How Much Wine Should I Buy? The MAWBY Guide to Ordering Wine.

Whether you’re planning a holiday dinner, a casual wine night, or a large party, figuring out how many bottles of wine to buy can be tricky. Here’s a simple guide to take the guesswork out of ordering, so your glasses stay full and the vibe stays festive.

The Basics

• One 750mL bottle = about 5 glasses of wine
• Plan for 2–3 glasses per guest at most events
• Always round up (leftover wine = future happiness)

Below are a few common party scenarios and how we would advise calculating your needs.

If You’re Hosting a Wine Tasting

Guests will be sipping smaller pours of several wines , not full glasses.

• Plan 1 bottle for every 3–4 guests
• Offer a few styles (sparkling, white, red) so people can compare
• Have a couple of “backup” bottles of any crowd favorites

Example: 20 guests → about 6–7 bottles total

Tip: Check out our blog for more ideas for hosting a wine tasting!

If You’re Serving Wine with Dinner

Dinner slows down the drinking pace, and people often switch between water or other beverages.

• Plan ½ bottle per person (so 1 bottle serves 2 guests)
• Offer one white or sparkling for starters, one additional variety for the main course

Example: 12 guests → 6 bottles of wine

If You’re Throwing a Party

This is the most wine-forward scenario with lots of mingling, casual refills, and longer timeframes.

• Plan 1 bottle per person for a 3–4 hour event
• If wine is just one option (alongside beer or cocktails), cut that in half or more depending on your guests’ preferences and number of alternatives 

Example: 40 guests, mostly wine drinkers, 3-4 hours → about 40 bottles

Bonus Tips

• Chill half your white and sparkling bottles ahead of time, keep extras ready to rotate in.
• Red wines taste best slightly below room temp, so don’t leave them next to the oven.
• Always keep an opener or two handy.
• A few extra bottles never go to waste (and they make great host gifts later).

The Takeaway

You don’t need complicated formulas, just a few simple rules of thumb. Think about your guest list and their preferences, event length, and drink variety, and stock up accordingly. And remember: running out of wine is the only real mistake.

Ready to place an order? Browse our wine shop here!