How to Build a Great Case of Wine
Say thanks with a great case of wine.
By Erin Henderson
I was listening to a podcast where the hosts were debating what to bring to a cottage weekend as a host gift.
One (brilliantly) suggested bringing a mixed case of wine (12 different bottles), a nice selection the cottage owners can use at their pleasure, leisure, and discretion. For about $300 (considerably less than you would spend on your own cottage rental for a days) you've ensured return invites for the rest of your life.
As someone who both accepts and extends weekend invites to country homes, I think this is pure genius. It’s generous – instead of bringing one fancy bottle of red, there’s a bounty from which the host can choose. It’s easy to transport – one case, nicely packed, and you’re done. And it’s useful – I’ve been at the receiving end of weird gifts (a set of ceramic flour canisters in a country motif comes to mind), that just end up in the garbage, Goodwill, or regifted to some other poor schlep (most likely my mum.)
Related: Best Wines for a Hostess Gift
The key to creating a truly great case of wine is to mix it up for any occasion. Fancy dinners, lazy lakeside afternoons, surprise visits from neighbours who pull up to your dock (this happens in cottage country. In the city unannounced visits will result in panic and scorn, but in the laid-back bliss of local-yocal, small-town Ontario, this is a widely accepted practice.)
Related: Why You Need a House Wine
Here’s how to curate an intriguing case for any wine lover. Naturally, adjust the quantities to your recipient’s preferred tastes, as well as the season, but this is a pretty good guideline to get you started.
3 Bottles Under $25 Red
Burgers on the grill or a steak marinating in the fridge, an easy-going red pairs nicely with most roasts, braises, and barbecued meats. Plus, it’s been my experience red seems to be the preference of most wine enthusiasts. For maximum food flexibility and general enjoyment, try wines like village-level Côtes du Rhône, crianza-level Rioja, Malbec from Argentina, or juicy, mid-tiered Cabs and Shiraz from Australia.
3 Bottles Under $25 White
Here, I’m tempted to get a bit extra and mix and match within this category. Select one mid-weight Chardonnay, such as those from Burgundy’s Mâcon region for meals of creamy pasta, roast chicken or grilled halibut, and two, lighter, crisper styles of white like Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, Assyrtiko from Greece, or Muscadet from the Loire Valley in France, which will be necessary for freshly shucked oysters, vegan ceviche, or taco night.
Related: How to Save Money Buying Wine
2 Bottles Rosé
I don’t need to tell you rosé has come a long way. From the official mommy-juice of summer to a serious contender for stylish food pairings (with a hint of whimsy), rosé, in all its forms, works beautifully as a dinner companion – deeply pink Tavel with grilled salmon, or a fruity Spanish version paired to slow-roasted porchetta – or the crisp and delicately blushing Provence wines for refreshment on a sunny afternoon.
2 Bottles Inexpensive Bubbly
Sparkling wine has a place at every occasion, from the casual to the elaborate, as far as I’m concerned. I always have a few bottles of Prosecco or Crémant in my fridge for whipping up a cocktail or starting a dinner party – preferably paired with buttered popcorn or salt and vinegar chips.
Related: What’s the Difference Between Champagne and Sparkling Wine?
1 Bottle Celebration Red
Sometimes reasons for celebrating come as a surprise – you finally told your boss where to go, you won your fantasy football league, a friend stops by with a beautiful piece of Wagyu beef – so it’s nice to have a good bottle on hand to commemorate the occasion. Super Tuscans, those red blends from Tuscany made (at least in part) from French grapes, have a reputation even the novice wine lover appreciates.
1 Bottle Celebration White
For the same reasons as an impressive red, you want a show-stopping white in your case to go with those elaborate dinners of butter-poached lobster, foie gras, or truffle risotto. Having a stately wine from Burgundy, like the Chardonnays from the premier villages or Mersault or Puligny-Montrachet, or even top-quality Beaune, is a fine choice.