I'm hosting my book club's annual potluck meeting next week and am providing the wine.

I'm going to provide a red and a white.

Can any of you recommend a red and/or a white?

Something that will be easy to drink, accessible, and go with a wide range of things. (Last year the potluck was heavy on the desserts. )


Also, I'm thinking of making a vegetarian entree because last year's didn't have many entrees. I'm thinking vegetarian will please everyone. (Or at least offend no one!) I really don't want to do a lasagna but am tapped out for ideas.


Thanks in advance everyone!!

What would you like to spend?

My first reccomendation is to go to the nicest wine store possible. How to judge? Maybe they won't have a display of Alize in the window and they carry at least three brands of Armagnac behind the counter. If the staff is knowledgeable and friendly, ask their advice and discard my reccomendations.

For the white, you can go for a South African Chenin Blanc, which you can get for under $15. For the red, I would ask for Barbera or Dolcetto from Italy. If they don't have those, just grab some Cotes du Rhone or wines from the Beaujolais area of France.

If you're feeling uninspired by vegeterian cuisine, then you'd be better off making your favorite non-vegeterian dish, and letting the non meat eating guests eat their own contributions. I can't tell you how many predominantly female parties I've been to, where the hostess thinks that just because she's feeding women, that they will be content with hummus, olives, baba ganoush and pita bread. So sexist.

If you still want to go the vegeterian route, my reccomendations are a big potato gratin with gruyere cheese, ratatouille, or a bowl of homemade aioli surrounded by lightly steamed vegetables and some poached shrimp and salmon for your guests who eat everything.

I'm thinking $15-20 per bottle. But less expensive recommendations always welcome!





Thanks Chenas for the wine recs. DH and I don't drink (at least not since his gallbladder surgery), so all advice is appreciated.

And I'm not being sexist I know these people! LOL. I just want everyone to feel welcome and don't want the vegetarians to feel excluded. ((((Chenas))))

A lot of Australian reds are great...they come in a plethora of price ranges.
Napa Ridge (California) puts out some fabulous wines that don't cost an arm and a leg.

If you have a trader Joe's near you, I cannot get over their prices and selections. I found a fabulous red from South Africa, but they no longer carry that one. Purple Moon is very round and deep and only 3.99 last I was there.

I'm not a white wine drinker. You can scan an issue of Wine and Spirits, which I much prefer to Wine spectator, and see their "best buy" page for whites and reds.
Have fun!

what are you reading plus what are you eating...they should all go together IMO.

Wine in a box, babe! Portable and party perfect!! (said she, with tongue firmly in cheek)

All I have to say is............................................

I hate Walmart..............but they DO have really decent wine. It's called Oak Leaf and it's dirt cheap. In fact, I almost didn't try it because I thought it just couldn't be any good. All my neighbors go there just for the wine. It always on display in the middle of the isle. Red/White/combo's..........it's nice.

As far as suggestions for a nice but not too expensive white wine, I can heartily recommend Turning Leaf Pinot Grigio for a really smooth, delicious, fragrant white wine that goes with almost anything you'd traditionally serve white wine with. I think Turning Leaf also does a really nice pinot noir - but I could be wrong on that count. They're usually about $11-13 a bottle, not too cheap yet not bank-breaking either. Good luck and I hope you find the perfect wines for your meeting.

Thanks for the recommendations everyone!




I like it. Like a juice box for the really big kids. All it needs is a giant straw!

Vegetarian ... quesadillas or burritos or enchiladas? Whichever is least messy. Balanced and hearty and you can leave cheese off 2-3 for vegans. Vegetarian pizza. Chili on wild and brown rice. Veggie burgers.

Believe it or not, the Black Box wines in Chardonnay and Merlot are quite good. American dry chenin blancs (white) are very good (get recommendations from your local wine store) are very good with light entrees such as chicken sald as well as quiches and desserts.

For your reds consider any pinot noirs from Washington State. In fact Chateau St. Michelle and Columbia Crest, both from Washington State, vie for being the least expensive high quality wines in the USA. Chateau St. Michelle makes a lovely chardonnay. Washington State and Oregon both have 'terroir' comparable to areas and France. Washington State growers also don't pump up their wines with additives as do California and Australian vintners.

Ding, ding, ding!!! Homemade veggie pizza! This I can do and know it will turn out great.

So, I went to a local wine merchant, they were great, this is what I bought:

Hayman & Hill Interchange 2006 Santa Barbara County Reserve Selection

Chateau Bianca 2007 Riesling

Virginia Wineworks Rosé ( I decided to go with a Virginia wine since we're in VA. We thought a rosé would be fun since the likelihood of a beef dish is pretty much slim to none.)