What wine for women's bunco night?

[Kristilyn1]

I'm hosting my bunco group this week and I need some suggestions for what wine to get--a white and a red? Just white? Two different kinds of white? How about specific brand/kinds? We have about 7 of the 12 that will probably drink a glass or two or three, how much wine should I get? I'd rather have a little too much than not enough.

Kristi

[ChristyMarie]

Well, you can figure on 4 glasses per bottle - maybe do half white, half red? I'd go to the wine store, tell the person your story and see what they suggest in your price range. Australian Syras are usually very reasonable. Bogle makes a great Sauvignon Blanc at under $10.

Good luck!

[funnybone]

Our bunco nights usually have Pinot Grigio and Syrah, but also Chardonnay and Merlot (or Zinfandel even) at times too. We find that we aren't really picky about the wine as we are just happy to enjoy the evening. Each hostess is different, but Jacob's Creek seems to be a big hit with everyone. Plus, it's quite inexpensive.

[SandyM]

Sangria always goes over well with my bunko group. I have a few recipes, if you're interested.

[Laura]

Not playing bunko or meaning to hijack the thread, but Sandy, I would love the Sangria recipes. There is a little wine bar here in town that makes the best Sangria. I am becoming addicted! :D

[SandyM]

Laura - I have the recipes at home. The best one, in my opinion, is from a Tapas restaurant in Grand Rapids. :)

I'll post them tomorrow.

[ChristyMarie]

I'll second the request sangria recipes! I think that's a great way to go too - especially now that it is spring.

[Jazzmatazz49]

I would say plenty. That's always a good choice for girls' night out.

[Kristilyn1]

thanks for all the helpful posts, but yes I am looking for:

buy 3 bottles of XXX brand. I drink beer by the bucket but I don't drink wine so I really do need actual help.

Kristi

[gertdog]

Kristi,

For whites, I'd go with a Pinot Grigio, a dry Riesling, or a Chardonnay. For red, a syrah/shiraz (same thing), a merlot, or a zinfandel. I find that when I offer both red and white wines, people in my crowd go for the white more often. If you figure on 7 people having 2-3 glasses apiece, you need 3-5 bottles. If you end up with an extra bottle you can always take it to the next dinner party you attend!

Here are some ideas for wines that I think are good, and that are not too hard to find... they are mostly inexpensive too.

I like Pinot Grigio and think it's good with snacks and appetizer-type things- Zenato Pinot Grigio (Italian) is a particular favorite of mine. I find it easily around here, but if you can't, other nice ones from Ecco Domani (Italy) or King Estate (Oregon).

If you/the other women don't care about a particular grape, Bonny Doon makes two nice inexpensive blends that are not hard to find: Ca del Solo Big House White and Big House Red. Another one from California that tends to be popular is Ravenswood Vintner's Blend Zinfandel.

I am not a huge fan of Chardonnay, but Sebastiani (California) makes a good one that is inexpensive.

From Washington state (I'm mentioning country/state since most wine shops are organized that way), Hogue and Chateau Ste. Michelle both make good inexpensive wine. I like Hogue's Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc, and Chateau Ste. Michelle's Riesling and Merlot in particular.

Hope this helps!

[Lillith]

I, personally, like Gallo's White Merlot (hic).

[rosie_one]

Girls drink more white than red because they are worried about spilling on their outfit and your couch.

If I were you I'd buy:

4 bottles of Little Penguin Chardonnay
2 bottles of Bogle or Cline Zinfandel or Cline Oakley 5 reds if you can find it. None of these should be more than $10. The Little penguin is $6 at my grocery.

Be sure to serve the Chardonnay well chilled and the red room temperature, but not warm of course.

You might have a bottle or two left over, depending on how many of those 3 glass girls you have... you could give them away as door prizes at the end of the night if you liked. Make up something goofy.

Have fun. :)

[gertdog]

Originally posted by rosie_one
Girls drink more white than red because they are worried about spilling on their outfit and your couch.

This made me laugh because I don't think I've ever thought about either of these things when selecting my wine! If you ever run into me at a party, I'll be the one with a red wine stain down my front. :p

I love the Bogle Zinfandel- that's another favorite around here.

[Escher]

What the sam he!! is bunco?

Now, playing a game of Bunk-o w/ 11 gals I'm down with, but bunco?

A quick google search indicates it's a dice game with apparently little to no strategy....is that it?
Is this what you are talking about? (http://www.worldbunco.com/rules.html)

[rosie_one]

Escher, at least in my neck of the woods, it's a dice game that is an elaborate excuse to get together and drink booze and talk too much.

But it's fun. The group I sub for meets monthly and rotates through the different members' homes.

[Escher]

A bunch of drunk women playing games of chance? Count me in!:cool: :p

[Goin' Coastal]

I recently copied this recipe from somewhere -


White Sangria With Peaches and Grand Marnier
Ingredients
Plenty of ice cubes
1 bottle (750 ml) crisp white wine such as pinot gris (see note below)
1 cup tropical fruit juice such as mango, papaya or guava
2 ripe peaches, pitted and cut into 8 wedges each
1/2 cup Grand Marnier
1 orange, thinly sliced (not peeled)
1 lime, thinly sliced (not peeled)
Instructions
Fill a large pitcher halfway with ice, then pour in the wine, fruit juice, peach wedges, Grand Marnier and about three-quarters of the orange and lime slices. Stir until cold and well mixed.
Pour into glasses, adding a few of the reserved fruit slices to each.
Yield: 4 servings
Per serving: 297 calories; 0 g fat (0 g saturated fat; 0 percent calories from fat); 29 g carbohydrates; 0 mg cholesterol; 13 mg sodium; 1 g protein; 2 g fiber.
Note: Any crisp, relatively dry white wine will do the trick here; just avoid chardonnay.


Generally speaking, I think whites are more popular. If people are fairly new to wine, they tend to like white zinfandel. Reislings or pinot grigio are usually pretty good and not too dry. The best suggestion is to go to a wine store and ask for suggestions.

[MusicMom]

Originally posted by rosie_one
Escher, at least in my neck of the woods, it's a dice game that is an elaborate excuse to get together and drink booze and talk too much.

My Bunco group stopped serving wine because no one drank it. We were all afraid it would put us to sleep. As it is, everyone seems to get tired around 9:30. :rolleyes: Maybe it's the age thing....

[krispy spo]

We do BYOB for Bunco but one of the more popular whites is Luna di Luna, which is a blend of pinot grigio and chardonnay. It's in a blue bottle. The Yellowtail Shiraz is a popular red that people bring.

[Kristilyn1]

yes, it's the game of chance with dice. The appeal here is that it is so stupidly easy to play that you can't mess up, even after a few glasses of wine. Plus, we have prizes for being the biggest winner, biggest loser, etc.

Definitely an excuse to meet, drink and dish. Amazingly, with my group, the only food they ever want to eat is candy! So it gives me a chance to sweat the wine rather than the appetizers.......

Kristi

[Escher]

Originally posted by krispy spo
We do BYOB for Bunco but one of the more popular whites is Luna di Luna, which is a blend of pinot grigio and chardonnay.

One of my favorites for every-day drinking...

[AndreaU]

Originally posted by Escher
A bunch of drunk women playing games of chance? Count me in!:cool: :p

:rolleyes: ;) Too funny, Escher!

I don't play Bunco, but I will throw in my 2 pennies to say that Sangria is a good crowd pleaser! (Sorry, I just had to peek at this thread when I say Escher posted to it.)

[slawrence]

My favorite white is EVOLUTION LUCKY 9. Even non-white wine drinkers will do this one. It is light and fresh but not too sweet...good with almost anything. And the most I have paid is $16. YUM! I had a friend that was going to start a Bunco group but then, drat, she moved to Indiana. Too far to commute to Denver! Sue

[Kristilyn1]

thanks for all the great suggestions, I bought my wine today, so we shall see!

Kristi

[Beth Y]

In our crowd of girls, red is the wine of choice, so it depends on your crowd. I do have one girlfriend who is a white drinker, however, which makes it difficult, as when she comes over I can't just pop open a bottle as it has to be chilled. My favorite house plonk of late is Coppola's Rosso....a very "gulpable" wine. Like Schaffer Beer it is the "one wine to have when you are having more than one". Cheap and easy to drink. And the bonus, my white wine drinking girlfriend likes it!

[acginkc]

Originally posted by slawrence
My favorite white is EVOLUTION LUCKY 9. Even non-white wine drinkers will do this one. It is light and fresh but not too sweet...good with almost anything. And the most I have paid is $16. YUM! I had a friend that was going to start a Bunco group but then, drat, she moved to Indiana. Too far to commute to Denver! Sue

Oh I love love love this wine. I am not a big wine drinker either (partly for taste, I am pretty picky about it; partly because if I like it I will drink 2 glasses or 7 :D, never anything in between ;).)

I am a big fan of riesling, and I could live on Sangria (if I also got my wish to live on a tropical island, working on a boat this might work).

[SandyM]

Sorry for the delay - here's the recipe for the Sangria served at Chez Bistro in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Yield: 1 gallon

46 oz. guava juice
5 liters Burgundy red wine
1 cup nonalcoholic Triple Sec
1 cup brandy
1 quart orange juice
splash per glass of lemon-lime soda
Fresh fruit

Combine all but soda. Dispense into iced glasses or pitchers and finish with lemon lime soda and top with fruit.

[Laura]

Thanks Sandy!:)