We are no strangers to the art of the dinner party. Oftentimes, the focus of preparation and planning is given to the food. And while delicious dishes are certainly important, they are rarely what gets the last word when the lights are dimmed, the cutlery is clinking, and the gentle hum of conversation fills the room. The real star, in our humble (albeit admittedly biased) opinion, is the wine. Wines linger in glasses, quietly shaping the mood, anchoring conversation, and ultimately setting the tone for how the evening will be remembered.
Reversing the Roles
At 1275, we put wine centre stage as the main character. Food pairings do not need to be overcomplicated, but each dish should complement the corresponding wine, helping it to shine rather than overpowering, or dulling its aromas. Selecting the right bottles should always be deeply intentional – shaped by the occasion, the season, and the people who will share it. As we head into the holiday season, we hope these details resonate with our readers. Wine so often has the rare ability to elevate a simple gathering into something that lingers long after the evening ends.
Tips for Triumph
A great wine can only play its part to perfection if afforded sufficient preparation. We suggest, for example, double-decanting older reds to remove the sediment – woe betide the unlucky drinker who gets the dregs of an undecanted bottle! Younger whites, too, can benefit from a gentle decant to open their aromas. Temperature then sets the tone: reds find their voice between 12-18°C, whites at 10-13°C, and Champagne or sweet wines at a crisp 6-8°C. Glassware shapes the final performance – bigger wines demand bigger glasses, and great Champagnes reveal their full complexity in a white-wine glass rather than a flute.
Like any true masterpiece, the time and dedication invested in rehearsal transform effort into effortless elegance.