A Taste of Your Own Gift?

Bringing wine as a dinner party gift may be sweet and all, but don't expect (much more demand), that you get a taste of it.

CAT: When you're hosting a dinner party and one of your guests brought wine, what are you supposed to do? Should you serve it? Or, is it rude to save it for your next dinner party?

MS. DEMEANOUR: Well, a hostess is supposed to get everything planned out for her party, and that includes the selection of wine to be served based on what is best paired with the items on the menu. So, as a hostess, I think there's absolutely nothing rude about saving the gift for later, especially if it doesn't suit my current menu. 

CAT: You think it won't offend your guest?

MS. DEMEANOUR: It's supposed to be a gift, after all, and I believe that as the receiver of that gift, I can decide on what to do with it. Think of it this way, when you give someone a gift, are you supposed to take it back or get a little taste of it? I suppose not!

CAT: That's true. But what if you're short a bottle? Is it okay to resort to opening and serving the wine you just received?

MS. DEMEANOUR: Hmmm...That's quite a problem, especially when my guests are still in the mood for more wine. In that case, if the wine I was given happens to be a perfect match to the food I'm serving, then I'd go ahead and serve it, while thanking my guest.

CAT: Cool! But I hope you don't ever run out of wine.

MS. DEMEANOUR: I hope so, too! And I hope the guest who gave the wine doesn't end up taking it home just because I wasn't able to serve it.

GENTLE REMINDERS:

1. Wine is a "thank you" gift to your hostess, so don't pressure her to open it.

2. When you're coming to the party alone, bringing one bottle of wine is good enough. If you're coming with a partner, two bottles of wine would be just right.

3. There are lots of other gift options. Instead of bringing wine, why not gift your hostess with a wine opener? It's something she can use for her future parties. 

Illustration by Arlene Sy