Wine picnic shopping list
A wine picnic needs more than bottles and blankets. Plan the wine, water, snacks, serving pieces and cooling equipment around your guest count, then allow enough time to chill drinks and prepare fruit, salads and bread. This shopping list also covers the items that are easy to forget: corkscrews, carafes, serving utensils, tableware and a practical way to move everything to the picnic spot. Use the quantities below as a starting point and adjust them to your guest list.
The full checklist for this plan is being updated. The tips and answers below still apply.
Tips
- Plan two to three wine servings per person for the first hour, then add one serving per person for each additional hour. Include water and soft drinks rather than relying on wine alone.
- For each guest, allow one dinner plate, one dessert plate, one wine glass, one water glass, one fork, one knife and one spoon. Add at least 10% extra for breakage, dropped items or late arrivals.
- Chill the wine and soft drinks several hours before leaving, not just when setup starts. Pack chilled bottles in coolers or wine coolers and use thermos flasks for drinks that need to stay hot.
- Buy enough food for a grazing meal: include bread and toppings, salads, fruit and snacks, then portion salads and cut fruit before transport. Bring serving platters, cutting boards, kitchen knives and serving utensils so guests do not use tableware for preparation.
- Count the equipment before loading: picnic blankets for seating, tables and chairs for the layout, picnic baskets for transport, and corkscrews for opening bottles. If you plan music or lighting, pack the Bluetooth speaker, extension cords, string lights or lanterns together rather than leaving them for the final check.
Frequently asked questions
- How much wine do I need for a wine picnic?
- Plan roughly one 750 ml bottle for every two to three wine servings. For a two-hour picnic, allow about four to five servings per wine-drinking guest, then adjust for non-drinkers and guests who prefer soft drinks.
- How many wine glasses and plates should I buy?
- Provide one wine glass, one water glass, one dinner plate and one dessert plate per guest. Add 10% extra, so a group of 20 needs at least 22 of each item if washing or replacing items during the picnic is not practical.
- When should I chill wine for a picnic?
- Chill the bottles several hours before departure; white, rosé and sparkling wine need to be cold before they go into the cooler. Pack the coolers immediately before transport so the bottles stay cold during setup.
- What do people usually forget for a wine picnic?
- Corkscrews, water carafes, serving utensils, napkins and a way to keep drinks cold are common omissions. Check these items at least one day before the picnic, and count tableware again while loading the car.