What to buy for a wine picnic

A wine picnic needs more than bottles and sandwiches. Plan drinks, food, serving equipment, seating and ways to keep everything cool from setup through the last pour. Buy or borrow supplies based on your guest count, and allow extra time for chilling wine, washing produce and preparing food. This list also covers the items people often remember too late, such as corkscrews, water glasses, food labels and waste bins.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Picnic blanketsqty 12
Foldable tablesqty 6
Folding chairsqty 40
Parasolsqty 4
Buffet tablesqty 2

Tableware

Wine glassesqty 50
Water glassesqty 50
Platesqty 50
Forksqty 50
Knivesqty 50
Spoonsqty 50
Serving plattersqty 10
Carafesqty 6

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 6
Kitchen knivesqty 6
Serving spoonsqty 8
Serving tongsqty 8
Corkscrewsqty 6
Bottle openersqty 4
Food containersqty 12

Equipment

Coolersqty 6
Wine coolersqty 6
Bluetooth speaker

Decorations

Tableclothsqty 8
Wicker basketsqty 10
Flower vasesqty 8
Directional signsqty 4

Lighting

String lightsqty 4
LED lanternsqty 8

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 4
Dustpan and brushqty 2
Cleaning bucketsqty 2
Reusable cleaning clothsqty 12

Catering

Groceries
- Red wine - 8 bottles
- White wine - 10 bottles
- Rosé - 8 bottles
- Sparkling wine - 4 bottles
- Non-alcoholic wine - 2 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 12 bottles
- Sparkling water - 8 bottles
- Cola - 4 bottles
- Cola Zero - 4 bottles
- Lemonade - 4 bottles
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Black tea - 1 box
- Herbal tea - 1 box
- Milk - 4 liters
- Oat drink - 2 liter
- Sugar - 1 pack
- Lemons - 8 pieces
- Ice cubes - 12 bags
- Baguettes - 12 pieces
- Whole grain bread - 4 loaves
- Crackers - 8 packs
- Butter - 500 grams
- Brie - 1,5 kilogram
- Camembert - 1 kilogram
- Aged cheese - 1.5 kilograms
- Goat cheese - 1 kilogram
- Hummus - 1.5 kilograms
- Olives - 1 kilogram
- Grapes - 4 kilograms
- Strawberries - 3 kilograms
- Apples - 30 pieces
- Pears - 20 pieces
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 3 kilograms
- Carrots - 2 kilogram
- Bell peppers - 12 pieces
- Mixed salad - 2 kilogram
- Potatoes - 4 kilograms
- Red onions - 1 kilogram
- Feta - 750 gram
- Pine nuts - 250 grams
- Chickpeas - 6 cans
- Pesto sauce - 3 jars
- Tzatziki - 1 kilogram
- Mayonnaise - 1 jar
- Mustard - 1 jar
- Balsamic vinegar - 1 bottle
- Olive oil - 1 bottle
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Italian herbs - 1 jar
- Garlic - 4 bulbs
- Nut mix - 1 kilogram
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Salted breadsticks - 4 packs
- Brownies - 50 pieces
- Lemon cake - 3 cakes
- Napkins - 150 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Wet wipes - 4 packs
- Garbage bags - 30 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Toilet paper - 12 rolls

Tips

Plan two to three glasses of wine per person for the first hour, then about one glass per person per hour. Add water for the entire picnic and keep chilled bottles in coolers or wine coolers.
Allow at least one plate, fork, knife and water glass per guest, plus around 10% extra for breakages, dropped cutlery or unexpected guests. Set aside serving spoons and tongs so guests do not use their own cutlery.
Buy bread, cheese, salads, dips, fruit and desserts early enough to wash and portion them before leaving. Prepare food labels at the same time, especially when guests have dietary requirements.
Chill the wine several hours before guests arrive; bottles packed at room temperature will not cool quickly in a busy cooler. Bring carafes for water or pre-poured drinks, and pack at least two corkscrews and one bottle opener.
Check the picnic surface and weather forecast before collecting furniture. Pack blankets, foldable tables, chairs, parasols, tablecloths and waste bins, then add lighting such as string lights or LED lanterns if the picnic may continue after dark.

Frequently asked questions

How much wine do I need for a picnic?: Plan roughly two to three glasses per person during the first hour and one glass per person for each additional hour. For a three-hour picnic, that is about four to five glasses per guest, adjusted for non-drinkers and other drinks.
How many wine glasses and plates should I buy?: Allow one wine glass and one plate per guest, plus about 10% extra. For 20 guests, prepare at least 22 wine glasses and 22 plates, along with matching water glasses and cutlery.
When should I chill wine for a picnic?: Chill wine several hours before the picnic, preferably overnight for bottles that need to be properly cold. Keep them in coolers or wine coolers during transport and service so they stay cold after setup.
What do people forget for a wine picnic?: Corkscrews, water glasses, serving utensils, food labels and waste bins are commonly missed. Pack these at least one day ahead, along with extra cutlery, food containers and a way to keep drinks cold.

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