What Wines I Keep at Home (And Why You Should Too)

I always keep wine at home. You should too.

Not because I drink every night but because life has this way of surprising you.

Your friend calls, crying after a breakup, and shows up at your door with a box of t(issues). A date goes unexpectedly well and you want a nightcap without awkwardly Googling “wine shop open after 10 pm.” Someone invites you to an impromptu dinner, and you can’t just show up empty-handed. Or maybe it’s Tuesday, it’s raining, and you need something that makes reheated pasta taste like self-care.

That’s why I always keep a small “capsule wine collection” at home: bottles that are versatile, unfussy, and ready whenever I need them. No decanters, no special glassware, no panic runs to the caviste at 7:58 pm. Just wines that fit into real life — mine, and probably yours too.

The All-Season Light Red Wine

This is my emergency wine.The one I reach for when someone comes over unexpectedly, or when I want something easy to sip while chopping vegetables on a Tuesday night.

My go-to is usually Gamay from Beaujolais. It’s cheerful, juicy, and works slightly chilled in summer but feels just as cozy under a blanket in winter. I also love a spicy Blaufrankisch from Burgenland with its delicious dark fruit and the acidity lift, or a soft, early-drinking Pinot Noir from Alsace.

These are wines that don’t ask much of you: open, pour, enjoy. They’re crowd-pleasers without being boring, the kind of bottle that feels like a friend who never shows up overdressed.

The All-Rounder for Food Pairing

Then there’s the bottle that saves me when dinner plans get ambitious or chaotic. This is my “yes to everything” wine, the one I can trust whether I’m making pesto pasta, roasting vegetables, ordering Indian food, or throwing together whatever’s left in the fridge.

Sometimes it’s a mid-bodied Pinot Gris or Riesling, crisp yet textured, it works with almost anything on the table. Other times it’s an orange wine, something skin-contact and playful, or a lightly sparkling pét-nat from the Loire or Languedoc when I want a bottle that doubles as a conversation starter.

These are the wines I know I can open without overthinking. They make me look effortlessly prepared when I’m actually winging dinner, which, let’s be honest, happens more often than I’d admit.

Something a Little Special

I keep one or two “just-in-case” bottles tucked away, nothing crazy expensive, but always unique, wines that feel like a small celebration. Something from a favorite winemaker, a producer I know personally, or a bottle from a trip that made me fall in love with a region.

These aren’t wines that need three hours in a decanter or your grandmother’s crystal glasses. They’re wines I can open spontaneously when a friend shares good news, when I land a new project, or when I just want Wednesday night to feel like Saturday.

One of my favorites right now? Skin contact Gruner Veltliner. Wild I know. Spicy, herbal, earthy, flavorful and full of emotions. I’ll also keep a volcanic Etna Rosso on hand, just because those Nerello Mascalese reds make even a quiet night in feel romantic. Or any interesting, indegenous varieties I want to try.

Why You Should Always Keep Wine at Home

Keeping wine at home isn’t about drinking more, it’s about being ready for the little moments. A bottle that turns mundane into inspiring. A bottle that turns a successful first date into a second. A bottle you can grab when you’re invited to dinner last minute.

It’s also about avoiding panic when your favorite wine shop closes at 8 pm and the only thing left open is a Franprix with fluorescent lighting and heartbreak disguised as €4 Merlot. We’ve all been there. Let’s not go back.

A light red wine that works in every season. A food-friendly all-rounder. And one special bottle for when the moment calls for it. That’s it. Having good wine at home just makes sure you’re ready for all of it.