus - 2 kilograms
- Tapenade - 6 jars
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Chocolate truffles - 2 kilograms
- Coffee filters - 1 pack
- Napkins - 200 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 6 pieces
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls

Tips

Allow 1 wine glass per guest for a simple tasting, or 2 to 3 glasses per guest if several wines will be poured side by side. Add at least 1 water glass per person.
Plan 2 to 3 drinks per guest for the first hour, then about 1 drink per hour afterwards. Buy extra water as well, especially when guests will be tasting multiple wines.
For a cheese board, allow 100 to 150 g of cheese per guest when it is the main food, or 50 to 75 g when you are also serving snacks. Provide small plates, serving tongs and a cutting board.
Chill white wine for at least 3 hours before guests arrive and prepare the coolers and ice 30 to 60 minutes beforehand. Keep red wine ready at room temperature rather than putting every bottle in the refrigerator.
Buy or borrow two corkscrews or wine openers, plus carafes or decanters if the tasting order requires them. Put waste bins and buckets where guests can reach them so empty bottles and spills do not collect around the tables.

Frequently asked questions

How much wine do I need for a wine evening?: A 750 ml bottle gives about 5 tasting pours of 150 ml, or around 10 smaller 75 ml tasting pours. For a 3-hour evening, plan roughly 1 bottle per 2 to 3 guests for a tasting, then add more if wine is also the main drink.
How many wine glasses do I need per person?: Buy or borrow at least 1 wine glass per guest for a guided tasting where glasses are rinsed between wines. For side-by-side comparisons, allow 2 to 3 wine glasses per person, plus 1 water glass.
How much cheese should I buy for a wine evening?: Buy 100 to 150 g of cheese per guest if the cheese board is the main food. If you are serving other snacks as well, 50 to 75 g per guest is usually enough; shop 1 to 2 days before the event.
When should I chill white wine for a wine evening?: Chill white wine for at least 3 hours before guests arrive. Fill coolers with ice 30 to 60 minutes before the start, and keep extra ice available throughout the evening.

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