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What Is a Good Wine for a Wedding? How To Choose the Best Bottle

What is a good wine for a wedding? Vintage Champagne is a classic option that many guests will enjoy

Fine wine can make a couple’s wedding day feel all the more special. Whether toasting to the newlyweds over a flute of rosé Champagne or sipping Pinot Noir with dinner, the right wine is one that everyone will remember long after the night is over. 

But what is a good wine for a wedding? If you want a memorable wine to serve at a reception or to give to the happy couple, there are a few crowd-pleasing styles that are sure to impress. From food-friendly Brunello to celebratory Champagne, this guide includes the best selection of wedding wines on the market today, as well as some essential tips on how to pick out the perfect bottle for every type of celebration. 

Knowing How Much Wine to Buy 

When looking for a good wine for a wedding, one question is usually at the top of people’s minds: how much wine should you buy? This is a more complicated question than it might seem, and it affects what types of wine you serve. For example, if you need 50 bottles of wine, then not only will you have to account for that in your budget, but you’ll also need to consider where you can find so many bottles of the same wine. This is why it’s important to know exactly how much you need before you decide on a good wine for a wedding. 

As a general rule, most guests have one or two glasses of wine per hour during the wedding reception. However, this number may change when other types of alcohol, like beer or cocktails, are being served. The chart below will tell you the best number to estimate based on what’s being served:

Just Wine  Wine + Beer or Cocktails Wine + Beer + Cocktails
Two glasses of wine per hour  One glass of wine per hour About half a glass of wine per hour 

A standard bottle contains about five glasses’ worth of wine. So, to find out how much wine you need for the wedding, you should: 

  1. Multiply the number of guests by the average glasses they’ll drink per hour. Example: 100 guests being served wine, beer, and cocktails will drink 50 glasses of wine per hour. 
  2. Multiply this number by the total amount of time guests will be at the event (don’t count the ceremony or other moments when wine will not be served). Example: If guests drink 50 glasses of wine per hour during a four-hour reception, then you’ll need 200 glasses total. 
  3. Divide the number of glasses by five to get the number of bottles you need. Example: If you need 200 glasses, then this means you should buy about 40 bottles of wine. 

As you can see, you need quite a few bottles if you want to make sure everyone has the chance to try the wine. When you know where to find high-quality, wedding-ready wines with dozens of bottles in stock, then this process is simple. Below, you’ll find a list of just such wines, including tips on the best styles to pair with traditional wedding catering.

What Is a Good Wine for a Wedding? 

Some people make the mistake of buying inexpensive wine that isn’t particularly complex in flavor. However, when it comes to finding good wine for a wedding, you don’t have to compromise on quality. There are plenty of approachable wines that fit within your budget and also happen to taste delicious. The key to finding the best wedding wines is to select styles that complement the foods being served and to search for the hidden gems in that style. 

So, what is a good wine for a wedding? The best wines are:

  • Vintage Champagne 
  • Brunello di Montalcino
  • Chianti
  • Super Tuscans
  • Amarone della Valpolicella
  • Wines from the southern Rhône Valley and Loire Valley
  • Pinot Noir
  • Chardonnay
  • Chenin Blanc
  • Barolo
  • Chablis
  • Tokaji

All of the wines below are of exceptional quality, pair beautifully with food, and have multiple bottles in stock: 

Wedding Wines That Pair Well With Red Meat 

Some of the best wedding wines are tart reds with deeper, more complex notes like espresso and leather. The high acidity in wines like Brunello di Montalcino from Italy brightens up heavy red meat dishes, and you can find a number of top-quality bottles that are perfect for weddings, including:

“Super Tuscans” are also an excellent option for wedding celebrations, and pair especially well with beef. These wines are typically made from a blend of Sangiovese and French grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon. A few options are: 

Meanwhile, other wines from Italy, like Amarone della Valpolicella and Valpolicella Superiore, are rich and intense, with notes of black fig. They pair perfectly with the heartiest red meats:

If you’re serving lamb, it’s difficult to beat a rich red wine from the Rhône Valley of France, such as: 

The Loire Valley of France is also home to some exceptional red wines that are deeply complex and add a touch of spice to a red meat dish: 

And, of course, Pinot Noir is a classic wedding wine for a reason. This light and delicate red wine is renowned for its elegance. Some standout labels for a wedding are:

Wedding Wines That Pair Well With Poultry

Chardonnay is another wedding classic, and some of the best versions of this wine are rich and complex, which will elevate any poultry dish: 

Wedding Wines That Pair Well With Vegetarian Dishes

A red wine that pairs well with umami-rich vegetarian dishes like roasted mushroom or truffle pasta is fine Barolo from Italy: 

Chablis should also be at the top of your list this wedding season. With stunning floral aromatics and bright citrus flavors, it’s an exciting wine, ideal for spring or summer weddings. It pairs well with fresh vegetables and simple soups: 

Wedding Wines To Serve With Dessert or Toasts

One unusual wine that’s perfect for weddings is Tokaji, a sweet Hungarian style that’s deeply layered in flavor. Chances are, most wedding guests have never had this wine before, and it’s sure to be a memorable experience when they try it. Fine Sauternes and vintage Port are also ideal wines to serve at the end of a wedding celebration:

Or, if you’re looking for a sparkling wine to fill everyone’s flutes during the toast, these are excellent options: 

It’s wise to have one red, one white, and one sweet or sparkling wine option, as most weddings include the choice of a red meat, poultry, or vegetarian dish along with dessert. This is also helpful when it comes time to order the wine online. You can’t always find 50 bottles of the same wine in stock, but there are plenty of luxury wines sold by the case or in quantities under 20. Another benefit of buying more than one style of wine for a wedding is that you’ll offer guests more choices. They should be able to sample a bit of everything before the night is through. 

Special Gift Wines for the Couple

While all of the wines above are perfect for large receptions, it’s worthwhile to splurge on a much smaller number of bottles to serve at the couple’s table. It’s not uncommon for close family or friends to buy the couple a truly special gift bottle just for them. In this situation, fine vintage Champagne is the best option, as it’s celebratory and luxurious all at once. 

If a large group will join the couple at their table during dinner or the reception, then a magnum of Champagne will allow the couple to share a little with everyone. Or, you could buy two or three bottles for the table. One fun option is to serve a bottle of blanc de blancs and another bottle of rosé from the same Champagne house — 2007 Taittinger Brut Comtés de Champagne Blanc de Blancs and 2006 Taittinger Comtés de Champagne Rosé are an excellent combination. 

Here are a few other luxury Champagnes that are worthy of a place at the center of any wedding table: 

Or, for a red wine option, nothing says opulence like a fine bottle of Bordeaux. These are ideal picks for a wine-loving couple: 

Fine Burgundy is also a great wine for the couple’s table, and these vintages are particularly noteworthy: 

Whether you’re looking for just one legendary wine to celebrate tying the knot, or you’re planning the perfect wedding experience for guests, you’ll find the best luxury wines through Vinfolio’s online marketplace. With hundreds of top-rated wine labels for sale, secure shipping options, and curated recommendations from our expert staff, finding the right wine for your event is simple. A wedding is an important milestone, so why not celebrate the occasion with some of the finest wines in the world?

What is a good wine for a wedding? Whatever the occasion, Vinfolio is your partner in buying, selling, and professional storage. Contact us today to get access to the world’s finest wine.

The post What Is a Good Wine for a Wedding? How To Choose the Best Bottle appeared first on Vinfolio Blog.

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