Wedding Wines
For more than 2,000 years and in many diverse societies, wine has served an important role in the celebration of life's most important events. No event is more meaningful than marriage, where wine is utilized at a wide range of wedding events and for numerous purposes.
Wine and Champagne are festive beverages and generally provide a less expensive alternative to a full bar. There is no correct wine for your special event, although champagne or sparkling wine is often the beverage of choice for toasts. Wines range in sweetness, from very dry (chardonnay, merlot, cabernet sauvignon) to very sweet (ice wine, riesling). Drier wines tend to be somewhat more expensive. Due to the wide range of tastes represented at most gatherings, it's a good idea to serve at least one red, one white and one blush. Settle on one from both the dry and sweet categories, or select wines that are medium dry, thereby satisfying a wide range of tastes.
Most wine merchants will be happy to make recommendations once you have decided on your price range. Here in Michigan, you also have an opportunity to visit wineries and taste the many possibilities, at no charge. Wineries often offer substantial discounts on large purchases, so don't be shy about asking.
Everyone thinks of wine for the reception dinner and accompanying toasts, but there are many additional uses of wine prior to the wedding. Many wineries can create personalized labels containing either a photo of the bridal couple or a message marking the happy occasion. Some wineries will also affix personalized labels to "splits" (375 ml bottles) of Champagne, in addition to regular (750 ml) wine bottles. Some couples choose to personalize bottles with the names of their guests, using them to note seating assignments.
Wine can also play an important role in engagement parties, showers and bachelor or bachelorette parties. Wine can be presented as a special gift awaiting the married couple's arrival at their honeymoon destination or at their home following the honeymoon. Again, personalized labels - ranging from romantic to humorous - can preserve these wines as keepsakes of the special occasion.
Serving temperature is a major consideration. Nine times out of 10, wines are served at inappropriate temperatures. Red wine is often served much warmer than it should be, and white wine is typically served much colder than it should be. Remember, "cellar temperature" is not "room" temperature.
Red wine served at inappropriately high temperatures will lose its aromatics very rapidly - there will be "less to smell." Additionally, it may end up tasting rather flat and unbalanced.
Red Wine: A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself if the bottle of red you are about to open feels very cool, but not quite cold. If indeed it does feel very cool, it is at or near the appropriate serving temperature.
White Wine: If the bottle of white you are about to open feels almost too cold to hold in your hand for long, it is too cold to be served. A wine served too cold will not "open up," that is to say, it won't release its aromas. Also, it will numb your palate, which means you will be unable to taste and enjoy all of its character and nuances.
The following table lists the suggested serving temperatures for various wines:
| Wine Type | °F | °C |
| Sparkling Wine | 42-54 | 6-10 |
| Rose Wine | 48-54 | 9-12 |
| White Wine | 48-58 | 9-14 |
| Red Wine | 57-68 | 13-20 |
Toasting With Good Graces
A good toast should be a gift, not an insult. Exercise eloquence and wit. Consider the audience both in age and ideologies. Respectful words outweigh comedy in most cases.
A good toast has the form of a speech, but obviously in miniscule scale. Consider an introduction, a comment toward the theme of the event, and finally, an adieu that fits the occasion. Much more effort is required to be succinct than long-winded, so prepare your words well in advance. Practice, practice, practice if you want to sound spontaneous.
The simplest words are perceived as the most sincere. Be yourself. The best words and witticisms are your own, so forget about being reminded of something you once heard or read. Originality is the essence of wit.
End on a positive note. A toast should always be upbeat. Lead your audience to a conclusion with a generally accepted gesture like "Raise your glass," "Please join me in ..." Or, just a simple "Cheers" will always uplift.
