So the date is set, the big day is getting nearer and the guests are eagerly anticipating the celebrations. For the hosts the planning of the perfect wedding breakfast is paramount so here is a selection of the best wine ideas to get you through the day and suit every taste, budget and reveller!
Champagne, Cava or Prosecco – depending on budget or preference any one of these is perfect to kick off the proceedings and to toast the happy couple during the speeches. Prosecco has fast become the fashionable fizz of choice for many and there is a mind blowing range to choose from including a Rose variety. Champagne of course is the glorious and traditional one to choose if you are looking for a touch of opulence and glamour for your nuptials and of course you have the budget for it, but most will be more than happy with a nice glass or two of Cava. Serve one of these sparkling wines with a touch of fruit puree or fresh berries to create a blissfully welcoming Bellini for your guests.
White wines traditionally served to accompany a fish or white meat course come in a whole range of choices from the tongue curlingly dry to the super sweet, but for most something on the dry to medium side is preferable to quaff with a meal. A nice easy drinking Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc will suit most palettes and won’t break the bank.
Red wine is a big favourite with the masses and is the ideal choice to enjoy with most red meats or to wash down a rich saucy dish. Merlot, Malbec or a smooth tasting full bodied variety such as a Cabernet Sauvignon or Cotes Du Rhone will always go down well, and with the seemingly endless choice available on the market there is plenty of opportunity to choose the perfect partner for the main course.
Dessert wines are not always on the wine list but do add an extra special touch to compliment the sweet course and are traditionally quite heavy and very much on the sugary side. The most popular of these are Muscatel and Sauternes which appeal most to those with a sweet tooth.
Serving fortified wines to accompany the cheese and biscuits finale is of course a matter of both choice and taste but a wonderfully warming glass of Port just adds that classy finishing touch to any special event.
Tee total guests, drivers and not forgetting the younger members of the party of course, don’t need to be left out of the fun with the vast range of alcohol free wines and sparkling juices now on the market. A refreshing Elderflower Presse or Sparkling Grape Juice is perfect to offer as a substitute to their more adult cousins but there are also several alcohol free wines available including a Chenin Blanc and a Cabernet.
So selecting something for everyone from the wine list for your special day is much less daunting than you think, whether you hold the purse strings, are one very excited guest or maybe are just that bit younger than most, a perfect wedding feast can be enjoyed by all.
