7 Tips for Choosing the Right Wine for Your Wedding
A wedding won’t be complete without wine. It’s what you and your guests need for the wedding toasts, the dinner, and in general, to get through the night. And while the choice is not as critical as your wedding dress, it can make or break your big day. The right wine can complement your theme and treat your guests to a wedding experience that’s sure to stand out.
If you’re torn between wines, don’t worry. Below, we’ll be talking about how to choose the best wine for your wedding.
Schedule a Wine Tasting
One of the best ways to choose the right wine for your wedding is by throwing a wine tasting party. Get your wedding party together and try out wines to see which ones are a crowd favorite. Remember, these people will be the ones drinking wine at your wedding, so be sure to satisfy their tastes, too!
You can buy a couple of wine bottles or go to wine tastings at showrooms. If you plan to serve a variety of wines, take note of which white wines, red wines, and sparkling wines stood out for you. If you need a professional’s opinion, you can consult a wine expert — they can steer you toward the perfect wine.
Choose Wine That You Would Drink
What’s the point in serving wine that you, the newlyweds, don’t want to drink? First and foremost, you should explain what you want — and don’t want — to a wine expert.
For example, if you and your finance don’t like the “oaky” flavor of Bordeaux, be clear about this from the beginning. That way, your wine expert will be able to show you wines that meet your expectations to a T. You won’t waste your time tasting wines that you and your dearest don’t love.
Yes, what your guests want matters, but remember — this is your wedding. What you want is what mostly matters, so pick wines that appeal to your palette.
Find Inspiration From the Seasons
No one will want to down a deep, red wine at a summer wedding, and white wine won’t give your guests the warmth they need to get through the evening. When choosing which wine is the best for your big day, don’t forget when your wedding will be.
White wines such as Heartland White will go perfectly for sun-soaked summer weddings, as your guests will likely want something refreshing. For winter weddings, your best bet is rosé or red wine such as Nona Mia Sangria. Its spice will wrap your guests in warmth, making the cold a bit more tolerable, and is a match made in heaven for cheese, chocolate, and more.
Match Your Wine With Your Menu
If you don’t want your wine to be inspired by the seasons, it should at least be complementary to the menu. Not only will it improve the food’s flavor, but it will also give your guests a memorable dining experience. Sommeliers will frown at you if you get your wine pairings wrong!
Greek wines will go well with seafood, such as salmon and seabass, while grenache will be a great pairing for beef. If you’re serving a wide variety of foods, you can’t go wrong with versatile wines that go with anything, such as Pinot Noir, Chenin Blanc, and Barbera.
Use Wine to Set the Mood
You should be able to maintain the mood throughout the whole wedding. To do this, you’ll need to set the mood using a wide range of wedding elements, including wine.
If your wedding is based on The Great Gatsby, go for wines that pay homage to that period, such as sparkling wines. Likewise, if your wedding features wood elements, wines with notes of blackberry like Cabernet Franc will tie in with your rustic theme. If you’re going for a garden wedding, “picnic-friendly” white wines with notes of honeysuckle can set the tone.
Don’t Buy Based on the Price Tag
There’s no need to break the bank. It’s untrue that the more pricey a bottle of wine is, the better. You’ll still be able to serve delectable wines at your wedding even if you’re on a budget. There are several “worthy” wines within the $20 to $30 range. You don’t need to buy a bottle of Dom Pérignon to impress your guests!
As a rule of thumb, it would be better to buy a good number of budget-friendly wines than splurge on a handful of uber-premium bottles. With budget-friendly wine, every single one of your guests will be able to drink the day (or night) away with wine.
And since it would be embarrassing to run out of wine, be sure to buy based on the number of guests at your wedding. Buy one bottle of wine per guest — for example, if you expect 100 guests, buy at least 100 bottles of wine. This number can be halved if you’ll also be serving beer.
Serve a Variety of Wines
Choosing the right wine can be a challenge, so if you don’t want to be stressed about it, go for one white wine, one red wine, and one sparkling wine. You’ll want to serve a variety of wines at your wedding, anyway, as your guests will have their own preferences. You can’t go wrong with refreshing white wines such as Pinot Grigio, brooding reds such as Cabernet Sauvignon, and a bit of bubbly.
By serving a wide range of wines, you’ll be able to give your guests the freedom to choose their wine pairings. Some people will want to pair cheese with white wine, while others with red, and that’s perfectly fine!
Conclusion
Take the time to taste (and taste some more) to find the best bottle of wine to celebrate your big day with. Yes, choosing a wine can be stressful, but it’s one of the most fun (and most important) parts of wedding planning. Years after you’ve said your “I dos”, you and your spouse can crack open a bottle of the very same wine to look back at one of the best days of your lives.