You either love it or you hate it, but the work Christmas party is a necessary part of the festive build up.
Whether your office has been decked out in tinsel for a BYOB bash or the budget has been stretched to include dinner in a restaurant, there’s bound to be some gossip when you all return to work.
The trick to enjoying the work Christmas party, is being memorable enough that you make new contacts but not memorable enough that you’re spoken about in hushed tones around the water cooler.
Unsurprisingly, us wine nuts at Laithwaites relish any opportunity to get together and share a few bottles of something delicious, so we’ve learned a few things over the years.
Whether you’re dreading the enforced socialisation with colleagues, or you can’t wait for a chance to spend some time away from the office with your work bestie, follow our tips for a fun and drama free office Christmas party.
Bring the bubbles
Break the ice early by bringing something to the party that you can kick-start the festivities with. A nice bottle of sparkling wine will go down well with everyone around you, and will ensure people remember your name for the right reasons. We’ll be kick off our Christmas party at Laithwaites HQ with a few bottles of Roche Lacour Rosé. It’s a crémant which basically means it’s a French fizz but at a fraction of the price to Champagne.
Arrive with a group of work friends
If you’re nervous about making small talk with people you don’t know very well then consider asking colleagues you do know if you can arrive together. This means there will definitely be someone you feel comfortable with from the very start of the party. And if you take along a pack of our Grazing Sun Sauvignon Blanc Wine in Cans, you’ll have something nice to share with your friends!
Arm yourself with some talking points
Make sure you don’t get stuck chatting about only work by arming yourself with some talking points. Perhaps you have interesting hobby you can discuss with your colleagues, or maybe you’re going away for some winter sun and you can show off about your holiday plans. If all else fails, open up a bottle of The Future’s Bright Orange Wine. Not only is it delicious, but this unusual style is growing in popularity and is a real conversation starter.
Politely excuse yourself
If you get stuck in an awkward situation and want to leave the conversation, it’s okay to politely excuse yourself. Say you need to use the loo or pop to the bar, don’t feel you have to stay there and suck it up!
Don’t overdo it
If you’re feeling anxious it can be easy to rely on alcohol to make you feel calmer. But we all know how that ends. Make sure you don’t overindulge by switching every other drink for something soft, or sticking to a lower alcohol drink throughout the night. Our L’Occhiolino Sparkling Red is great option if you love bubbly. It’s a vibrant, juicy, lightly sparkling red wine but is lower in alcohol than other fizzes at just 7.5%.
Wear something you’re comfortable in
When you’re already in and environment you’re not entirely comfortable with, worrying about what you’re wearing can make the situation a lot worse. Enjoy yourself by making sure you wear something that makes you feel good. Whether that’s jeans and a shirt or something a bit more glamourous, if you feel good about yourself, you’ll have more confidence.
Win Christmas by taking part in our Festive Pours giveaway
We want you to get involved in this most wonderful time of the year and are giving you a chance to win every single wine in our Festive Pours countdown to Christmas.
This includes FIVE of our favourite sparkling wines, from the luxurious Laithwaites Champagne Blanc de Blanc Premier Cru, to the flirtatious, winking L’Occhiolino Sparkling Red from Italy’s Emilia-Romagna.
Then there’s the still wines: an iconic New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc from the country’s first vineyard to make the style, a full, creamy Chardonnay you won’t believe isn’t Burgundy, a trendy Orange wine from France’s Languedoc region, an organic Frappato packaged in 100% recycled glass and a juicy, fruity Californian Pinot Noir perfect for pairing with roast Turkey.
And we’ll throw in a selection of sweet and fortified wines including a sweet white Port and a rich, nutty sherry.
Finally, it wouldn’t be Christmas without a party … so we’re including a pack of our Grazing Sun wine in cans, perfect to taking to someone else’s house!
To be in with a chance of winning, make sure you’re following @laithwaites.wine on Instagram and follow the steps on our competition post.
