Universal soldier: choosing wine for catering

Preparations for the celebration have reached the final stage - the dress is waiting in the wings, the menu has been agreed upon with the restaurant, and you are putting the finishing touches on it. It's time to buy wine for your wedding, but don't know which one to get? For those who distinguish wines only by color and do not understand varieties and regions, we present a detailed guide from sommelier Maria Osokina. Maria is in love with her business and talks about it so interestingly that the advice reads like an adventure novel - it’s impossible to put it down. Let's start with a reminder on choosing the type of wine for wedding dishes, save it:

Plan ahead

Almost no wedding is complete without three alcoholic drinks. This is, naturally, champagne, wine, vodka or cognac. If the first option is most used at the beginning of the celebration, the registry office and walks with photo sessions, then wine and other drinks are present throughout the wedding. And here it is important not to turn a blind eye to what wine is best to buy for the celebration. To avoid getting into trouble, let's figure this out.

First, try to decide in advance on the exact number of guests. This will help conditionally divide them into two halves by gender, since wine, liqueurs and other lighter drinks are preferred by women, and cognac, vodka, whiskey and brandy are preferred by men. Young people will enjoy a variety of cocktails based on rum, tequila, absinthe or gin. However, more and more newlyweds adhere to the generally accepted convention of buying at the following rate: 1 bottle per person, strong drinks - 0.5 liters per person.

Wine is a drink that you can drink in small sips, savor and enjoy a long aftertaste all evening. Therefore, his choice should be given great importance.

Secondly, it is better to buy 1.5-2 times more, thereby creating a reserve in case the evening drags on or the toastmaster has more toast than expected. In any case, you can always take the remaining alcohol for yourself or use it, for example, on the second day of the wedding.

Advice! Don't spend more than you need. The best investment would be a honeymoon trip!

Thirdly , you need to decide where to buy wine for your wedding. There may be two options here: either order from the assortment in the restaurant, or buy alcohol in bulk. Of course, it is best to choose a reliable supplier of alcoholic beverages, where the choice will be wider and the price will be much cheaper.

Important! Do not forget that by choosing the services of a restaurant, you will pay not only for rent and service, but also for the products purchased from them or brought with you.
And in this case, you will have to overpay double for one bottle.

A sparkling wine

Light snacks, fresh berries, a melodic playlist...welcome begins with smiles, lightness and, of course, sparkling. The well-known Prosecco (DOC Prosecco) is being replaced by a whole army of sparkling wines from other regions:

• French crémant (for example, Alsatian Crémant d'Alsace or Loire Crémant de Loire)
• Cava (DO Cava, Spain)
• Franciacorta and Trento (DOCG Franciacorta and DOC Trento - two sparkling pearls of Italy)
• sekt (Germany)
• all sorts of New World sparkling wines, led by Cap Classique wine from South Africa.
• for those who like something sweeter – Asti (DOCG Asti, Italy)
• and, of course, champagne (AOC Champagne, France). To recommend a specific champagne is to write a textbook. And yet, “not getting in” is more difficult than “getting in”: a large, respected house is always a good choice, and a small winemaker (they are now called “recoltans”) is an interesting experiment. You can start with champagne and continue with it, or you can divide it into welcome - sparkling, and for the ceremony itself - definitely Champagne! Of course, no one canceled prosecco, the most interesting ones are from a certain zone, marked “DOCG Conegliano Valdobbiadene”

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A wonderful option is sparkling cocktails, from classic bellini, rossini and kira to signature variations on the theme. Here you can take a simpler sparkling wine as a base, because you won’t feel terroir (a fundamental term in winemaking; it is believed that the values ​​and characteristics of wine come primarily from the place, climate, traditions of the region, “wine is born in the vineyard”).

Brief instructions for waiters

The following points should be discussed with service personnel in advance:

1.There is no need to refill wine for guests every five minutes unless they ask for it.

2.Do not open the entire supply of wine until the one already opened is finished. Yes, according to some rules, red must be opened in advance so that it can “breathe”. However, this does not need to be done in a few hours! It is enough for it to stay in the open air for an hour.

3.Pay attention to where the wine is stored! Quite often this is confused. Remember to serve whites chilled and reds at room temperature.

What dishes to serve wine with at a wedding?

As a welcome drink, sparkling wine is served with light snacks that will not kill your appetite until the main banquet:

• grilled seafood - such as shrimp or squid rings on skewers, marinated in herbs and lemon juice;
• numerous canapes, as an option - a slice of black bread with cream cheese, lightly salted salmon and cucumber;
• skewers with Greek salad - cherry tomatoes, feta, bell pepper and olive;
• light portioned vegetable salads.

(© mariage18.fr)

Light white goes well with a buffet of appetizers:

• cold cuts;
• young hard cheeses;
• fish slices;
• baked vegetables;
• pickled eggplants.

Thicker white wine:

• for hot appetizers – mushroom or chicken julienne;
• risotto;
• pasta;
• for main fish dishes;
• to white meat poultry or veal.

Medium-bodied red wine is a drink for:

• main meat course (grilled beef, roast beef, baked pork);
• mature cheeses;
• and also for cold cuts.

Sparkling wine for dessert is more of a tradition than a correct gastronomic decision. Firstly, because by the end of the holiday, alcohol is consumed in smaller quantities, and secondly, because the pronounced brut that prevails today does not go well with a sweet cake. It would be more correct to offer coffee or tea, but if you decide to follow traditions, then pay attention to:

• semi-dry champagne – you will need much less of it than sparkling champagne for a welcome drink, so this choice will have less impact on the budget;
• semi-dry cremant;
• dry Prosecco – light, floral, uncomplicated, but pleasant – just what you need at the end of the holiday.

Dishes=Wine

Surely everyone knows that the type of wine must be selected according to the nature of the dishes.

For menus containing fish dishes or poultry , white wines of the following grape varieties are suitable: 1. Sauvignon Blanc; 2. Chardonnay.

As for wine brands, the following brands would be an excellent choice: • Anoranza, Bellingham, Montemar, Ventisquero, Ribbonwood, Morande, Lis Neris, Montes, Gran Verano, Grand Baron Ribeyac, Cimislia, Driada, Berberana; • Mancura, Kosher collection, Phanagoria, Slavic Vine, Russian Azov, Ventisquero, Torre Di Luna, Planeta, Gai Kodzor, Morande, Alamos.

In a menu where meat dishes predominate , the following grape varieties are suitable: 1. Cabernet Sauvignon; 2. Syrah; 3. Merlot; 4. Pino Noir.

These are wines of the following brands: • Mancura, Kosher collection, Phanagoria, Russian Azov, Golden Amphora, Ventisquero, Torre Di Luna, Montes, Minini, Lis Neris, Kaiken, Gran Verano, Big Fat Llama, Alamos; • Gai-Kodzor, Ventisquero, Planeta, Montes, Alamos; • Alamos, Big Fat Llama, Cimislia, Driada, El Paso, Gran Verano, Sauk-Dere, Ventisquero, Slavic Vine; • Crimean, Montes.

Not suitable for a wedding table

But some wines should be avoided on the wedding table:

• any fortified wine (port, sherry, Madeira, Rivesaltes, fortified mskats) - neither you nor your guests need excess alcohol;
• powerful and tart reds (Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Napa Valley, Amarone della Valpolicella, municipal appellations of Medoc) - such drinks can overwhelm the taste of gourmet snacks and seem heavy (besides, they are often quite strong - 14-15% ABV);

(© lidl-vins.fr)

• very sweet (Sauternes, Bonzo, Italian Vinsanto and Passito, Tokaj) - perhaps it would be original to offer such wines for dessert instead of semi-dry sparkling wine, but you should not start the banquet with them, because taste buds quickly get tired of large amounts of sugar and culinary delights simply will not be appreciated;
• very expensive collectibles - they are unlikely to receive due attention at the wedding, and due to their high price, you can very quickly go beyond your budget.

Spring-Summer-Autumn-Winter=Wine

An important point is the time of year the wedding is held. Does the choice of wine depend on this? Certainly!

White wines are best suited for a summer celebration: • Chardonnay; • Merlot; • Cabernet; • Sauvignon; • Syrah; • Zinfandel; • Sauvignon Blanc; • Pinot Gris/Grigio; • Riesling.

Red ones are for winter weddings. At this time, the wines of the following grape varieties will warm up perfectly and will be more saturated: • Pinot Noir; • Petit Verdot; • Dolcetto; • Graciano.

Important! To satisfy all guests, it is best to choose wines that are neutral in sugar and alcohol content. For example, semi-dry or semi-sweet.

Calculate the required number of bottles

In our opinion, the optimal number of bottles should be calculated using the following formula: divide the number of invited guests by 2.15. After all, during a festive feast, it is mainly women who prefer to drink wine. Next, we determine the ratio of different types of drink.

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It is customary to pour champagne at the beginning of the feast to all guests to make the first toast in honor of the heroes of the occasion. Many guests limit themselves to only half a glass of sparkling drink.

With this serving, 1 bottle of champagne is enough for 10 guests. At weddings held in the summer, white wines are in great demand. Experts advise purchasing approximately the same amount of white, rose and red wine.

When a wedding is held in autumn, winter or spring, guests prefer to drink red wine. Its amount should be approximately half of all alcohol purchased for the wedding. To please the tastes of all invited guests, stock up on dry, semi-dry and semi-sweet red and white wines.

What else can you put in a capsule?

What else can you put in a capsule? You can also seal not only letters, but also photographs or small gifts for your significant other. For example, if the capsule is opened after five years, the anniversary will be called a wooden wedding, and wooden jewelry for the other half can be put in the box - a bracelet, earrings, beads, a small wooden puzzle.

You can also put some unexpected surprises for each other in the chest, for example, a drawing. The bride can depict in the picture her life with the groom as she imagines it in five years.

Relatives and friends present at the wedding can also put notes in the time capsule; in them they can express wishes to the newlyweds, some jokes, any creativity is welcome here.

When to open a time capsule

There are many options for the opening time of the capsule. For example, you can agree that the capsule will be opened on the day of the newlyweds’ first quarrel in order to refresh their memory of their feelings and they can make peace faster. In this case, the capsule is called a chest of discord.

Also, the wine ceremony capsule can be opened after the birth of the first child.

But this is not always convenient, since the bride at this moment will be a nursing mother and, most likely, will not be able to drink wine. But on the other hand, if the birth of a baby is still celebrated, and relatives and friends are invited, it is very logical to combine this holiday with the opening of the capsule.

The next option is to open the time capsule on a specific wedding anniversary. Usually these are one year, five years, ten, fifteen years, twenty or twenty-five year anniversaries. We already wrote above that you can make a capsule from several cells and open one cell at a time for different events or anniversaries. For example, in a year, in five years and in ten years. In this case, each cell contains two letters from the bride and groom to each other.

Wine selection based on food served

Good wine improves the mood of guests, but low-quality wine can overshadow the entire wedding banquet. In this regard, it is not recommended to purchase cheap, low-quality wine drinks. It is advisable to choose good types of wine for the wedding in the middle price category, according to the tastes and preferences of the guests.

Certain types of wines harmonize perfectly with specific dishes, highlighting their taste. This point is important to consider when choosing drinks for a wedding banquet. There are a number of rules that will allow you to choose wine for a specific dish.

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Poem and video for the wine ceremony

Poems for a wine ceremony will perfectly emphasize the solemnity and touching of the moment. This poem and video for the wine ceremony will help you decide what to say during it.

Video for the wine ceremony

Poem for a wine ceremony

Marriage gets stronger over the years, like wine, We will seal the box securely, So that after years you can print it out again. You can print those words in which it is difficult

You can’t see the full power of that love that shines in your eyes today and will bring a lot of happiness to the two of you. May this box be available annually

Remind you how valuable your union is. Let it be as sweet as sparkling wine, Let it be a strong reminder of the strength of the bonds that connected the two roads of destinies.

Having opened the wine and taken a sip, you will remember that very moment, When, like a bright flower, Love in your hearts became a revelation.

Whatever type of wine ceremony you choose, it will decorate and diversify any wedding, as well as add touchingness to the moment and allow you to joyfully remember this day after many years.

Tips for reducing your wine costs

When ordering a banquet, restaurants often accommodate and allow you to bring some of the alcohol with you, without obliging you to purchase all the wine from their bar at high prices.

Keep an eye out for seasonal discounts and ongoing promotions in stores. Often, thanks to them, you can purchase good quality wine at very affordable prices.

Agree with your servers to simply place bottles on the table as needed and allow guests to fill their own glasses, as it is not common for a glass of wine to be more than three-quarters empty in restaurants.

Video

Review of the most popular wine brands

When the question arises of which wine to choose for a wedding, it is best to consider the most popular options for drinks purchased on special occasions.

Wine as a wedding gift

This gift is not suitable for everyone. Now newlyweds prefer cash to at least partially pay for the celebration. But if one of the newlyweds is a connoisseur and connoisseur of wine, then such a gift will, of course, evoke pleasant emotions. It is important to remember that good gift wine is not a cheap product. You can't buy it in a regular supermarket. Choose collection wines. If you do not have special knowledge in this area, it is better to contact specialists who will help you choose the best option within the available amount.

Champagne

Any holiday, buffet or reception is not complete without sparkling wine. The festive table is no exception; rather, on the contrary, its obligatory presence is required there. For champagne, wine glasses that have a long stem are suitable. And it corresponds to food that is not endowed with a rich taste. An appetizer for this drink will enrich its aristocratic taste. What wine to choose for a wedding is a very important and responsible event.

With this “sparkling” it is appropriate to combine such dishes as: poultry, fruit or fruit ice cream, tiramisu, cakes with the most delicate buttercream. Cheese is also appropriate. This delicate product goes great with champagne. Cheese groups such as Edam, Gouda, Parmesan, Beaufort will be combined with any example of this aristocratic drink.