Your Essential Guide to Wedding Wines

Choosing the right wines for your wedding can feel overwhelming, but it does not have to be. With a little guidance and planning, you can serve wines that your guests will genuinely enjoy and remember. This guide covers everything from reception bubbles to dinner wines, with practical tips on quantities and budgets.

Reception Drinks

The reception sets the tone for the entire celebration. Champagne is the traditional choice, and nothing quite matches the excitement of a glass of fizz as guests arrive. However, a quality Cremant can offer the same festive atmosphere at a fraction of the price. Consider a Cremant de Bourgogne or Cremant d'Alsace for excellent value without compromising on style.

For quantities, plan on two glasses per person during the reception. A standard bottle yields about six glasses, so for 100 guests you will need approximately 34 bottles, or just under three cases.

Dinner Wines

For the wedding breakfast, choose wines that complement your menu without overpowering it. A good rule of thumb is to offer one white and one red. For white, a Burgundy Chardonnay or a crisp Chablis works beautifully with fish and poultry starters. For red, a smooth Bordeaux or an elegant Pinot Noir from Burgundy pairs well with most main courses.

Plan on half a bottle per person for the meal, split roughly equally between white and red. This accounts for the fact that some guests will drink more of one colour than the other.

The Toast

For the toast, you can either continue with the reception Champagne or introduce something special. A vintage Champagne or a prestige cuvee makes a memorable statement, though many couples choose to keep the same sparkling wine throughout. One glass per person is sufficient, so budget accordingly.

Budget Tips

Wedding wine does not need to be expensive to be excellent. Here are our top tips for getting the best value. First, consider Cremant instead of Champagne for the reception. Second, choose wines from lesser-known appellations that offer outstanding quality, such as Cotes du Rhone Villages or Bourgogne Blanc. Third, buy by the case to benefit from case discounts. And fourth, work with an independent merchant who can source the best wines within your budget.

Working with an Independent Merchant

This is where Mosse and Mosse can truly help. We offer a personal wedding wine consultation where we get to know your tastes, understand your menu, and work within your budget to curate the perfect selection. We can arrange tasting sessions so you can try before you buy, and we handle delivery to your venue. Many of our customers tell us that the wine was one of the highlights of their wedding.

A Quick Quantity Guide