How much wine do I need for 40 guests?

You need 31 bottles of wine for 40 guests at a corporate event. This provides 131 total servings with a 15% buffer to ensure you don't run out.

How much wine per person for a corporate event?

Plan for 3.3 servings of wine per person at a corporate event. This accounts for the fact that not everyone drinks alcohol and consumption naturally slows as the event progresses.

How many servings are in a bottle of wine?

One bottle of wine contains 5 servings. For 40 guests, you'll need 31 bottles to provide 131 total servings.

What percentage of guests will drink wine at a corporate event?

At a corporate event with 40 guests, approximately 30 guests (75%) will actively drink. Our formula accounts for this when calculating the 31 bottles you need.

Should I buy extra wine as a buffer?

Yes! Our calculation of 31 bottles already includes a 15% buffer (4 extra bottles). This ensures you won't run out even if some guests drink more than average. It's always better to have leftovers than to run short.

How long will 31 bottles of wine last for 40 guests?

31 bottles of wine will last approximately 3 hours for 40 guests at a corporate event. This calculation factors in the natural slowdown of consumption as the event progresses.

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How Much Wine for a 40 Guest Corporate Event?

You will need approx.

🍷

bottles of wine

For a 40-guest corporate event lasting 3 hours

info 15% buffer included

131

Total servings

3.3

Per person

Buffer bottles

How We Calculated This

Our bartender-tested formula, step by step

Estimate actual drinkers

40 guests × 75% drinking rate

= 30 drinkers

At medium events, about 75% of guests typically drink alcohol.

Calculate base consumption

30 drinkers × 1.5 drinks/hour × 3 hours

= 135 base drinks

Industry standard is 1.5 drinks per person per hour for a 3-hour event.

Apply consumption decay

Adjusted for drinking slowdown over time (decay factor: 2.65)

= 119 adjusted drinks

People drink faster in the first hour and slow down as the event progresses.

Apply corporate event modifier

× 1.1 (+10% for wine)

= 131 wine servings needed

Corporate Events typically consume 10% more wine than average.

Convert to bottles

131 servings ÷ 5 servings per bottle

= 26.2 bottles (raw)

Each bottle of wine provides 5 servings.

Add 15% buffer & round up

26.2 × 1.15 = 30.1, rounded up

= 31 bottles

Always round up and add a buffer. Running out is worse than having leftovers!

✓ Why trust this formula?

Based on industry standards and refined by bartenders with 30+ years of experience. We factor in consumption decay (people drink less as events progress) and real-world drinking percentages.

📊 Quick Reference: Wine by Guest Count

Guests	Wine Needed	Total Servings
25 guests	20 bottles	82 servings
50 guests	39 bottles	164 servings
75 guests	59 bottles	246 servings
100 guests	78 bottles	328 servings
150 guests	117 bottles	491 servings
200 guests	155 bottles	655 servings

* All calculations include a 15% buffer. Amounts for corporate event.

The Essentials

🍷 31 bottles Wine

2 pieces Wine opener/corkscrew (Have a backup!) Buy

60 glasses Wine glasses (or plastic) (2 per drinker for variety) Buy

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The Host's Secret

Editorial Curation

ATMOSPHERE

"Most corporate guests self-limit to 2 drinks max - don't over-order."

Pro Tip #1

PREPARATION

"Wine outsells beer 3:1 at corporate events - flip your usual ratio."

Pro Tip #2

TIMING

"40% of corporate guests leave within 90 minutes - peak consumption is minutes 15-60."

Pro Tip #3

SERVICE

"Weekday events consume 35% less than Friday events."

Pro Tip #4

PRESENTATION

"Always have premium non-alcoholic options prominently displayed."

Pro Tip #5

🛒

Buying Guide

Focus on quality over quantity for corporate events. Stock premium wines and craft options rather than bulk quantities. Have elegant non-alcoholic options visible - many professionals choose not to drink at work functions. A sophisticated sparkling water with citrus is always appreciated.

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