The Dos and Don’ts of Buying Wine For A Wedding
With some quite frankly scandalous wine prices offered by restaurants and venues, more and more couple are tuning into buying their own wines for their wedding. We know that it can be a daunting affair so here are a few top dos and don’ts about buying the wine for your big day.
DON’T…
Forget about your food. Surprising amounts of people still do not take what’s on the menu into consideration and go all out for big, hefty discounts when buying wine. If it’s a hot summer’s day and a light buffet is on offer then forget about a beefy Zinfandel or spicy Aussie Shiraz and look at lighter red options such as a Pinot Noir from New Zealand or Chile. Anakena’s ONA Pinot Noir 2007 (£9.99 at Oddbins) is outstanding wine to match perfectly with a variety of dishes including pasta, red meats, poultry and cheeses.
DO…
A wine tasting! This doesn’t mean it has to be stuffy affair with spittoons aplenty and everyone writing pages of drivel. Get a few mates (or maybe your partner would actually probably be a slightly safer option) get some wines you like the look of and taste away! A few of the savvy wine retailers will sell you a few bottles at a discounted price as they know that if you like what you’re drinking and the price of it then you’re much more likely to come back and place a large order with them.
If you’re a fan of a particular producer then try a few more of their offerings. If you’ve tried the treats of Ravenswood (perhaps their smooth, fruity yet bold Vintners Blend £7.99 at Waitrose) then why not give one of their fuller, spicier no-holds barred Old Hill Zinfandel (£24.99 from Direct Wines) a go…this stunner is guaranteed to impress.
DON’T…
Cut yourself short. There’s nothing worse at a wedding than all the booze drying up, so it’s always better to get bit extra. Many wine companies offer a “sale-or-return” policy where you basically pay for what you drink. Always confirm with the shop what their exact policy is before you make the purchase. Generally, with wine as long as the bottle is in a saleable condition then they will take it back. Watch out for screw caps as they can be deceivingly unobvious that they have been opened. With beer and soft drinks you may have to not open the case they came in, as some places will not accept open/ripped cases. As a rule of thumb allow at least ½ a bottle of wine per person. Then a bit more as your safety marker!
DO…
Consider the pink stuff. Rosé wines can certainly be a crowd pleaser, they are generally light, very versatile with food and quite ridiculously easy to drink. Ok, maybe it’s not the epitome of manly drinks but you’ll be surprised how much will disappear over the day especially if the sun decides to shine. De Bortoli offer a great Rosé (£5.99, down to £4.79 as part of a mixed case at Oddbins) fruit driven and eminently drinkable that will be ideal either as an aperitif or with seafood.
DON’T…
Forget about how you are going to keep your drinks nice and chilled. If a venue will allow you to bring your own booze then the chances are they might not be so willing to take their own drink out of their fridges, so you’ll have to make your own chilling arrangements. Ice buckets and plenty of ice might well be your saving grace here. A mix of ice and water quarter filled in each bucket (with a sprinkle of salt to really speed up the process) is your quickest way to chill everything. This will work a treat if you’re planning anything outdoors.
DO…
Listen to your guests. Although the stuff is made from grapes, a lot of wines are not in fact vegetarian or vegan friendly. Without too much boring information about production, a lot of wines are actually clarified using some downright wacky ingredients from egg whites and gelatine to collagen and (brace yourself) fish swim bladders. Seriously. So if any of your guests are vegetarians then you might want to take this into consideration. Get yourself over to a knowledgeable wine merchant and ask about their vegetarian and/or vegan-friendly wines.
DON’T…
Pay attention to these wine myths. Chardonnay is now rubbish, the most expensive is always best etc etc. For a top white tipple go for the Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Chardonnay 2006 with its tropical fruit characters and a touch of spice. (£14.99 down to £9.99 when you buy 2+ until February 1 at Majestic) and never be afraid to venture down the unknown route.
DO…
Consider alternatives to Champagne. If you’re trying to keep those costs down then don’t always think an absolute must for the toast or reception is champers. In fact if a Champagne deal seems far too good to be true…then generally it is! There are some superb alternatives to the real deal out there that aren’t a million miles outside of the Champagne region. One in particular that still wows the wine crowd is the Blanquette de Limoux NV (£9.99 at Tesco) A superbly balanced sparkler from the south of France that will impress for any toast even if your best man doesn’t…
If you’ve got a question about plonk then our wine expert Alex Layton is happy to give you answers. Try him, we think he’s fruity, bold and a little bit spicy (just a guess, Alex): iamstaggered@gmail.com
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