It can be intimidating when you think about properly serving wine at your wedding. The truth is, however, that following some common-sense tips can make things a lot easier.
I don’t know about you, but I love wine. And so does my husband. We really do. But we don’t know anything about it. Even though we live in a location that is revered for wine (Northern California), and belong to more than one wine club, we are very simple with our tastes. If the wine is good, we will drink it. And, if the wine isn’t good, we will probably drink it anyway.
So, going into this post, understand I’m not an expert. I’m just someone who was able to do a little research, use my own experience of getting married at a winery, and also drinks wine on a regular basis. But, let’s face it. Most of your wedding guests aren’t going to be major experts on wine, anyway. They just want to drink something that tastes good, and you’ll want to make sure you don’t stress about what to serve ahead of time.
7 Tips For Serving Wine At Your Wedding
This post has seven easy tips for choosing, buying, and serving wine at your wedding. It’s goal is to make you feel more prepared as you purchase and pair this coveted beverage with food and your guest’s experience. I hope that it gives you encouragement to both stay within your comfort zone, and perhaps branch out a little. Your guests will appreciate both scenarios.
Here we go!
#1: SERVE WINE AT YOUR WEDDING THAT YOU ENJOY DRINKING
The number one tip with wine and weddings is to serve what you like.
Now, if you don’t like wine, ask your partner what they like. Or a family member. Or a friend. Chances are, someone will be able to help you determine some tried-and-true favorites. However, if you do like wine, this should be easy. If you like white wines, serve whites. Same with reds. Perhaps you don’t like Chardonnays, but you love Sauvignon Blanc. If this is the case, serve what you enjoy.
According to this post, the most popular white wine varietals in the US are Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling. The most popular reds are Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Malbec, and Shiraz. White Zinfandel is also very popular.
#2. LOOK INTO YOUR VENUE’S RULES ON WINE
The next tip is to find out the rules your venue may have about wine and the events they hold.
For example, some venues will allow you to bring in your own wine. Others will require you to serve specific wines. This is likely the case if you’re getting married at a winery. If you are allowed to bring in your own wine, look into any limitations or corkage fees, where you have to pay the venue a little extra just to open the bottles you’ve already brought.
The best way to understand any rules about wine and your wedding is to ask the question before you book a venue. If you’ve already booked, you can always look at your contract or ask the venue, as well. The main goal is to find out if you can, or should, provide your own wine, and if there are any extra fees for doing so.
#3. BUY WINE STRATEGICALLY
If you are able to bring your own wine to your wedding venue, this may mean that you need to go out and buy it yourself. And, to be honest, this can be really intimidating to some people.
KEEPING WINE AFFORDABLE
The first thing to note about buying wine is that it doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, expensive wines aren’t necessarily going to taste better. The price of a bottle may be based off of how rare the grapes were, the label on it, and how much effort went into producing it. Not necessarily how good it tastes. Keep that in mind when you go to buy.
One of the most cost effective ways to buy wine is to buy it by the case. You can also purchase it from a wholesale market, like Costco. Look into if you can return any unopened wine after the wedding, as well.
HOW MANY BOTTLES TO BUY
The amount of wine to buy can be really confusing, too, and it all varies on how many guests will be at your wedding, how much they like wine, and how long your wedding is.
According to this article, you may want to have enough drinks to last each person, per hour of your wedding. Take into account other alcohols you are serving, like beer and liquor, and adjust your calculations accordingly. If you’re not serving liquor, you’re likely to need a bit more wine.
If you’re just having wine and beer, you may want to plan on two or three glasses per guest, for your entire wedding. Assume that each bottle has about five glasses in it. So, if you have 100 guests, you’re likely to need about 50 bottles. This may seem like a lot, but you can always drink, gift, or maybe even return the leftover, unopened, bottles.
#4. PAIR THE WINE AT YOUR WEDDING WITH YOUR MENU
One of the things that is the most appealing to couples about having wine at their wedding to pair it with the food they are serving.
You can do this in a few different ways. If you’re getting married at winery, pay attention to what they suggest pairing your menu with. Get guidance from your caterer, if they seem knowledgeable. If you have the freedom to provide your own wine, go wine tasting. While you’re there, ask questions about what pairs well with the wines that you liked. Sometimes even the back of certain wine bottles will suggest what they pair well with.
EXAMPLES OF PAIRINGS
As general guidelines, some wines are just more versatile to pair with foods than others.
For example, lighter Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs are notoriously easy to pair. Sauvignon Blancs and Rosé are also easy to serve and pair. And, a general rule of thumb is “what grows together, goes together”. This is explored nicely in this article, but the gist is that if a wine comes from a certain country or region, it will probably pair well with other foods that grow there, too.
MATCHING PROTEIN WITH THE WINE AT YOUR WEDDING
For specific matches, check out the recommendations below:
Chicken: White poultry meat tends to pair well with white wines like Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay.
Duck/Game: Darker meat goes well with medium-bodied reds like Pinot Noir and Zinfandel.
Beef: Steak pairs well with red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon. Roasts are great with red Bordeaux or Cabs. Beefy stews are best with rich red wines like Pinot Noir or Zinfandel.
Pork: According to this article, tenderloin pairs with Pinot Noir or a Burgundy. Grilled pork may pair well with Grenache. Smoked pork shoulder goes with Pinot Grigio. Pulled pork pairs well with Zinfandel. Pork Chops are great with Syrah or Grenache. Ham, bacon, or cured pork goes with a light white like a Chenin Blanc. Sausage does well with Malbec.
Fish: Fried fish can do well with prosecco. Spicy fish may taste great with a sweet Moscato. Oily fish pairs with a chilled Pinot Gris. Mild white fish and Sauvignon Blanc pair well. Fresh water fish may go well with Pinot Noir.
Vegetarian: This can be tricky, but in general you should pair foods with a “like” wine. Acidic or fried foods go well with acidic wine. Spicy foods may pair nicely with sweet wines. Sweet wines are also good with sweet food. Salty food is great with tannin-heavy reds. For more suggestions, check out this article.
#5: THE TEMPERATURE SHOULD COMPLIMENT THE WINE AT YOUR WEDDING
When it comes to wine, you may also want to know the right temperature to serve it. Especially if you’re not having a wine professional taking care of it for you.
Red wines tend to be closer to room temperature than white wines. They can be served chilled, though, if your wedding is served in a warm climate. The best temperatures for reds are usually between 55*F and 70*F. Whites tend to be colder, but a good quality white wine is okay to serve room temperature. The ideal range for whites is 45*F to 50*F.
SEASONAL WINE RECOMMENDATIONS
When it comes to general rules around temperature, it’s best to just think about how hot or cold the climate will be at your wedding. In the deep heat of summer, serve colder wine like Sauvignon Blanc. During a frigid winter, serve warmer wines like Pinot Noir. In the fall, you could serve a light Grenache or Syrah. And, in the spring, fresh and light wines like Rosé, chilled Malbec or Beaujolais are in season.
#6: MAKE THE WINE AT YOUR WEDDING PERSONAL
Though this post gives guidelines and suggestions, at the end of the day all that really matters is that you and your partner serve wine that you enjoy. If you’re able to connect your relationship to it, even better.
To make wine a bigger part of your wedding, you can provide write ups at each table times you drank specific wines. Or, you can name each table a type of wine you enjoy. You can also put information on the wine that will be at your wedding on your website.
Including wine that is personal to you doesn’t have to be a big production. If you have the freedom to choose what you serve, you can pick it based on wines that are from special trips you’ve taken with each other. Or, have enjoyed on momentous occasions.
#7: EDUCATE YOURSELF ABOUT WINE
If you want to learn more about wine, there are lots of interesting ways to go about it.
For starters, there are some fantastic documentaries out there. Somn is my favorite, and it’s on Netflix. Of course, there are also books and podcasts, too. Here is an article about the best books about wine, if you want to check it out.
Another great way to learn about wine is to go wine tasting. In some locations, you can even do this in your local wine stores. While there, the server will likely share with you more information about the wine you’re drinking, and you can learn what you like.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Well friends, hopefully you feel more prepared about serving wine at your wedding. Pay attention to the food you’re serving, the temperature outside, and what you really just like to drink. If you’re up for it, make wine the theme of your wedding (but you don’t have to). Cheers!
More From Hummingbird Wedding Advice:
What To Know Before Your Wedding Tasting
Fall Wedding Signature Drinks (Including Recipes!)
DIY Cocktail Hours: A How-To Guide
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