What Every Bride Should Know When Planning A Wedding

Years ago a full bar was the norm at most formal weddings but with rising costs and liability laws tightening, wine and beer, which have a lower alcohol content, have become the most popular choice for weddings.

White wine, which is requested more often by women, is more popular in warm weather months with an Oregon Pinot Gris and Italian Pinot Grigio the most refreshing followed by Sauvignon Blanc. Chardonnay, although extremely popular, is not quite as refreshing on those warm summer days.

Red wines are requested by men more often than women and are said to be more popular with beer drinkers and served more during the cooler months. It has been my experience however that red wine is being requested just as much during the summer as the cooler seasons.

If you are planning on buying your own wine for the wedding your best price will be a case price. And if at all possible buy directly from the vineyard. I live in Oregon’s Willamette Valley where some of the finest wines in the world are produced and the selection is incredible. The idea of going to the supermarket to buy a case of wine is almost sacrilegious. Most vineyards have case prices but be sure to ask before you place your order if you can delay pick-up or delivery until shortly before your wedding date.

I recently spoke with Tim Pickett, Marketing Director for Viridian Wines at Olsen Family Vineyards. This particular vineyard produces an exceptional Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. I asked Tim about Viridian case ordering with delayed delivery. “Here is how it would work with us. We would be willing to do an advance order and would usually want a 10% deposit. We would issue a contract and then set up a system reminder in order to ensure that the wine was delivered on time. In case of cancellation, they would lose their deposit to restocking, but other than that, we’d be completely willing to work on that basis.”

Most red wines taste best at 60 to 65 degrees. The phrase you hear most often is “serve at room temperature”. That does not mean if you’re in the middle of a heat wave with no air conditioning your wine should still be served at room temperature. Common sense people, you gotta use common sense.

White wines, rosés and sparkling wines taste best when they have been chilled to about 52 degrees. Please, do not serve these wines ice-cold, or heaven forbid poured over ice. An hour or two in the refrigerator is plenty of time to chill a bottle of white wine. If a bottle has been refrigerated for several hours, you might want to take it out and let it set for 15 or 20 minutes before serving.

An alternative cooling solution is a Wine Sleeve. These little gems are available for about $5 - $10 and work beautifully and are great when traveling. The sleeve is put in the freezer, I store mine there and it’s always ready to use. All you do is slip the sleeve over the bottle and in 5 to 10 minutes your wine is chilled and ready to serve.

Wine is a wonderful experience-the bouquet, the sensation of the liquid in your mouth… Storing or serving wine too cold or too warm can change the taste causing it to be too heavy or out-of-balance and can kill the flavors completely.

If you think I’m making a big to-do about nothing let me ask you this. When you pour a cup of coffee do you drink it lukewarm? No, because it doesn’t taste as good, the taste has diminished. Have you ever heard someone ordering a warm bottle of beer or soda pop? I haven’t. Give your wine the respect it deserves and it will serve you well, after all it’s only purpose is your enjoyment.

TIP 1: If you store wine in the kitchen and don’t have a wine cooler avoid storing in the cabinet above or on top of the refrigerator or putting your wine rack near the stove or heating vents.

TIP 2: Placing a fresh strawberry in the champagne glass before filling will keep the champagne from going flat. You will also use less wine, be able to fill the glasses in advance and serving will go smoothly!

© 2008 Mary Spies  All rights reserved.