The question is practical: "I'm hosting eight people for dinner — which water do I serve?" The long answer requires knowledge of a water list. The short one requires clarity about three variables: what will be served, who is at the table, and the tone of the evening.
The three variables that matter
The type of meal — tasting menu, plated dinner, informal dinner. The number of guests — up to four, four to eight, more than eight. And the tone — formal, semi-formal or relaxed. Once these three are defined, the choice almost resolves itself.
Formal plated dinner (4 to 8 people)
A Super Low still water as the standard, and a second sparkling option for those who prefer it. About one 750 ml bottle for every two or three people, served in glasses dedicated to water.
Tasting menu or dinner with selected wine
A Super Low still water beside each wine glass — chilled for whites and sparkling, at cellar temperature for full-bodied reds. A tasting menu draws more water than an ordinary dinner: count about one 1-litre bottle per person over a full sequence.
Informal dinner (up to 6 people)
One bottle of still fine water, alongside the house water in a glass jug. The guests choose — a gesture of care without excess. For a relaxed group, the jug alone already does the job well.
Events with more than 8 people
One bottle on each table, with attention to the refill rhythm — the common mistake is opening too many bottles at once or running out at the wrong moment. For a truly large dinner, it is worth considering service support.
The sparkling question and how much to buy
The standard is to offer both, with still as the main one; when in doubt about the proportion, mostly still and a minority sparkling. For volume, the practical rule is 750 ml per person over a two-to-three-hour dinner, rising to 1 litre for a long tasting — always with about 20% extra, because having some left over is better than running short.