Essex County Residents, Throw the Ultimate Holiday Party with the Help of Amanti Vino

Hosting a holiday party is no fun if you’re worried about running out of wine or getting stuck behind the bar the entire night.

It’s time to turn to a pro! Sommelier Sharon Sevrens, proprietor of the boutique wine and spirits shop Amanti Vino, says there are three things hosts and hostesses worry about most ... so she’s got the answers you need to stop stressing and throw a worry-free (and fun!) holiday bash.

1. How much is enough? Running out of wine or beer is an embarrassment you don’t need to deal with. ”Once you know how many guests are coming, calculate how much you’ll need with this simple rule of thumb: each person will have two drinks in the first hour and one drink each additional hour,” she explains.

How far each bottle of wine will go depends on who’s doing the pouring. If guests are filling up for themselves, you’ll likely get four glasses per bottle. With a professional bartender pouring, figure six 4-oz. glasses per bottle.

2. Serve what you like: Don’t worry about what each person drinks ... or doesn‘t. You don’t need to stock your bar with every kind of spirit or make sure you have pinot noir, merlot and cabernet. “As the host or hostess, you get to call the shots,” Sevrens shares. “Serve crowd-pleasing wines that appeal to you, and it’s a safe bet they’ll appeal to your guests, too.”

Another option: create a signature cocktail (still a huge trend this holiday season!). Keep it simple by choosing a recipe that can be made in batches ahead of time.

3. Water, water, everywhere! Be sure to position pitchers (or bottles) of ice water where they’re easily accessible in more than one spot if you’ve got the space. “You have to make sure people stay hydrated; they will thank you for the water as much as for the wine,” Sevrens recommends.

Even better, encourage guests to use a ride-sharing service, such as Uber, for a safe ride home.

About Amanti Vino (celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2015!)

Amanti Vino is a sleekly designed wine, beer and specialty spirits shop located in downtown Montclair, New Jersey, specializing in small production wines, beers and spirits from around the world at all price points. It also features a 30-person classroom for private events and wine education classes. Proprietor Sharon Sevrens is a former Wall Street exec-turned-sommelier. Amanti Vino is the only Approved Provider in New Jersey for the prestigious UK-based Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) classes.

Column courtesy of Diaz Schloss Communications