White Wine Weddings: A Stylish And Modern Choice

Wine is an integral part of a wedding, from the traditional toasts and celebrations to the meal pairings. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of which wines to serve, there are some general guidelines and tips to help you make the right choices for your big day.

First, consider the season and time of your wedding. Lighter, crisp white wines like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio are often preferred for spring and summer weddings, especially if they are held outdoors or during the day. On the other hand, fuller-bodied reds like Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon are more suitable for fall and winter nuptials, especially if they are paired with heartier plated dinners. Dry Rosé is also a versatile option that can work well in any season.

Next, think about your guest list and their preferences. If you know your guests are wine enthusiasts, you may want to offer a wider variety of options, including both popular choices and more unique selections. However, if your guests are mostly beer drinkers or non-drinkers, you may want to adjust your quantities accordingly.

Finally, don't forget to consider your budget. Wine can range in price from under $10 to over $100 per bottle, so it's important to set a realistic budget and explore options within your price range. You may also want to consider box wine, which can be a more economical option, especially if you have a large guest list.

Ultimately, the best wine for your wedding is the one that you and your partner enjoy. It's your special day, so choose wines that reflect your tastes and celebrate your love story.

How much wine to buy for a wedding

There are many factors to consider when determining how much wine to buy for a wedding. The most important factor is the number of guests—a simple formula for the number of bottles needed is to take the total number of guests and divide it by 2.15. For example, a wedding with 100 guests would require about 46 bottles of wine. Other formulas suggest multiplying the number of guests by the expected number of drinks per guest (usually 0.5 or 0.66 of a bottle per person) to get the total number of bottles required.

The duration of the reception, the time of day, the season, the food being served, and the drinking culture of your social circle will also influence how much wine you need. For a longer event (four hours or more), plan for about a bottle of wine per person. If you're also serving beer, plan for about one bottle of wine for every two guests, and if you're serving beer and cocktails, one bottle for every four guests should be enough. If your event starts before 5 pm or you're serving liquor or beer, plan for half a bottle of wine per person for a three-hour period.

If you're serving other alcoholic drinks, the general rule of thumb is that 50% of guests will prefer wine, 30% will prefer beer, and 20% will prefer mixed drinks. If you're not serving mixed drinks, plan for 60% of guests to consume wine and 40% to drink beer.

For a champagne toast, you'll need enough for a half-glass per person, which works out to about one bottle per 8-10 people.

It's always better to overestimate and have extra bottles than to run out, and most retailers offer a 10-15% discount when you buy cases. Check with your venue and/or wine suppliers about their policy on unopened bottles, as some will refund or adjust your invoice for bottles that aren't needed.

What types of wine to serve

When it comes to choosing the wine for your wedding, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, the season and setting of your wedding will influence your choice of wine. For example, if you're having a spring or summer wedding, especially during the daytime or outdoors, you'll probably want to opt for crisp white wines rather than full-bodied reds. On the other hand, fall and winter weddings tend to pair well with red wines, especially during heartier plated dinners. Dry rosé is a versatile option for any season, especially if you're serving seafood.

Secondly, you'll want to consider your menu and the types of food you'll be serving. The general rule is to pair light-to-medium-bodied wines with chicken, medium-to-bold reds with beef, light, dry white wines with fish, and light white or light red wines with vegetables.

Thirdly, think about your guest list and their preferences. Do most of them drink? Are there any non-drinkers? Do they prefer beer or other drinks to wine? Will they stay and party late into the night, or will they leave early?

Finally, your budget will also play a role in your decision. Wine can range from under $10 per bottle to $65 and above, so it's important to set a budget and choose wines that fit within that range.

Red Wines

• Pinot Noir: A silky wine with notes of berries, cherries, plums, violets, and warming spices. It has a lighter body and low tannin levels, making it suitable for sipping alone or pairing with a variety of foods, including roast chicken, duck, lamb, hearty fish, and pork.
• Cabernet Sauvignon: A full-bodied red wine that highlights dark fruit flavors, particularly plums, blackberries, and black currants. It pairs well with hearty dishes and is a good choice for beef, duck, richly spiced sauces, marinades, and other red meats.
• Shiraz/Syrah: An earthy, fruity red wine with notes of dark fruit and herb, such as leather, tobacco, and black pepper. Shiraz is suitable for pairing with red meats, pork, lamb, grilled meats, and game.
• Zinfandel: A bold, zesty red wine with intense flavors of dark berries, plums, cherries, chocolate, and black pepper. It has a high alcohol content and pairs well with spicy foods, grilled meats, red meat, and barbecue.
• Grenache: A red wine with a light color but a medium-to-full flavor profile, featuring stewed berries and white pepper. It can be found on its own or in wine blends and pairs well with red meat, lamb, chicken, and vegetables.
• Sangiovese: A fresh cherry-flavored red wine with herbal accents, often high in acidity and tannins. Newer versions tend to have lower acidity levels. It pairs well with chicken, red meat, mushrooms, and food with tomato sauces.

White Wines

• Sauvignon Blanc: A light and crisp white wine with refreshing, earthy flavors. It pairs well with a variety of foods, including cheese, chicken, oysters, seafood, and vegetables, and is suitable for any time of year.
• Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris: A nuanced white wine with notes of pear, lemon, melon, and sweet spice. It goes well with chicken, shellfish, rich fish, and pasta. The Italian version, Pinot Grigio, has a steely flavor with good acidity, while the French Pinot Gris offers more flavor complexity and a richer aftertaste.
• Chardonnay: A rich white wine with a creamy texture and intense fruit flavor. For weddings, it's best to stick to an unoaked or lightly oaked variety, which has a stronger fruit flavor and brighter acidity. It pairs well with vegetables, white fish, shellfish, chicken, pork, and veal.
• Riesling: A versatile white wine with a crisp, aromatic quality and a slight mineral touch. Riesling ranges from very dry to incredibly sweet, so it's a good idea to taste different brands to find the type you prefer. It works well with almost any food, including shellfish, pork, vegetables, and international cuisines.

Rosé

For a wedding reception, it's best to opt for a dry rosé, which offers the best of both worlds—the bright, refreshing flavors of white wine and the substance of red wine to stand up to meals and even wedding cake. Dry rosé is versatile and can be paired with almost any food, including chicken, red meat, salads, seafood, grains, and vegetables.

Sparkling Wine/Champagne

Sparkling wine and champagne are often associated with celebrations and make perfect toasting drinks for weddings. They offer subtle flavors and expressive bubbles, and dry sparkling wines work well with food. Here are some popular options:

• Blanc de Noir: Made primarily from Pinot Noir grapes, with some using Pinot Meunier. It has a full body and red fruit flavors, ranging in color from gold to pink.
• Blanc de Blanc: This variety is 100% Chardonnay-derived, with flavors to match if it's from the Champagne region of France. It tends to have a light, delicate flavor.
• Metodo Classico: A style of making sparkling wine similar to traditional champagne, with creamy bubbles and a rich body.
• Prosecco: An Italian sparkling wine with a fruity, aromatic flavor and flowery, peachy notes. Prosecco is usually on the dry side but tends to be sweeter than other varieties. It's best when young.
• Cava: The Spanish version of sparkling wine, produced in the same way as champagne but at a more affordable price point. Cava has a balanced fruity flavor but is not as sweet as Prosecco.
• Sparkling Rosé

How to pair wine with food

While it is possible to serve only white wine at a wedding, it is generally recommended to have a variety of wines to cater to different preferences and food pairings.

Pairing wine with food is a delicate process that can elevate the dining experience. Here are some tips to help you create the perfect pairings:

• Consider the Season: Traditionally, fall and winter weddings are associated with red wines, while spring and summer weddings are linked to white wines. However, the most important factor is to choose a wine that complements your wedding menu.
• Pair with Your Menu: Instead of focusing on a specific type of protein, opt for versatile wines that can accompany a variety of dishes. For red wines, consider Pinot Noir or Gamay, and for white wines, Albarino or Chenin Blanc are excellent choices.
• Match Intensity: Pair light dishes with light-bodied wines and rich, bold dishes with full-bodied wines. For example, a light seafood dish pairs well with a delicate white wine like Pinot Grigio, while a hearty steak dinner is enhanced by a robust red wine like Cabernet Sauvignon.
• Consider Congruent and Contrasting Pairings: Congruent pairings amplify shared flavor compounds, such as pairing a creamy dish with a creamy Chardonnay. Contrasting pairings create balance by contrasting tastes, like matching a bold red wine with a salty, fatty cheese.
• Sauce Over Meat: When in doubt, pair your wine with the sauce rather than the meat. For instance, chicken in a creamy lemon sauce pairs better with a white wine, while chicken in a mushroom sauce calls for a red wine.
• Acidity and Sweetness: The wine should generally be more acidic and sweeter than the food. White wines, rosés, and sparkling wines tend to have higher acidity, while sweet wines offer sweeter notes.
• Bitterness and Fat: Bitter wines, typically red wines, are best balanced with fatty dishes. For example, the salt and fat in macaroni can balance the tannin in a bold red wine.
• Tannins and Spicy Notes: If your dish is heavily spiced, look for a red wine with spicy notes, such as a Syrah or Cabernet Franc.
• Experiment and Have Fun: While there are guidelines for wine and food pairings, don't be afraid to experiment and break the rules. Ultimately, choose wines that you and your partner enjoy, as wine tells its own story and reflects the people who choose it.

White wine for different seasons

White wine is a popular choice for weddings, and there are many varieties to choose from. While the type of wine served at a wedding should complement the menu, it can also be chosen to match the season.

For a spring wedding, opt for a wine from warmer growing regions such as California, Australia, or Spain. These wines tend to be bright and refreshing, like a Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio.

In summer, your guests will appreciate a chilled drink to help them cool off. Go for a white wine like a Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio, a rosé, or a sparkling wine such as Prosecco.

Autumn is the time to transition to heartier reds, like a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, or Syrah. These wines pair well with the richer, fattier foods that are typically served during the cooler months.

For a winter wedding, a full-bodied red like Syrah or Tempranillo will warm up your guests. A white wine like Chardonnay, with its oaky flavours, can also work for a winter wedding, especially when paired with foods that have similar oaky, nutty, or caramelized flavours.

White wine alternatives

There are many alternatives to white wine that can be served at a wedding.

If you are looking for non-alcoholic options, apple cider vinegar is a great substitute for white wine. It has a slightly sweet and aged depth, similar to wine. You can add the same amount of vinegar as the amount of wine called for in the recipe.

Chicken or vegetable broth is another non-alcoholic alternative. This will add depth to the recipe, even if it changes the flavor slightly. If you are using broth that is slightly salted, be sure to taste the dish before adding any additional salt.

If you are looking for a sweeter option, you can swap in apple juice. Since apple juice is sweeter than wine, add a splash of vinegar or lemon juice for balance. Use caution when using apple juice in savory or salty recipes.

White grape juice is another alternative to white wine. However, it is significantly sweeter than white wine, so you will need to add vinegar or lemon juice to balance the flavor.

For an alcohol-free option that still has the wine flavor, non-alcoholic wine (also called dealcoholized or NA wine) is a great option. It is real wine, just without the alcohol, so it offers a very similar flavor profile to white wine.

If you are looking for alcoholic alternatives to white wine, there are several options to consider. Dry vermouth is a fortified wine with a longer shelf life that adds complex flavor notes and botanicals.

Other alcoholic beverages that can be used in place of white wine include beer, dry sherry, marsala, and madeira. These options will bring a different flavor profile to your dish but can be a great way to add some variety to your drinks selection.

Red wine and red wine vinegar can also be used as substitutes for white wine, although they will impart a stronger flavor and affect the color of your dish. They can work well in robust, hearty soups or stews.

When choosing an alternative to white wine, consider the dish you are preparing, the desired flavor profile, and the level of acidity needed. Some alternatives may work better in sweet or savory dishes, so be sure to taste your dish as you go and adjust the flavors as needed.

Frequently asked questions