An Easy Wine Gathering at Home

Beaujolais Nouveau is traditionally released on the third Thursday of November. The season often brings a bottle as a gift or an occasion to share one with friends at home.

A party at home can sound like days of preparation and a cupboard of special dishes. That thought alone can make hosting feel daunting.

Preparing can be part of the fun, but for a first gathering there is no need to make everything elaborate.

Wine glasses, a large plate, a pasta plate and mugs

With a little imagination, these familiar pieces become useful for guests too. Here are glasses and dishes that work on ordinary days as well as special ones.

A long-stemmed wine glass can be awkward to store and wash. For someone who rarely drinks wine, it may feel too specialized.

Holmegaard Royal Red Wine Glass

Holmegaard's Royal Red Wine Glass offers an alternative with its distinctive short stem.

Holmegaard's Royal collection reintroduces Arne Jacobsen's glass designs for use at home, combining a distinctive silhouette with practical proportions.

The low center of gravity gives it a balanced feel. Its generous bowl suits wine, but also beer, iced tea and other everyday drinks.

Its manageable height makes storage easier too. A few glasses can serve quiet everyday moments as well as a small gathering.

Frost Plate L / Gray

A large flat plate and a shallow pasta bowl can cover many of the dishes for a small gathering. Here are a few ways to use them.

Start with a flat serving plate. Cut cheese into small pieces and arrange it with nuts and other snacks in small groups for an easy appetizer.

Small portions of several good things on a large plate make a simple, inviting appetizer.

A flat plate can hold a small bowl of dip with canapés around it, or become a serving plate for pizza or cake.

A large flat plate is useful every day. Arrange breakfast or lunch on it for a café-like meal on one plate, with less washing up afterward.

Frost Pasta Plate / Gray

A slightly larger, shallow pasta bowl is useful for pasta, pilaf or a main dish. Its depth keeps sauce together while leaving space around the food for a balanced presentation.

A pasta plate also gathers loose cookies, grapes or cut fruit neatly, making it useful for dessert.

The same dish is useful for simmered foods, salads or fried rice at lunch—an adaptable piece for an everyday cupboard.

Frost Mugs / Right: Gray, Left: White

At the end of the gathering, a little leftover wine can become a warm spiced drink served in a mug.

Citrus, gentle sweetness and the aroma of spices make mulled wine an inviting drink for a slow end to the evening. Serve small portions in comfortable mugs, with a non-alcoholic alternative for anyone who prefers it.

A simple mulled wine recipe

Ingredients for a small batch
375 ml red wine
1½ tablespoons sugar
⅓ lemon
1 cinnamon stick
4 whole cloves
4 whole black peppercorns

How to make it
1. Slice the lemon into rounds. Put all the ingredients into a saucepan and warm gently over low heat.
2. Turn off the heat just before it boils. Leave for 30–60 minutes to infuse, then strain.
3. Warm gently again before serving, adding a cinnamon stick or lemon slice if you like. This drink still contains alcohol; serve it only to adults of legal drinking age.

Recipe source: https://cookpad.com/recipe/4200166

With a small change of arrangement, everyday dishes become pieces for welcoming guests.

The glass shown is the Holmegaard Royal Red Wine Glass. The plates and mugs are from POTPURRI's Frost collection.

Frost takes its name from the Swedish word for frost, recalling the thin, icy-looking surface of the glaze.

The pieces have a smooth, softly textured surface, thin forms that stack neatly, and shapes that give food room to look its best.

The contrast in color and texture between the inside and outside adds another detail to notice around the table.

Take another look at your cupboard for pieces that can make both everyday meals and gatherings enjoyable.