Wine adds elegance to any gathering. Be it an intimate dinner party or casual get-together among friends, wine is sure to add the final touch.

When selecting wines for an event, it's essential that you consider both your guests' tastes and menu before choosing an ideal wine selection. By doing this, you will ensure the ideal wine will be selected.

Merlot

Merlot that gracefully displays its fruit with a balance between tannins and lushness of flavor. On the nose, aromas such as sarsaparilla, cola spice and black licorice mingle with cigar humidor notes, black licorice and spiced plum sauce before providing a silky mouthfeel with still-integrating tannins carrying blackberries, huckleberries and cassis flavors complemented by scrubby herbs, baker's chocolate and cocoa powder on the finish.

The Clubb family was one of the pioneering wine families in Walla Walla and still make incredible wines today. This Merlot from their Ferguson and Seven Hills vineyards offers soft earthy aromas of brambly blueberry fruit followed by balanced fruit on the palate with an elegant tannic frame - an excellent weeknight drinker!

Fruity red Merlot wines pair perfectly with grilled or roast meats, pasta in tomato sauce and charcuterie spreads, while lighter Merlot varieties work beautifully with salads and grilled vegetables.

Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc is a light-bodied white wine characterized by lively acidity. Its flavors range from grass, peas and asparagus to tropical passion fruit, grapefruit, mango or even exotic passion fruit; sometimes blended with bolder Semillon for greater complexity; aged in oak barrels or subjected to batonnage (lees stirring process) for added complexity or aged with subtle wood tones for an aged yet creamy mouthfeel style.

Sauvignon blanc grapes are grown around the globe, with France's Loire Valley becoming home to classic examples like Sancerre and Pouilly Fume. Furthermore, its presence is essential to producing iconic dessert wines like Sauternes and Barsac.

Sauvignon Blanc is an elegant yet refreshing wine choice, pairing perfectly with seafood and chicken dishes as well as more spicy fare such as dishes featuring cilantro or basil. Additionally, its high acidity cuts through richer creamy dishes such as lobster bisque. Pair this wine with light salads like tabbouleh for optimal enjoyment.

Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir is an elegant red wine that defies conventional wisdom by pairing perfectly with both fish dishes like trout and salmon as well as heartier dishes of chicken, duck and pork.

Silky in texture, its velvety palate embraces an array of flavors - bright red and black cherries, pomegranates, rose water cardamom tea forest floor notes - all balanced by gentle tannins. Burgundy, Sonoma's Russian River Valley and Oregon's Willamette Valley produce some excellent examples.

Pinot Noir pairs well with barbecued meat's spicy, smoky flavors as well as mushrooms' earthy tones that compliment its fruitiness, and is the ideal red wine choice for cocktail parties and social gatherings alike.

Sparkling Wine

No matter the event, adding sparkling wines can add a celebratory atmosphere. Champagne has long been considered the gold standard in sparkling wines; however, sparkling wines produced in "New World" regions often offer better value as they utilize similar processes to Champagne production.

Sauvignon Blanc is an extremely versatile white that pairs well with virtually every meal, from meat dishes and burgers to salads, bruschetta and seafood dishes. Its acidity makes this wine perfect for pairing with meat-heavy meals as well as pairing perfectly with salads, bruschetta and seafood dishes.

Pinot Noir is one of the most acclaimed red wines around, pairing beautifully with various foods including chicken and grilled salmon. Additionally, this light-bodied wine makes an excellent complement for vegetarian and vegan-friendly cuisine.