How to choose the best value, good-quality party wines

You're throwing a party at your place to celebrate your best friend's recent engagement. There is an extremely good chance that you're in the wedding party, so taking this party on poses certain challenges when it comes to choosing wine.

She doesn't know much about wine and she won't really care what you serve, – neither will her future husband, or their friends – as long as there's lots of it. Volume is the name of the game here. You, on the other hand, would prefer not to spend the entire evening drinking plonk, but you can't afford to break the bank on this party either.

You plan to serve a buffet, with some dishes brought by guests, which range from the simple yet appreciated (smoked salmon, Swedish meatballs, quiche lorraine) to the wacky (an Eton mess brought by someone whose meringues have never encountered the rapture of stiff peaks), so the wine must be versatile.

There's a good chance you've found yourself in a similar situation before. What do you do when the moment calls for a delicious wine with the capacity to provide volume, value and versatility? Here are some of my favourite selections for this moment:

Château de Pennautier 2012, Cabardès, France. One of my favourite "go to" party wines, from the outskirts of Carcassonne. A blend of red varieties including merlot, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, grenache and syrah. Fruity, spicy and very versatile. £7.95(thewinesociety.com)

The Gum Pinot Grigio 2013, Adelaide Hills, Australia. From one of the most respected winemaking families in South Australia. A great way to kick off the evening. £9.99 from Marks & Spencer (marksandspencer.com)

Miss Vicky Wine Fleurie 2010, Beaujolais, France. Gilles Montrozier and his daughter Anne-Victoire are responsible for this versatile wine made from 100% Gamay in the village of Fleurie, one of the 10 "crus du Beaujolais", with a delicious mouth of juicy red fruit. £12.99 from The Smiling Grape Company smilinggrape.com

Masi Campofiorin 2010, Rosso del Veronese IGT, Veneto, Italy. A rich, complex and approachable "Baby Amarone" from one of the region's most acclaimed producers of Amarone, created for the first time in 1964 as "Masi's original Supervenetian" according to the producer. £12.95 from Slurp (slurp.co.uk)

Cave de Lugny, Les Pierres Blanches 2013, Mâcon-Villages, France. This co-operative in the heart of the Mâconnais district produces a number of deliciously drinkable wines made from 100% chardonnay. Perfect alone or with seafood. £9.99 (majestic.co.uk)

Christian Holthausen is a Franco-American wine specialist living in London. Twitter @bosiechampagne