Whether you’re a horse race diehard or just there for the mint juleps, the Derby is a fantastic excuse to bring friends together, get dressed up, and enjoy Southern-inspired bites and sips. If you’re ready to throw a Derby party, here are some tips to make it an event to remember featuring Stags' Leap wines.
Get into the Theme
Set the tone with Derby themed place settings and décor. Place horseshoes around the table or party area and fill your vases with red roses for a nod to the traditional winner’s blanket.
Dressing to the nines has been a tradition at the Derby since the 1800s. So, if you want to go all in on the theme, have your guests wear their best fascinators, suits and dramatic dresses. Think feathers, florals and colorful bowties. You could even make it a competition for best-dressed, with the winner getting to take home a bottle of Stags’ Leap Audentia Cabernet Sauvignon.
Share the History
Unless your group is already race day aficionados, decorate your table with race day fact cards. For example, did you know that 120,000 mint juleps are consumed at the Derby every year? Or that the race has never been canceled or postponed due to weather? There’s so much interesting tradition and history surrounding the Derby. If you want to get really official with it, you can pre-order official event programs to be delivered to your home.
5 Interesting Derby Facts
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The most common initial letter for winning horses' names is "S," with 19 past winners, including the legendary Secretariat.
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Spectators consume large amounts of food and drinks at the Derby, with impressive numbers such as 142,000 hot dogs, 120,000 mint juleps, 18,000 barbecue sandwiches, and 300,000 strawberries.
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The race was first televised in 1952.
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The Derby has never been canceled or postponed due to inclement weather.
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The Derby trophy only weighs 3.5 lbs.
Try Classic Southern Bites and Sips
To stay on theme, create a menu of classic southern foods. Since your guests will probably be up and down watching the race, go for small finger foods. Along with mint juleps, wine is a must. Try a few pairings from below or get creative with your own.
Pairings
Bacon-wrapped smokies and The Investor Red Wine
Pimento cheese dip and 2021 Napa Valley Chardonnay
Fried okra and 2019 Block 20 Merlot
Southern tea cakes and 2021 Napa Valley Viognier
Fried pickles and 2019 Petite Sirah
The Main Event
Make sure you have a good set-up for viewing the race. A projector is always a good idea if you have the space for it. If not, place your TV in a central location with lots of room to spread out around it. The race itself is only about two minutes but there is lots of fanfare to catch beforehand so don’t forget to tune in early.
