Bad Manners and Brimstone

I think there's also the spirit of "share yourself with us" encapsulated in the "bring a bottle of your favorite..."

If you don't really have a favorite, you can do what I always do:

pick something based on the picture on the label.

That’s why I go with Riesling: the bottle is so pretty. (And I drank a whole bottle one night and didn’t get a headache.)

Pandorica is right, box wine doesn't really go in a wine cellar; mine lives on the dishwasher! Lol.

I can't see the original wording of the invitation from my phone. If the invitation suggests you bring something to enjoy at the party, I would go with box wine. Your DD loves it S, people can be snarky about it, but it's always the first thing enjoyed and emptied. My experience is that Americans say they like "dry reds," but the sweet reds get consumed faster.

If it's unclear if the wine is going to be opened and enjoyed or if it's going to the cellar, I'd go with middle ground, a sweet red DD will like if it gets opened.

(Or white, sorry I made an assumption based on what's on the dishwasher. There's a very nice Reisling I like that goes great with spicy food. It's in a blue bottle. I can see the bottle, but can't think of the name.)

Not in my group or family. I have one friend who drinks sweet reds and a mother in law that drinks sweet whites. What they don't drink of the bottles opened for them is always poured out while multiple bottles of dry wines are consumed.

Also, if you like Resiling, try Kung Fu Girl. Great with spicy foods and is only about $8 a bottle.

UPDATE:

The party was last Saturday and to be honest with you? The wine cellar was the least remarkable part of the tour. The home is absolutely beautiful.

DD#2 did bring a box, but she wrapped it up nice and pretty with ribbons and bows. The box was thanked for and then put on the counter with a whole bunch of other unopened bottles. It wasn't unwrapped while we were there.

But the wine cellar will definitely accommodate it. One side of the cellar had the grooves for laying down the wine bottles and the other side had alphabetized shelves where I assume the liquor bottles (and boxes ) would go.

The house tour ended up on the deck and I was asked what I would like to drink. I thought about asking for a glass of the Crown Royal that I brought, thought that might be tacky to open it just for me, and saw BIL with a glass of what looked like bourbon. I asked him what it was, he said Xname bourbon so I opted for that. Don't remember the name, but it tasted good!

There were a few open bottles and DD#2 decided to try a wine that she never heard of before, Moscato. She really liked it.


All in all it was a wonderful party. Nothing gift-grabby about it at all. Wonderfully hosted, plenty of friends and family, lots-o-food! And a truly enjoyable time.



Thank you all for your replies.

They were also staring at their nice new colour scheme and furniture all chosen to match and suit their tastes, and wondering dismally what abominations in the way of expensive bad-taste knickknacks their good friends would feel obliged to buy them as housewarming presents, and be hurt if these weren't put prominently on permanent display - then inspiration struck! Make it a 'Please bring a bottle of what you like to drink to help fill our cellar' party! That will be cheap and low-effort for them, and even if what they bring isn't what we like, we can serve it to them next time they visit and everybody will be happy.

Aleko -- I loved your entire post and have to, agreeably, LOL at your incredible insight at the bold above. They moved into the house in April. So they had plenty of time for decorating and making it their own home. Who needs extra nick-nacks?

The wine cellar came with the home, one of the many perks about the house. Maybe this was a wise choice on their part . . . asking to fill their wine cellar so that they had a bottle or two for friends when they visit, instead of unwanted gifts that people may feel the obligation to bring for a house warming party.

I know party has already been attended & it sounds like it was a lot of fun!  🍻🥃🍸🍷🧉🥂

I just wanted to provide a bit of insight into my personal experience for a “Stock the Bar” Housewarming or sometimes, Co-Ed Wedding Shower.

I’ve been invited to quite a lot of these in the last 10+ years.  Most of the people I know have been living on their own for years & commonly have a houseful of stuff already.  They don’t want typical housewarming or shower gifts (& don’t want stuff they don’t pick themselves).  They already have knickknacks, cutesy kitchen decor, porch signs, & most don’t want flowers or plants (that they didn’t choose themselves) - due to pets, allergies, or frequent travel. 

People seem to like to bring gifts for these events (@ least in the US) & this allows for a relatively low cost gift, while being useful/consumable for the hosts without huge storage commitments.  The invite is ALWAYS worded, “If you would like to bring a gift, please bring X recommendation...” with ZERO expectation or requirement of a gift, besides you, at the event. 

The “Stock the Bar” idea IS that you will bring a bottle of YOUR favorite drink as a gift to the hosts - dirt cheap or fancy top shelf...  It is acceptable to bring a non-alcoholic drink if you don’t drink.

A random selection: a 12 pack of Coke in glass bottles, a bottle of Grey Goose, box wine (& I know many box drinkers), 3 Buck Chuck (a case of 6...  it’s cheap), a decent bottle of red/white/rosé/champagne, a jar of Moonshine (or moonshine fruit), a 4-6-12 pack or growler of local craft beer, or a bag of limes & fancy seltzer water. 

The idea IS that they will have your favorite drink available the next time you visit.  🎉

Depending on the hosts & how many drinkers (aka lushes) they have as friends - I’ve had the invite specify “Bring 1 to drink & 1 to gift” (worded a bit more elegantly & still not a requirement).  My friends are a bunch of lushes for the most part, so this isn’t all that uncommon for us.  🍾🍾 

I’ve never thought it was rude, since BYOB (for your specific preference) is pretty common for most events we go to.  The hosts provide snacks/food, pop/water, & beer/wine/hosts favorite liquor or shots.  😆  I’m picky & bring my own regardless, so that I have what I like.

There will typically be a bar when you arrive set up by the hosts with a selection of liquor (not the one you brought), a few wines, mixers, & a few non-alcoholic options.

It’s fun to see how creative the gift wrap is (or isn’t). A 24 pack of cheap beer in cans with a garbage bag bow could be possibly very funny with some crowds (& go over like a lead balloon in others).  With my friends, there would also be a note attached that says something to the effect of “Desperation Beer Rations” on a large sign & everyone would laugh hysterically, make fun of the gift giver for their horrible taste & the beer would eventually be consumed (by my guy friends) during a 4AM game of beer pong or a Saturday on the lake (despite us all being old enough to know better).

Sometimes included are miscellaneous bar items that are often themed towards the hosts personal interests...  like fancy mixers, a cocktail recipe book with some of the weird ingredients - like bitters or cocktail onions, bottle openers (themed & not), wine keys, bottle stoppers, speed pourers, drink stirs/mixer straws, flavored rim sugars/salts, shaker/strainer, towels with bar related sayings, paper napkins printed with the favorite sports team/video game/book theme logo.  A giant wine glass (to hold a entire bottle of wine) or a giant beer stein (to hold 4 beers) can be funny, but only if you know the person well & know there will be a spot.  If you know that one or both hosts are die hard sports team or specific fandom people - logo coozies, coasters, bottle covers, or napkins are popular.

It might not be correct etiquette to specify what you would prefer as a gift on the invite, but I prefer it (especially when I don’t know the people super well or don’t know them well enough to buy a good small gift).

I hope this is helpful for anyone who might have still had questions!

Quote from: Rho on July 17, 2019, 10:03:38 pm

Punchbowl is most likely the site the invitation came from.

Niece would be sad if I brought my favourite bottle---cheap fruity moscado or perhaps three buck chuck.  I have poor taste in wine.

My favorite wine is a moscato that sells for $2.96 a bottle in Walmart. Surprisingly, everyone who has tried it, likes it.

Yep.  Even my cousin who absolutely, positively ONLY drinks dry, white wine.