PASTA MADE EASY
Yes, a wine pairing party does require a variety of food and drink options, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend hours in the kitchen to provide your pals with a spectacular spread. Made with premium ingredients, Knorr Frozen Entrees offer gourmet-quality taste with takeout-level effort. Each of the nine mouth-watering pastas goes from freezer to table in just 10 minutes and always cooks up al dente. The varied flavour profiles of the newest additions to the Knorr Frozen Entree family—from the light and creamy Shrimp Scampi to the rich Meatballs Pomodoro with sweet red bell peppers—will give your guests ample opportunities to test out creative wine and pasta combos. “To each his own” is the name of the game, but for those of you who like a little guidance, here are some palate-pleasing pairings you’ll be sure to enjoy: Grilled Chicken Florentine & Farfalle, Chenin Blanc; Chicken alla Vodka & Farfalle, Sauvignon Blanc; Shrimp Scampi & Linguine, Fumé Blanc; Meatballs Pomodoro & Penne, Cabernet Sauvignon. Serve them up family-style in large serving pieces like these bowls from the Jasper Conran Casual Dinnerware collection and this Edme Queen’s Ware soup tureen, all from Wedgwood, and let your guests pick and choose.

HOT SHOTS!
Don’t let cumbersome soup bowls chain your guests to the table. Give them the freedom to gab and graze with swiggable soup shooters. Knorr’s ready-to-serve Red Pepper & Tomato Soup adds a punch of colour in these Geo shot glasses by John Rocha for Waterford Crystal. A dollop of plain yogurt keeps them cool to the touch.

For added visual drama, serve up creamy, ready-to-serve Broccoli Soup with Boursin Cheese from Knorr in these punchy, striped espresso cups and contrasting casual jug. All by Jasper Conran for Wedgwood. Finish each shot with your fave fresh, chopped herbs.

WINE PAIRING 101
Mix and Match
Despite what you may think, when it comes to pairing food and wine, there really are no wrong choices. It’s highly subjective and leaves plenty of room for experimentation, so don’t stress. As long as there’s good food, good wine and good company, winning pairs will be in endless supply. The goal is synergy and balance. Match the weight and body of the wine with the delicacy or richness of the dish: Pair light-bodied wines with lighter food and fuller-bodied wines with heartier, more flavourful dishes. Neither the wine nor the food should overpower the other. Seek out complementary flavours as you would when cooking. A citrusy Fumé Blanc pairs well with seafood for the same reasons lemon does. That said, opposites do attract and opposing flavours can also play off each other to create new taste sensations. Don’t be afraid to try some unconventional pairings. You may just discover something great.

Savvy Stemware
Before you raise your glass, make sure you’ve got the right one. The Robert Mondavi by Waterford collection features nine varietal-specific shapes, each designed with unique characteristics to optimize the enjoyment of that particular wine. Our pasta pairings called for the following stems:

Chardonnay: The size of the bowl reveals the wine’s true bouquet and intensity, while emphasizing and optimizing its wide range of rich aromas.

Fumé Blanc (Sauvignon Blanc): The shape of the Fumé Blanc glass allows for the concen-tration of aromas toward the nose, accentuating the discernment of the delicate fruit bouquet of this crisp, dry and refreshing white varietal.

Cabernet Sauvignon: The shape directs the wine to the back of the mouth, elevating and enhancing the enjoyment of the wine’s distinct flavours and aromas.

SHELF SERVICE
Refills are a snap with Oster’s Cordless/Rechargeable Wine Bottle Opener. No mysterious levers or handles here. This handy-dandy gadget opens bottles in seconds with the touch of a button. Guests can easily top up their glasses and continue experimenting with pairings at their leisure, leaving you free to enjoy yourself and your company. Cheers to that!

ED'S TIPS
Creating your own self-service wine bar is just a few quick steps away—literally. Your local Home Hardware has all the elements you’ll need to recreate this industrial-chic look for your party:

2 3-ft. aluminum stepladders
1 6-ft. aluminum stepladder
1 7-ft. aluminum stepladder
3 12” x 96” planks or prefab shelves
2 15 1/4” x 96” planks or prefab shelves

To start, rest one of the narrow planks across the top of the 6-ft ladder and the first rung of the 7-ft ladder. Then repeat for next two rungs. Next, place one of the wide planks across the second-to-bottom rungs of each ladder. Now you’ve created your main shelving unit. To build the diagonal buffet, stagger the two shorter ladders on opposite sides of the shelving unit. Run the remaining wide plank across the top of these ladders. Make sure to weigh down both ends with some heavier items (stacks of plates work well). Then just fill the shelves with candles, stemware, food, etc., and voila! Instant wine bar—it’s that simple. But don’t stop trolling the aisles just yet. With a little creativity, there are plenty of other hardware finds that can be repurposed into funky party accessories. Stainless steel hose clamps make great napkin rings at less than a buck each. Or try using a round file to grate fresh Romano over your guests’ pasta. Even a mitre box and saw can find new life as a breadboard and knife. Inspiration lurks around every corner—see for yourself! 

CHOP TALK
With the functionality of both a blender and a food processor, the Oster Fusion Blender is perfect for any space-challenged kitchen. Its Triple Tech Technology features a reversible motor, which repositions and draws food into the blades for consistent results. With a whopping 600 watts of power and six-point star blade design, it will stand up to all your blending needs, from chopping and dicing food to crushing ice.

Sound good? Click here to win an Oster Fusion Blender for your kitchen!