<p>Keep it simple. As they say at Ohio State: …a box of wine, a loaf of Wonder bread, and thou…</p>
<p>It’s not a question of snobbery, it’s a question of a) buying local, and b) suiting the known tastes of those who will be in attendance. There are great local beers in a variety of styles, and I would rather offer them than the product of some far-off corporate giant, including those that produce famous higher-end beers like Beck’s and Heineken. The guys I know who attend our parties are into microbrews, and wouldn’t be interested in Coors and Bud, which they do NOT consider to be the “comfortable old stand-bys.” </p>
<p>If my BIL was going to be in attendance, I would buy some of the–to me–revolting dishwater light beer that he drinks vast amounts of, just as I provided CoffeeMate to my late FIL and MIL because for reasons known only to them, that’s what they preferred to put in their coffee.</p>
<p>Oh, and they also, when guests at my house, didn’t like the beans I ground every morning and actually had the flaming nerve to go out and buy a can of Folger’s. Because, you know, it was okay to insult me because I was obviously a, Eastern pinko-commie intellectual snob, unlike the REAL Americans from the midwest, like them, who didn’t like anything too “fancy.” I on the other hand, would NEVER have considered going out and buying the coffee I preferred when visiting them, nor did I buy half and half and put it in their refrigerator. I just sucked it up and put powdered corn syrup in my crappy canned coffee and smiled. Personally, I have had it up to here with being bludgeoned for not kowtowing to the Bud Lite drinkers of the world. It’s a sore spot for me.</p>
<p>Consalation, I’m with you all the way. If you want to call me a beer snob, call me a beer snob, but there are so many choices here in the midwest of local breweries and microbrews that I can’t keep up. Wisconsin and Iowa are beer country and we drink local!!</p>
<p>Abita is our local brewery, and they offer many varieties, but they are hard on the pocketbook if bought in very large quantities. Since we’re in the Deep South and tailgating country, most folks are happy with the old standby’s in a large ice chest. After one beer, it doesn’t matter what’s on the label, as long as it’s alcoholic. And since most folks arrive at parties already “lit”, they won’t notice what’s in that ice chest, as long as it’s cold. And you’d better have the game on!</p>
<p>Consolation — Maybe the inlaws found the fresh ground coffee too strong. My FIL uses Folgers and if you give him the “real brew” he’ll complain about how it makes him pee and keeps him up all night. </p>
<p>His son, my husband, has the same complaint! Loves the taste of Starbucks but not the effects.</p>
<p>I have an autoimmune disease and I have found that instant coffee does not give me tummy trouble. (Probably it is really weak or is missing some oils or something). So I use it, and I bring it with me to relatives’ houses. Not because I think their freshly ground really good coffee is pinko East coast or whatever (which I am btw) but because it is safe for my stomach & guts.</p>
<p>I have to laugh at the Midwest thing though! i do know people like that. We had neighbors whose mother would come from Wichita and visit for a few weks in the summer and complain the whole time because this state “has too many trees.”</p>
<p>I would like to ask all these party planners to remember to have plenty of sodas and seltzer water on hand for those who either do not/cannot drink or only want one glass of hootch. I have gone to an awful lot of gatherings where the only non alky offerings are two bottles of diet Coke and one of Sprite, and the kiddies drink them up fast. And, maybe not everyone likes diet soda.</p>
<p>I drink a lot of wine and my friends love to come to my parties for the wine I serve. You can spend well under $15 for white & $17 for red and get compliments. Here are my suggestions & my only rule of wine:</p>
<h1>1 rule - never buy a bottle of wine with an animal on it. Yes, this includes Yellowtail!! I do business with several Australian companies and they laugh at it. It’s just nasty and no real wine drinker will drink it. (only exception to rule is something from the Stags Leap district of Napa, but that will run you $40+/bottle, so no worries in the price range you are looking for).</h1>
<p>Red - a great inexpensive wine that tastes more expensive is a Chianti Classico (Italy). It’s not quite as bold as CabSav, but had much more body than Merlot. (Merlot is another wine most wine drinkers abhor). The primarily grape in CC is Sangiovese. I have found a few US-made wines with it that are great, however they are rare. Given the glut of grapes in California, you can find some very good Napa CabSavs, but unless you have tried them, the quality is all over the place. Pinot Nior is too individual a taste, so I would never serve it at a party (I actually don’t like it). </p>
<p>White - Chardonnay from Australia or White Bordeaux from France. I try to stay away from California Chardonnays as they are too oakey and heavy for most parties. I generally buy a Louis Jadot for $10.98/bottle that is party perfect. </p>
<p>I highly recommend Total Wine if you have one near you. It’s owned by a family friend and their salespeople undergo a rigorous training process. They will be willing to work with your budget and can steer you to some great values. (don’t say cheap wine, say ‘value’). They also give a discount if you buy a case.</p>
<p>Another post about non-alcoholic drinks - get a variety, as some people want diet, some don’t, and most don’t want caffeine at night. I try to get a variety of 12oz cans to minimize the waste of one person opening a 2 liter bottle. Flavored selzer goes over well with my friends.</p>
<p>I loathe flavored seltzer, but agree one should be sure to have enough non-alcoholic choices. I try to alternate between glasses of water and wine at parties so I don’t get so dehydrated. I think it’s nice to get some bottles of imported fizzy like Pellegrino why should the wine drinkers get all the fun?</p>
<p>there is actually an app for that :)</p>
<p>[iMocktails</a> - The Instant Pocket Recipes (Non Alcoholic)](<a href=“http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/imocktails-the-instant-pocket/id371436615?mt=8]iMocktails”>http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/imocktails-the-instant-pocket/id371436615?mt=8)</p>
<p>To all beer snobs and wine snobs ;): if you are going to provide a variety of fancy alcoholic beverages, please provide a variety of non-alcoholic drinks that inculdes some non-carbonated options for the athletes among your firends. The selections listed here (soda, seltzer, Pellegrino) could limit these folks to drinking tap water if no bottled water and/or juices are available. 
For example, my marathoners friends will not drink anything carbonated or artificially sweetened or colored (including Gatorade)…</p>
<p>for the non-alcholic crowd it might be best if you know your guests. I have a friend who drinks regular Coke even at 11pm, so I make sure I have a few cans just for her at any party and another that only drinks Canada Dry ginger ale (no other brand will do). I think if I had OJ at a party it would go untouched.</p>
<p>This thread highlights how difficult it is for a good host to accommodate all tastes. For non-alcohol drinkers I usually provide regular and diet Coke, ginger ale, Sprite and Perrier, as well as spring water. For wines, I buy Santa Margarita pinot grigio, a New Zealand sauvignon blanc, and an unoaked chardonnay. For reds, usually pinot noir and shiraz. I always have several bottles of prosecco or champagne. I don’t know much about beer, but it seems that everyone likes Becks - so I buy that, along with a few local varieties. </p>
<p>What I would never buy: chianti, light beer or zinfandel. I would never serve these because I don’t like them, nor would I serve taco dip or anything with Velveeta. But that’s just my taste and temperament - it’s not a judgement.</p>
<p>I’m happy to be invited just about anywhere where just about anything is served as long as the company is good and the mood is happy.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>My sentiment exactly!</p>
<p>I personally try to buy local wines (St. Michelle, Airfields, Columbia whites and reds and Willamette Pinos) and beers (Hales Ales and some nanobrews) and a bottle or two of Yellow Tail Shiraz since I and my guests like it (and it makes fantastic hot mulled wine according to mathmom’s recipe). For non-carbonated beverages I buy organic juices without added sweeteners, iced teas and spring water. Carbonated beverages usually include Coke and it’s diet twin, adult (low-sugar) sodas from PCC, blood orange and orange juice sodas from TJ’s, and mineral waters. I have some friend who will not drink cold beverages, so I always have a carafe of hot water and an assortment of teas. And just like Gourmetmom, I will not serve Velveeta dishes or bean dips, because I personally do not like them, and there are many tastier and healthier alternatives that I can put together. YMMV.</p>
<p>Please pardon my iPhonese. The word “its” does not exist according to the device. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Earlier I mentioned the type of dry sherry usually called “fino.” All sherries (from really dry to really sweet) are a bit stronger than wine and most Americans aren’t familiar with them. I had the good fortune to live in the tiny corner of Spain where almost all of the world’s good sherry comes from, so I had a ball getting educated on it. Trust me, if you want to give your guests something most have never had and most will love, get a couple bottles of fino and serve it as cold as possible–amazing with simple foods like bread, cheese, green olives, and potato chips.</p>
<p>I’m coming to Schmaltz’ next party!! Sherry with olives and cheese? YUM!!!</p>
<p>OP:If you want to serve alcohol at a party then cover all the basis. This is how I keep my bar ready for parties.</p>
<ol>
<li>Bacardi Rum (Dark and White)</li>
<li>Vodka (Smirnoff is my fav. for cocktails, Grey Goose for on the rocks)</li>
<li>Cognac (Renny Martin is my fav)</li>
<li>Tequila ( T. Sunrise is my fav drink)</li>
<li>Islay Single Malt Scotch (Laphroaig is my fav.)</li>
<li>Blended Scotch (Johnny Walker and Royal Salutes are the fav.)
6 Red Wines ( I like Napa Valley Wines):
<ul>
<li>Merlot</li>
<li>Syrah</li>
<li>Pinot Noir</li>
<li>Zinfandel</li>
</ul></li>
<li>White Wines
<ul>
<li>Chardonnay is my fav.</li>
</ul></li>
<li>Beers
<ul>
<li>I like to keep some on the Tap (Heineken is the fav.)</li>
<li>Hefeweizen is another fav. </li>
<li>If you want bottled ones (Sam Adams, Dos Equis)</li>
</ul></li>
</ol>
<p>This reminds me that I am again hosting a crowd of 4-6 relatives of my husband for two weeks . People who like they food incredibly bland…salt and ketchup are favored over fresh herbs and other flavor enhancers.
I wish it was as simple as having the right beer, wine and coffee :(</p>
<p>lol…from the posts here, I guess you should buy every product in the store. IMO, your guests should be able to find something they can drink. It is not your responsibility to have every single item imaginable. People are flexible(or should be).</p>