~ Tip Tuesdays ~ Choosing your Wedding Wine!

"Eat, drink and be merry!"  

Famous last words spoken by the guests of honour!

Every bride and groom want their guests to have a fabulous time at their wedding.  

A celebration with great food, great music, and great wine!

As the first post in our "Tip Tuesday" blog series, we look at choosing the perfect wine for your wedding.   

A lot of couples opt to have a "champagne toast" at their reception in honour of their celebration but to have the perfect wine with your meal will make the experience for your guests that much more memorable!

Here are a few tips for selecting your wedding wine!

1.  Red or White ??

The time of year you are getting married, the time of day and what is on the menu for dinner all play a role in selecting the right wine.  

In the summer months a cool white wine may be more suitable while in the winter months a Cabernet, Pinot Noir, Merlot or other reds would be favourable.  

If you are having your reception in the afternoon, a lighter wine may go over better.  Guests tend to drink considerably less in the daytime as opposed to an evening reception.  This would be a cost saving idea as well!  

It is also important to pair your wine selection to the menu you have chosen for your reception.  A general rule of thumb: Red wines are best suited for beef or meaty pasta dishes while White wines are better paired with chicken, seafood and creamy pasta entrees.  

2.  How much do I buy??

As a general rule of thumb, each bottle of wine holds about 5 glasses.  Each wedding guest will most likely consume 2 glasses throughout the reception.  If you are anticipating your guests will consume more, then order accordingly.  But you do have to consider that some of your guests will not drink at all and others will have several glasses!  

One additional note:  Buy in bulk.  Always purchase by the case.  Almost all merchants offer a discount per case and will usually increase that if you buy several at once.  Another cost saving idea!

3.  What's in your wallet??

Now to be cost efficient when selecting and purchasing wine for your reception, be sure to keep your eyes open for sales and specials at your local wine shop.  

Another way to save some money is to bottle your own wine!  This can be a fun endeavour with your fiance where you can personalize the experience by customizing your own labels!

To help you get started, the LCBO has established their picks for wines to be paired with hors d'oeurves, dinner and dessert.  Check them out!!