Food & Drink

How to Choose Wine for Your Wedding Day

There are many different factors to consider before you go about choosing the quantity and type of wine you will have at your wedding. The most obvious one is the number of guests – there’s a difference between a function for a few family members and friends and a reception for 500 people and more. “The type of reception you will have also plays a role – a standing reception, a sit-down function and a celebration with a specific wine table set up will all alter the figures drastically,” Ms Dyer says.

Whether it comes to white or red wine, the classics are always a safe and standard choice at weddings. These include Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot for the reds, and Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc for the whites. Ms Dyer, who says her personal favourite wine to drink at a wedding is an Australian Shiraz, cites a mix of Old World wines - such as Prosecco, Chenin Blanc and Riesling – and New World wines – such as Carménère, Zinfandel (Red and Blush) as well as Shiraz as the wines which are rising in popularity at weddings.

Ms Dyer has three cardinal rules to keep in mind when it comes to choosing wine for your wedding day. “First of all, go for well-known grape varieties which guests can relate to, including the aforementioned classics.” You don’t want to intimidate your more conservative guests with a list of exotic wines that they may not recognise or be familiar with. “Second, keep it as simple as possible, and don’t go for too many variants. Third – and this ties in with the second point – keep it as simple as possible. There’s no need to break the bank when choosing good quality wine.” We’ll raise a glass to that!