Your friend invites you to a dinner party, which sounds fun until the burden of bringing something dawns on you. Bringing alcohol is part of the sacred ritual of social etiquette for going to someone's home, even if BYOB isn't specified on the invite.
But when you're faced with overwhelming aisles of wines, whiskeys, and tequilas, anxiety creeps in. You don't want to arrive empty handed, but you definitely don't want to be labeled as cheap. So, what the hell do you bring?
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Related: How Much Should a Good Bottle of Wine Cost?
Etiquette expert Myka Meier tells Men's Journal that the most appropriate course of action when going to a dinner party is to ask the host what they'd like ahead of time. Naturally, this doesn't work if you're running late or if they reply, "Just yourself!"
Many of us have approached the practice all wrong, says Meier. It's actually meant to be a gift to the host for later, rather than served immediately. For this reason, a lush bottle of whiskey or unique liquor would make a great offering—except, if you have a revolving door of invites, the costs add up.
Meier opts to bring wine to dinners. "Wine can enhance both the flavor and aroma of the food and is often paired to match the characteristics of the dish's ingredients," she says. "Other liquors may do the opposite, as the flavor and aroma of liquor and other beverages are often too strong and can ruin taste buds, aroma or overpower flavor.”
Sommelier and wine consultant Renée Sferrazza concurs, saying wine is her go-to for dinner parties, not only because it pairs well with food, but because of the wide variety of wines available, the giver can tailor their choice to the receiver's preferences. However, these experts assume that everyone's a connoisseur. They underestimate the need for simplicity.
If you want to know what consistently works and doesn't cost a fortune, then Alamos Malbec is an inexpensive gem in a oversaturated, overpriced market.
While quality wine flows like water in countries such as France and Italy, Sferrazza says most wine in the U.S. is imported, and thus passes the cost down to consumers. Even California wine is cheaper in state than elsewhere.
And then there's the added cost of trying to stand our on a crowded shelf. “After a particular point, part of the price is also paying for branding,” she says.
That’s what makes Alamos Malbec feel like mercy. It costs just over $10—and if you find the right shop, even under $10.
Argentina is a great place for wine, unlike in the U.S., where 'best' and 'cheapest' wines are not mutually exclusive. Sommelier Christian Bendek says that Malbec is the country's prize—specifically from the Mendoza region, where Alamos has been researching and fermenting elixirs for over 100 years. Burgeoning in the shadows of the Andes Mountains at high-altitude vineyards, the wine develops bold, unique favors because of the extreme environment. It's juicy and tasty with a dry finish.
A great Malbec has a “... full body, with a nice, medium acidity that makes your mouth water just enough to savor the plum, tobacco, blackberry, and cocoa,” says Bendek. And Alamos' bottle delivers those characteristics.
While we’re not saying it's the best glass of red you’ll ever have, Alamos Malbec has credentials. Well-known wine critics like Robert Parker and James Suckling have rated it over 90 points out of 100—an A- wine for an A+ price. Lady Gaga unintentionally boosted the company’s business in 2015 after posting a wine night photo featuring Alamos in the background. And Redditors praise the wine for its tasteful affordability, garnering over a hundred like-minded comments. At best, it’s great, and at the very worst, folks'll call it 'not bad.' If that's not a crowd pleaser, what is?
So, you’re not just arriving to the dinner party with an affordable bottle of wine or two. You're bringing travel, culture, reliability, and pop star sensation. Best of all, you're sharing a well-kept secret. Don’t forget that one of the best expressions in life is, “I can’t believe it’s so cheap!”
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