Say "I do"..."drink champagne!"

It seems that many if not most weddings are funded by the couples themselves these days. With most people getting married at a later age, the tradition of the bride’s parents footing the bill is probably the
exception to the rule. Since most brides and grooms to be already have plenty of debt in their lives, they’re looking to save a penny or two anywhere they can. Here are some tips on buying terrific tasting wines for
the big day without spending big bucks!

Tip #1- Don’t buy too much wine! I’ve been helping people buy wine for events for about 20 years now. The vast majority of customers buy way too
much wine because they’re worried about running out. That’s fine if it’s wine that you would normally drink at home and you don’t mind having extra. If you’re really on a budget though, follow this formula- one glass per wine drinker per hour. You’ll get 60 healthy pours from a case. Remember, if you’re offering beer and cocktails as well, probably only a third of the guests will drink wine throughout the event. Almost all the drinkers will have wine with a dinner, however.

Tip #2- Try to work with a venue that allows you to bring in your own wine. Most halls and caterers charge crazy prices for mediocre wines. This is a profit goldmine for them. They are less interested in offering
quality wines than they are in finding wines with a huge margin. Most have no training or knowledge to select good wine even if they wanted to.

Tip #3- Don’t offer too many selections. Most guests will be happy with one or two choices in red, one or two in white and one sparkler. Offering more than that means you either have to buy large quantities of each (meaning lots of leftovers) or risk running out of whatever is the most popular.

Tip #4- Be open to serving wines from lesser known regions and grapes- If your budget is $10 per bottle and you want to stick to California Cabernet Sauvignon, you’re going to be serving dull, mass-produced wine. However, there are some truly delicious, interesting wines from out of the way corners of Spain, Italy and France for the same price. Matching the nationality of the cuisine can be a good way to work with these wines.

Tip #5- Ask the servers to open bottles as they need, rather than opening every bottle in advance. If there are going to be extras, they should be going home with you, not the servers!

Tip #6- Ask the servers to pour only half servings of sparkling wine for the toast. Many people simply do not care for sparkling wine and will raise their glass, take one sip and forget the rest. It’s better to have
more bubbles left for the guests who love them.

Some great sources of value:

Sparkling wines- Cava is about the best value around. If you have the budget, steer clear of the super cheap versions from huge producers (Freixenet, Codorniu, Cristalino, etc.). Many boutique Spanish importer have much better Cava for just a little more dough. I carry really tasty Brut and Brut Rose Cavas from Gran Sarao that are only $10 per bottle.

Red Wines- If you’re on a budget, stay away from American wines and stay away from Pinot Noir. There are simply no $10 wines in these categories that I’d serve my guests. Turning again to Spain, I sell a juicy, rich,spicy Spanish red made from old vine Garnacha called Tres Ojos for only $10. In a more classic, earthy old world style, I sell a French red from Bergerac, a satellite region of Bordeaux, for $10. This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

White Wines- If your guests are mostly urban dwellers, you should know that most white drinkers have moved away from Chardonnay. Sauvignon Blanc is a good bet from both a popularity and value standpoint. Rayun, a Chilean producer, is a favorite at the $10 price point.

Here’s to a great wedding day and some truly tasty, affordable wines to celebrate the moment!

Cheers!

Dean AKA-The Cellar Rat