Bring a bottle - but which one?

Should you take a bottle of wine when you go to dinner with someone - and if so, which one? And if you’re a host should you open the bottle your guests have bought? These are more questions of etiquette than wine know-how but here’s what I would do . . .

Should you take a bottle and, if so, which type?
It depends how well you know your hosts. If you’ve never been to their house before you might want to ask if you can bring something rather than just turn up with something you’ve picked up from the off-licence on the way. On the other hand no-one’s going to be sniffy about a bottle of champagne, Chablis or Chateauneuf-du-Pape. With good friends it’s fine to ask what they’d like you to bring or what they’re making so you can choose something appropriate.

What if they're really knowledgeable about wine?
Avoid wines where you need a great deal of expertise to pick well (so no Bordeaux or Burgundy). The best bets I find are unusual dessert wines or an authentic Spanish sherry, both popular with wine buffs and which which won’t get in the way of the wine they’ve chosen to go with the main course. (Or a bottle of good extra virgin olive oil if you lose your nerve!)

How many bottles should you take?
Depends on the numbers. For four of you one is fine. For six or eight you might want to take two (It’s better to take the same type so everyone gets a chance to try it) If you’re cautious by nature you could always take a back-up in case one is corked but you then run the risk of looking a bit mean if you take it home with you.

And how much should you spend?
An amount that won’t embarrass your hosts and make them feel you would expect them to spend as much if they came to you. Not less than 7 ($14) and not more than 15 ($30) for a still wine is a reasonable price range unless they’re wine nuts or the bottle is something from your cellar you want to share.

If you are going to friends for a weekend should you take several bottles?
If they’ve got a weekend’s cooking to do they might appreciate it more if you brought something in the food line such as a really nice cake or a pat rather than extra booze! (On the other hand if they’re keen cooks but hard-up, bottles might be just the thing)

If you've brought along an unusual wine should you explain to your hosts what it is?
Yes, but not in such a way that you imply they don’t know much about wine!
More like “knowing how much you like pinot grigio/chardonnay I thought you might like to try this albarino/viognier I’ve just discovered. It’s my favourite new wine . . .”

As a host should you open the wine your guests have brought?
The trickiest issue, of all. It depends how it’s presented. If they bring along an unchilled bottle of champagne I think it’s fair to accept that as a private treat to enjoy on another occasion. If they produce a bottle they’re clearly excited about the indications are they want to share it with you. If they bring an absolutely horrendous bottle conveniently ‘forget’ it, unless they suggest you open it. (Then leave it on their side of the table . . . )

This article is edited from one first published in Sainsbury’s Magazine.

If you’d like be able to check out all the food and wine pairings on the site you can buy a bundle of credits here to access my premium content.

And/or for regular updates on what and where I’ve been eating, drinking and travelling sign up for my weekly newsletter Eat This, Drink That, Live Well.