How to organise your party wine with minimum fuss? I've dished out advice before about choosing a tempting white from one source and an interesting red from another, rather than opting automatically for a ready-made pair from the same producer. All very well if you're a mad keen wine enthusiast with hours to browse - but in the season of lunacy, there's a lot to be said for speed and simplicity. Why not just order in a matching white and red by the case?
White wine goes much better than red with Pacific Rim food - especially a crisp, cooling white based on Sauvignon Blanc. But how many food and wine purists can you expect at an Irish party? No matter what nosh is on offer, there are sure to be at least as many red wine devotees as white, if not more. The solution is to choose a spice-friendly red - one with plenty of soft fruit and no harsh tannins. It's also important that both wines should be suitable for sipping on their own. These are the considerations underpinning the party pairs recommended below.
A few other practical points about bulk-buying. Always ask if you can buy on sale or return in case you over-calculate your needs - and always ask about a case discount. Most wine merchants offer 5-10 per cent off 12-bottle cases. Some also offer a delivery service.
Last of all, don't risk spoiling your party with really cheap, nasty wine. Our star bargains, Basa and Baso, are exceptional. By and large, wines at a fiver or less tend to be pretty dire - barely fit for a midweek tipple when you're by yourself, never mind a festive evening with good friends. And remember, a higher price per bottle needn't necessarily mean a bigger bill overall, since people can knock back far more inexpensive, dilute wine than they can better stuff with richer flavours. The best of luck. And don't forget to lay on gallons of iced water.
Party value
Basa, Rueda, 1997 Baso Garnacha, Navarra, 1996
(Superquinn, Kellys Clontarf, £5.59 in both but buy 12 and get one free; direct from James Nicholson, 045483767 or 08-01396 830091, £4.99 if you buy a case of 12; also Mill Wine Cellar Maynooth, Vineyard Galway and some other outlets).
Spain veers New World with these two very modern wines from brilliantly individualistic young winemaker Telmo Rodriguez. The zesty white is one of my favourites at this spree-inducing price. The red is nice, easy drinking - light, soft and fruity enough to suit Pacific Rim or other slightly spicy foods better than many red wines of more substance. Terrific value.
Party panache
Terrasses d'Eraus, Vin de Pays de l'Herault, 1997 Terrasses d'Elise, Vin de Pays de l'Herault, 1996 (O'Briens Fine Wines, £6.99; 5 per cent discount if you buy six bottles; 10 per cent if you buy 12).
Overseen by Aime Guibert of the famous estate Mas de Daumas Gassac, here's a particularly stylish pair from the South of France. The lively Sauvignon-based white and the velvety-smooth and concentrated, Syrah-based red both offer super quality and bags of ripe fruit flavour.
Other party pairs to buy in bulk
Fox Mountain Sauvignon Blanc/Chardonnay, Vin de Pays d'Oc, 1997 and Fox Mountain Syrah/Merlot, Vin de Pays d'Oc, 1996 (Wines Direct, 1800 579579, £5.75 if you buy a case - which can be mixed).
Fusion wine to suit fusion food - a fresh, slightly tropical white and soft'n'easy red from an Australian winemaker in the south of France. Wonderfully quaffable.
Casablanca Sauvignon Blanc 1997 and Casablanca Cabernet Sauvignon 1997 (Oddbins, McCabes, CheersGibneys Malahide, Mill Maynooth, Noble Rot Navan and some other outlets, £6.99 - £7.99 or by the case direct from James Nicholson, details above).
Talented winemaker Ignacio Recabarren turns out a brilliantly aromatic white and lush, blackcurranty red - among Chile's best wines at this price.
Antipodean Sauvignon-Semillon-Viognier, Yalumba, 1997 and Antipodean ShirazGrenache-MourvedreViognier, Yalumba, 1996 (Redmonds Ranelagh, McCabes Merrion, Vintry Rathgar, Grogans Ranelagh, Grapes of Mirth Rathmines, Cooneys Harolds Cross, Cheers Shankill, Bird Flanagan Rialto, Bennetts Howth, Pettitts in the south-east, Bradleys Cork, £8.99 £9.99).
If you want real swank, try these two smart and innovative Aussies. Lovely, intense flavours in both cases - softened and rounded out with a masterly touch of Viognier.