email this pageQ. I recently brought a special bottle of wine to a dinner party but the host never opened it. Am I right to be disappointed?
A. Sorry, but I’m afraid you may need to chill on this one. Most of the time, bringing a bottle of wine to a dinner party is no different from any other gift: It’s entirely up to the lucky giftee to decide what to do with it.
Many times hosts spend a great deal of time planning and preparing not only the menu, but also which wines to serve. So, even though the wine you brought may be exquisite—and deeply appreciated—it might not be what the hosts had in mind to go with the food. And while a gracious host may offer to open the wine, there’s certainly no obligation to do so.
Any exceptions? Absolutely. For many informal dinners, it’s common for hosts and guests to divy-up responsibilities, including who brings the wine. If this was the case for you, I take it all back—as I wish you could do with that special bottle!
Related Stories
If you enjoyed reading this story, Ask the Wine Geek August 2008, then you might enjoy these other stories.- Ask the Wine Geek July 2007
- He Says, She Says — August 2008
- He Says, She Says September 2007
- Ask the Wine Geek September 2008
- Ask the Wine Geek
Share This Story With Others:
There are no current discussions for this article. Why not be the first?
