All about Wedding Wine
A wedding is one of the most important celebrations of life. What celebration is complete without wine? Often couples spend a great deal of time and money just on wines for their wedding guests. The kind of wine to serve really depends on the couple’s preference. Other factors to consider include the couple’s budget, the food being served and the time of year.
At the beginning of a wedding reception, many couples often designate a cocktail hour. This period of time (often one hour long) allows guests to slowly trickle in and socialize with other guests. It is also the time for guests to see and congratulate the wedding couple. At this time, wines can be served at a bar. Usually guests are given at least a choice between a red or a white, since some people only like one or the other. Popular wedding red wines include Cabarnet-Sauvignon, Merlot, and Pinot-Noir, or Syrah. Some common white wines are Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris. Another variety of wine that can be offered is a pink wine called rosé. Neither a red or a white, it a pink wine that is fantastic for summer weddings. A glass of wine in hand allows guests to relax and mingle with others.
After the cocktail hour, guests are usually led to their tables where they are seated for dinner. The wine that is being served should complement with the main entrees. Since guests are usually given a choice of an entrée, it would be wise to have a choice of a red and white wine available at the table. This way, guests can pour whatever they like to go with their dinner. Reds often go better with red meat dishes such as filet-mignon, while whites complement seafood and chiicken dishes better. However, there is no hard and fast rule and it often depends on personal preference.
Traditionally, a wedding toast is given at the end of the dinner. The most popular wine choice for a toast is Champagne, which is a sparkling wine produced in the Champagne region of France. However, other sparkling wines also make great toasts such as Cava from Spain, Cremant de d'Alsace, or Prosecco from Italy. It is important to serve the sparkling wines in glasses for all the guests before beginning the toast so that they could raise their glasses when the moment arrives.
Wines might not take center stage at a wedding but they do a great deal in building a nice and lively atmosphere and ensuring that the guests have an enjoyable experience.
