The day of your wedding is fast approaching and everything seems ready: the venue, the decoration, the flowers... but there is still one box to check on your list: the wines! Choosing the wines you will offer at your wedding is indeed a delicate task, as they play an essential role and help to enhance every moment of this exceptional day.
So...follow our guide to choose the wines that will make your wedding an unforgettable event!
Selecting the perfect wines for the aperitif and the reception
The reception is an important moment where your guests begin to relax and enjoy the party. It is therefore essential to choose wines that whet the appetite and please all palates.For this, here are some suggestions.
Champagnes and sparkling wines
Champagne is a must-have for weddings. It adds a touch of festivity and prestige that makes every toast a memorable moment.So choose a champagne for its finesse, freshness, and elegance... it's a safe bet to ideally start the festivities !
Red wines for the aperitif and the reception drink
Alsatian red wines are perfect for a reception drink thanks to their fruity notes and light tannins.
Red wines from the Beaujolais are also an excellent choice.The Gamay is indeed a wonderful grape variety offering freshness, fruity notes, and light tannins.
The red wines from Loire, such as Chinon, Bourgueil, and Sancerre, are also very good choices for a convivial aperitif with delicacy. Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir from the region will indeed make a great impression for the reception wine.
Burgundy, with its fine and delicate red wines made from Pinot Noir, also offers excellent options, although generally more expensive compared to other regions.
Finally, and although many other possibilities exist, the Rhône Valley is also a reliable choice, especially with its delicious reds from the Côtes-du-Rhône.
White wines for the aperitif and the wedding reception
The Alsatian white wines, especially those made from Riesling, are perfect for a wedding reception thanks to their fruity notes, freshness, and liveliness. This emblematic grape variety of the region brings a beautiful acidity and citrus aromas that pair perfectly with a wide variety of dishes.
The white wines of Burgundy and Beaujolais, entirely dedicated to Chardonnay, are also an excellent proposition. A noble and versatile grape variety, it offers, depending on its origin, mineral and taut wines but also cuvées with a creamy texture and delightful stone fruit aromas.
The white wines of the Southwest, such as those from the IGP Côtes de Gascogne, Landes, and AOC Pacherenc de Vic-Bilh, also offer interesting options for a reception wine. These wines are often distinguished by their exotic fruit aromas as well as their freshness, providing a pleasant and light tasting experience.
The white wines of the Loire, notably the Sauvignons from the AOC Menetou-Salon and Sancerre, are also excellent choices for a convivial reception wine thanks to their fruity aromas, liveliness, and minerality. The Chenin from the Loire also shine in this exercise with their notes of ripe apples, honey, and silky texture.
Other possibilities also exist, such as certain white wines from the Languedoc or Provence, which bring their own character and diversity, thus enriching the options for a successful reception wine or aperitif.
Rosé wines for the aperitif and the wedding toast
A rosé wine is ideal to accompany appetizers ! Light, fruity, and mineral, the rosés from Côtes-de-Provence are indeed excellent companions to awaken the taste buds.
Moreover, if your wedding takes place between May and September, rosé can also be a great choice to refresh your guests during hot weather.
Non-alcoholic alternatives
Feel free to offer your guests non-alcoholic options ! Flavored waters, lemonades, and iced teas are perfect refreshing alternatives for all ages and allow everyone to fully enjoy the moment.
The best wines to accompany the wedding meal
Choosing the right wines for each dish of your wedding meal is essential to enhance the dishes and delight the palates of your guests.Here are some suggestions (non-exhaustive) to guide you in your choices.
Feel free to contact us directly if you would like concrete proposals for your menu…
The starters
To start in a refined manner, and if your starter is vegetarian or consists of light dishes based on fish, seafood or shellfish, opt for a dry, fresh, and mineral white wine. A rosé from Provence is also an option. In this case, choose it light and fruity.
If you choose a red wine because your starter contains meat, opt for a rather delicate and lightly to moderately tannic wine so as not to overwhelm your guests' palate at the beginning of the meal !
The meal: a moment enhanced by a good wine!
Main courses
If your main course is based on red meat (beef, lamb, etc.) or is a duck breast, offer a bold, spicy, intense, and rather tannic red wine.
The vineyards of the Southwest (Cahors, Madiran, Bergerac), Languedoc-Roussillon (Pic-Saint-Loup, Terrasses du Larzac) or Bordeaux (Pauillac, Saint-Estèphe, Pomerol, Saint-Émilion) offer, for example, a wide selection of wines that meet these criteria.
For a dish based on white meat (poultry, chicken, pork, etc.), a medium tannic and flavorful red will be a perfect match. You might consider powerful Gamays from Beaujolais like those from AOC Morgon or a beautiful Syrah from the Rhône Valley (AOC Côtes-du-Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Crozes-Hermitage, etc.).
The powerful and generous white wines can also pair well with this type of dish (Pessac-Léognan in Bordeaux or creamy Chardonnays from Burgundy like those from the AOC Meursault).
The cheese platter
If it is complicated to find a wine that pairs with an entire cheese platter, keep in mind that white wine is the color that best matches the majority of them. The tannins in red wine indeed clash with lactic proteins !
The rich white wines from Languedoc-Roussillon or the Côtes-du-Rhône will, for example, wonderfully accompany a wide range of cheeses.Mineral white wines like those from Chablis or the Loire are also very good choices.
Desserts
Sweet wines are rarely offered during weddings. However, they are indeed the ones that pair best with desserts. For chocolate treats, a sweet red wine like those from AOC Maury is, for example, a must !
Sauternes, sweet Gewurztraminer from Alsace, or even sweet Vouvray also offer true delight in tasting.
If you do not wish to opt for sweet wines, and although it is not the best in terms of pairing from an oenological perspective, champagne can then be served to the guests.A rosé Champagne can, for example, pair very gracefully with a red fruit salad or a strawberry cake.
How to calculate the necessary quantities?
Here is one of the major stresses for the newlyweds : the fear of too much or too little ! To ensure your guests never run out of wine during the reception, it is indeed essential to accurately determine the necessary quantities. Good planning will thus prevent unpleasant surprises and ensure an enjoyable experience for all.
Reception drink
For the reception drink, plan for approximately one bottle of champagne for every three people.Champagne is indeed often consumed at the beginning of the evening, and this quantity allows each guest to enjoy approximately two glasses.
Meal
For the amount of wine to plan for during the meal, it primarily depends on your main dish ! If it is red meat, then plan for one bottle for three people. If your dish is fish, plan for the same volume but with white wine !
Finally, for dessert, plan for about one bottle of sparkling wine for five people.
Spirits and strong liquors at the wedding
For spirits and strong liquors, it is important to provide your guests with options that will satisfy all tastes. Among the essentials, you can offer :
- Whisky : ideal for cocktails like Whisky Coke,
- Gin : perfect for Gin & Tonic,
- Rum : ideal for refreshing mojitos.
What better than a delicious cocktail to refresh yourself!
To estimate the necessary quantities, plan for about one bottle of strong alcohol for ten people (which is about 1 glass for 10 people)... Be careful, this also depends on the average age of your guests and their sense of celebration!
Beyond the classic strong alcohols, it is always interesting to add 2 to 3 premium bottles for enthusiasts or cigar smokers. These high-quality bottles will indeed add a touch of sophistication and allow connoisseurs to enjoy exceptional spirits in a friendly atmosphere.
Where to buy wine for your wedding?
To find the perfect wines at competitive prices for your wedding, do not hesitate to contact directly
So... congratulations and happy preparations for your wedding !
