Are you nervous about an upcoming garden party, where you’ve been asked to bring wine? Or have you failed in this situation in the past? If you are completely in the dark about what to bring, here are a few styles that are food-friendly, versatile, and drink well with or without food.

The key is to select wines that can be flexibly paired with almost any dish and are not overpoweringly dry or too weighty.

Sparkling Wines
Bubbles are almost always a good choice in this situation. Of course, they are perfect to toast with, and they evoke a celebratory tone, but what really makes them stand out is their versatility as food-pairing wines. If you don’t want to shell out for true Champagne, look for similar dry or “brut” styles from around the world.

Crisp Whites
Select dry wines with higher acidity, like Chablis from France, Gavi from Italy, Pinot Gris or Sauvignon Blanc from almost anywhere. Think of acidity as the mouth-watering component in wine that prompts your next bite, refreshes your palate, and cuts through even the heaviest of sauces.

Lighter Style Reds
Although there is a time and place for a bold, dry, red wine, such as a Cabernet Sauvignon, what happens if your host is serving halibut? Tending toward a Pinot Noir in this scenario is a good choice for its flexibility and approachability; however, if you are desiring a slightly bolder red, Spain and Italy are great places to look.

Dessert Wines
So often, we overlook the opportunity to sip on something sweet at the end. Your selection does not necessarily need to pair perfectly with the dessert, since so many dessert wines are spectacular on their own. Sipping a dessert wine prolongs the dining experience and encourages after-party conversation.

So these are our go-to choices. How about you bringing to your easy breezy garden party?