How to Set a Table for a Wine Dinner
A wine dinner at home doesn’t need a long guest list or a table filled with formal place settings. A few good bottles, a meal you enjoy making, and people you want around the table are plenty.
The best place to start is with what you’re serving. Once you know the menu and the wines you’d like to pour, setting the table becomes much easier.
Start with the Menu
Before pulling out plates and glassware, think through dinner.
Are you serving everything family-style? Will there be several courses? Are you opening one bottle for the evening or pouring a few wines throughout the meal?
Set the table for what you’ll actually use. If there’s no soup, there’s no need for a soup spoon. If you’re serving one wine, one wine glass per guest is enough.
Keeping things simple leaves more room on the table—and less to clear at the end of the night.
Set Each Place
For a classic dinner setting, place the dinner plate in the center with the fork to the left and knife to the right, with the blade facing the plate. If another utensil is needed for a course, place it toward the outside so guests can work their way in.
The napkin can sit to the left of the fork or directly on the plate.
Your water glass belongs above the knife, with the wine glass beside it.
If you’re serving both white and red wine, you can set two wine glasses at each place. You can also keep things simpler and use one good all-purpose wine glass throughout dinner.
Give the Wine Some Room
A wine glass shouldn’t be filled to the top. Leaving room in the bowl allows you to swirl the wine and experience its aromas.
The same thinking applies to the table itself. Leave some open space for the bottles you’ll be pouring, along with serving dishes, bread and anything else guests may want to pass around.
If the table is smaller, keep extra bottles on a nearby counter or side table and bring them over as you need them.
Keep the Center of the Table Low
Flowers, greenery and candles can make even a weeknight dinner feel considered, but they shouldn’t get in the way of conversation.
Choose a low arrangement that guests can easily see over. A few small vases, cuttings from the garden or simple candles are often all you need.
If you’re serving dinner family-style, remember to leave enough room in the center for platters and bowls. A beautiful table should still work once dinner arrives.
Get the Wine Ready Before Everyone Sits Down
A little preparation means you won’t spend dinner going back and forth to the kitchen.
Chill white and rosé wines ahead of time. If you’re serving a red that benefits from some time in a decanter, take care of that before dinner.
Opening more than one wine? A simple order is to begin with lighter wines and move toward fuller-bodied wines as dinner progresses. White and rosé wines generally come before reds.
Keep water within easy reach as well. A carafe or bottle on the table makes it easy for everyone to help themselves throughout dinner.
Don’t Forget Serving Temperature
Serving temperature can make a noticeable difference in how a wine tastes.
White and rosé wines are typically served chilled, while red wines are best served cooler than many people expect. If a bottle of red has been sitting in a warm room, giving it a little time to cool before dinner can help the wine show its best.
Once the bottle is on the table, don’t worry about keeping every pour at an exact temperature. Dinner is meant to be enjoyed.
Make the Table Your Own
You don’t need matching dishes, specialized wine glasses or formal linens to set a good table.
Use what you have and pay attention to the details that make your guests comfortable. Give everyone enough room. Keep water nearby. Make the wine easy to reach. Put on some music. Bring dinner to the table.
A wine dinner is really about giving everyone a place to sit, pour a glass, share a meal and stay a while.
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