Shrimp Boil
A one (big) pot dinner party! Corn, shellfish, and potatoes means you cover all the food groups, too. Serve with: Up the ante with hush puppies, Bloody Marys, and plenty of Old Bay.
Paella
Serve with: Set the Spanish theme and start with jam?n-wrapped melon. Classic red sangria is a must, and grilled peaches with streusel are a perfect finish.
Grilled Steak Fajitas
Serve with: Take advantage of nature's summer bounty and make blueberry lime salsa and roasted corn guacamole to serve with chips. Then, blow everyone's minds by making the ultimate beer cocktail: a Michelada.
New England Clam Chowder
Even people who "don't like shellfish" will love clam chowder. Serve with: If you're feeling ambitious, you can make your own oyster crackers. Balance the heavy chowder with grilled asparagus, and end on a super sweet note with a gorgeous peach pie.
Bring the Party Home
Bar tabs and restaurant bills add up quickly when you're out with a group. Ease the strain on your wallet by entertaining at home instead of going out. To provide a little inspiration, we've come up with 9 low-cost, D.I.Y. party ideas, complete with simple and affordable wine and food pairing suggestions. Now, all you have to do is start making the guest list.
Grilled Pizza
Large-format summer mains are generally pretty meat-centric—because, face it, throwing a big piece of meat on the grill is just so obvious. But, vegetarians and carnivores alike always appreciate a pizza party. Serve with: Grilled broccoli rabe and antipasto chopped salad fill the vegetable quotient without filling your whole afternoon with extra prep. And, when it comes to pizza, chianti is always the answer.
Fiesta Night: Sauvignon Blanc & Guacamole
Who says you have to enjoy tacos with a margarita or a Corona when you can sip Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand? This crisp, citrus-y, herbaceous white wine accompanies freshly made guacamole like a charm. The zingy acidity of the wine works in tandem with the fresh lime juice in the guacamole and delightfully offsets the richness of the avocados, click here.
Clambake
Serve with: Grilled caprese skewers to start, and strawberry shortcakes to finish. Also, this is the perfect opportunity to give ros? a shot.
Neighborhood Block-Party: Beaujolais and Burgers
Invite your neighbors over for a casual backyard party with Beaujolais wine and grilled burgers. Beaujolais wines from France (which are much more than just that 'Nouveau' stuff) are a great match for burgers because of their lively acidity, juicy fruitiness, and soft tannins. You can even drink the more youthful Beaujolais a little bit chilled, which is perfect for outdoor summertime sipping.
