wine

Picking Wine for Your Wedding

Alcohol tends to play a big part in many weddings. From toasting to the happy couple to providing encouragement to family members looking to dance, the right libations can take your event to the next level. The trouble plenty of couples experience is trying to pick out drinks that will please a large crowd. Individual drinking preferences tend to vary greatly from one person to the next. In order to make your guests happy and not spend a small fortune, you want to limit your bar to a few key selections. 

Wine is one of the easiest options available when you’re looking for drinks that will satisfy a large group. However, you still need to put some thought into the type of wine you pick. Look over these tips and learn more about how you can find the right wine for your big day.

Understand the Basics

First and foremost, you should have some concept of wine basics before you start your search. If you’re someone who prefers liquor or beer, then you could be clueless about wine. The simplest point to understand is that red and white varieties are the most popular. Still, you won’t be able to get away with having one or the other. You should always offer at least one red and one white at the bar. Which varieties you pick, of course, will come down to a few other factors. 

Consider the Season

For some couples, the influence of the season plays a huge part in planning a wedding. Everything from floral arrangements to decor will be selected based on the time of year the event will take place. The wine can be chosen using the same mentality. If you’re getting married in the winter, for example, some experts advise selecting a red that keeps the drinker warm and toasty. Similarly, a spring wedding can be great for a white with fruity or floral notes to it. 

Look at Your Menu

Another helpful strategy when it comes to picking wine for your wedding is considering your exact menu. It is no secret that specific wine options pair well with certain meals. A menu featuring seafood will usually be complemented by wines with a lighter feel. Meanwhile, couples serving beef will find that reds like a pinot noir can bring out the best flavors when the two are paired together. Work with your caterer if you need advice on which wines will work best with the menu to make the most efficient selections. 

Explore a Variety of Wine

You don’t need to feel obligated to select only a single type red and white wine either. In fact, some couples find it easier to order an assortment of bottles in the same price range. There are many online distributors that will sell mixed crates of wines at a low cost, allowing you the option to find a fun assortment without breaking the budget. However, having a lot of variety limits the quantity of each type you buy. Weigh the pros and cons before ordering any “variety packs” and see what’s best.

Determine the Amount of Wine

Determining how many bottles of wine you will need can be a very big challenge. Factors that will influence the final number include how many guests will be present, the cost per bottle, and what other alcohol options will be offered. Some experts suggest ordering one bottle of wine for every guest you are inviting. Though this method can cover you in a lot of ways, this particular strategy might not be the best approach for all couples. 

Ordering wine for a wedding can be a bigger decision than many couples realize. Review how to find the perfect bottles for your big day and feel confident in the choices you make.

A Quick Crash Course on Wines for Your Wedding Reception

Serving wines is a must at most wedding receptions, but the endless varieties can be overwhelming. Read this quick primer to help you navigate your options.

Serving wines is a must at most wedding receptions, but the endless varieties can be overwhelming. Read this quick primer to help you navigate your options.

Wine is a staple at many wedding receptions, but it’s easy to find the endless varieties confusing. This is especially true if you aren’t familiar with wine varieties and their unique properties. If you can barely tell the difference between white and red wines, you’re going to need some assistance navigating your wine selection. Fortunately, a quick guide can help you begin to understand your options.

Wines 101: White, Red, and Sparkling

There’s more to red and white wines than just their hues, as Wine Folly explains. Red varieties are usually fermented with grapes’ skins and seeds, while white wines are not. Different oxidation methods are used, with red wines aging in oak barrels and white vintages aging inside stainless steel tanks. Oak barrels increase exposure to oxygen, resulting in darker wines’ rich, bold flavors. Conversely, stainless steel tanks reduce oxygen exposure to give white wines their bright, zesty and fruity taste.

Sparkling wines are so named for their carbonation, resulting from a second fermentation process. Vine Pair describes how this works. After the primary fermentation occurs, yeast in the wine is encouraged to activate and consume leftover sugars. The result is excess carbon dioxide, which produces the familiar bubbles. Champagne is eponymous thanks to the region in which it’s made, but it’s only one type of sparkler. Prosecco, Cava, and Lambrusco are other popular kinds, and sparkling vintages can come in white, red, or blush-pink rosé.

Choosing Your Wine Selections

How do you determine which wines to serve at your reception? A lot of factors can influence your decision, but you may benefit from some useful advise. Wedding Wire Canada’s Alice Prendergast cautions against offering too many choices, so keep your selection simple. One white and one red is the standard advice, but The Knot recommends adding one sparkling variety to your menu. Also, don’t worry about serving strictly seasonal vintages. Your guests will appreciate what you serve as long as it’s thoughtfully selected and complements your meal.

Decoding Food and Wine Pairings

Some tastemakers elevate food and wine pairing to an art form. For the rest of us, a few rules can guide our choices. Food & Wine provides some simple suggestions to help you get started:

  • A dry rosé works well with most hors d’oeuvres.
  • Unoaked white wines are ideal for most seafood, especially fish and shellfish that are complemented by citrus flavors.
  • Sweet or low-alcohol wines pair best with spicy foods.
  • Rich red meat benefits from bold red vintages.
  • For lighter meats, pair the wine to its type of sauce.
  • Earthy wines are perfect companions to earthy foods.
  • Lighter ones are excellent for dessert.

For couples serving vegetarian menus, Vegetarian Times offers more great tips. For instance, sweet vintages contrast well with the piquant heat in Indian, Thai, or other spicy cuisines.

After you’ve picked your drink menu, don’t forget a few serving hints to get the most out of your wines. Vine Pair suggests temperature ranges of 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit for sparkling wines, 50 to 60 degrees for white and rosé varieties, and 60 to 70 degrees for reds. For best results, keep pours consistently to 3 ounces per glass. To ensure that you have enough for your crowd, budget for one bottle per guest and add a few extras just in case.

Maximum Enjoyment for Your Guests

Wine is a vital part of the hospitality you extend to friends and family at your wedding. When catering to your crowd, a limited yet varied menu is best. For food and wine pairings, choose vintages that match your dishes’ flavor intensities. Wines should be served cold to best enhance their natural flavors and aromas.