Wines for a wedding

Julio · Post by **Julio** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 1:00 am

I am now in the position of having to plan my wedding and choosing the wines strikes me as one of the more pleasurable aspects. I am thinking I will need one sparkling, one white and one red. Given that more than half the guests won't really appreciate what they're being served up I don't want to spend up big. The bridal table may be the exception. I am thinking that an average of $14-$17 a bottle is about right, perhaps more for the red and less for the white... and the sparkling??? Anyway, any advice that you might be able to offer is welcome and appreciated.

Mike Hawkins · Post by **Mike Hawkins** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 2:05 am

What about Seppelts Sparkling Shiraz, Whater Wheel shiraz and perhaps a riesling - Mitchelton, Richmond Grove or Leo Buring

Daryl Douglas · Post by **Daryl Douglas** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 2:43 am

Mike Hawkins wrote:What about Seppelts Sparkling Shiraz, Whater Wheel shiraz and perhaps a riesling - Mitchelton, Richmond Grove or Leo Buring

The more than 50% may think they're drinking Lambrusco when they have the Seppelt Original :roll:

whilst those who have some appreciation of wine would enjoy it too. Good suggestion Mike. Maybe some inoffensive white fizz like Seppelt Fleur De Lys vintage for those who don't/can't drink red - there are some. Yarra Burn's blend seems pretty popular on the fora and also wouldn't disappoint.

For a red, D'Arenburg D'Arry's Original Shiraz Grenache 04 wouldn't disappoint anyone. The label looks sorta impressive too.

For a white, Houghton Classic White (ex-Burgundy) is a good old stalwart and cheap enough to allow a bit more to be spent for the bridal table wines. Jim Barry Watervale Riesling 05 is cheap too and quite quaffable - :lol:

it was Quaff 2006 white wine of the year - it has a bit of residual sugar that would satisfy the 50%+ too. Oyster Bay Chardonnay (NZ) is only lightly-oaked and not a bad drop. If you could get it at the right price, Coldstream Hills Chardonnay is very nice with well-integrated oak.

Congratulations!

daz

Adair · Post by **Adair** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 7:43 am

White Sparkling - 1999 Seaview (seriously - many years on lees and just released) ($14) or 2004 Yarra Burn ($17)

Red Sparkling - 2004 Seppelt Original ($14)

White - 2006 Tahbilk Marsanne ($9) or 2001 Mount Pleasant Elizabeth Semillon ($12)

Red - 2004 Metala White Label Cab/Shiraz ($14) or 2004 Mamre Brook Cab ($18 ) or 2004 Seppelt Victorian Shiraz ($14)

Easy. Done. :-)

Adair

Edited becasue Tahbilk Marsanne is $9, not $19.

monghead · Post by **monghead** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 4:39 pm

Hi Julio,

Firstly, congratulations on the big day. I had similar joy just over two years ago, and though the preparations were arduous at best, the day itself was sensational.

Now, if i may be a little controversial. If the budget enables it, why not some "fancier wines" for all. I say this as you then don't have the potentially embarassing situation of other guests discovering what is being served on the bridal table, and god forbid pillaging of the good stuff while you went around mingling (unfortunately, seen it before). Additionally, your guests will certainly appreciate your generous gesture, and remember it.

We served up 96 wines for our wedding (year we met)- tyrell's vat 1 semillon, howard park riesling, st. hugo cabernet, peter lehmann eight songs shiraz. Pol Roger 96 for toast and post. Every-one loved the wines, and still remembers the night well, some raving it was the best drinks they have ever had. We were glad to be able to do this for our family and friends.

The financial/vinous up-side? Well, our wine gifts from these people now reflect what they think we will enjoy, and not what they had lying around or what was easiest to pick up from the local. Additionally, some have used that night as a spring-board for their ongoing discovery of the pleasures of vino.

Cheers, and good luck

monghead

Julio · Post by **Julio** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 8:58 pm

Thanks for your suggestions... please keep them coming.

Somebody suggested that Wirra Wirra 2004 Church Block would be a decent drop to serve up. I love the 2004 Woodhenge Shiraz - how does this wine compare?

Adair · Post by **Adair** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 10:25 pm

Oh, 2005 Williams Crossing Chardonnay from Curly Flat at $15 - kills every other Chardonnay mentioned here in length and refinement.

Adair

Daryl Douglas · Post by **Daryl Douglas** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 12:22 am

Adair wrote:Oh, 2005 Williams Crossing Chardonnay from Curly Flat at $15 - kills every other Chardonnay mentioned here in length and refinement.

Adair

Ouch! I mentioned chardonnay because it's so popular and most of Julio's and his betrothed's guest are not so much into wine.

Seppelt Jaluka 05 and Diamond Valley Blue Label 04? Admittedly those may stretch Julio's budget a bit.

Cheers

daz

Adair · Post by **Adair** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 7:29 am

Daryl Douglas wrote:
Adair wrote:Oh, 2005 Williams Crossing Chardonnay from Curly Flat at $15 - kills every other Chardonnay mentioned here in length and refinement.
Adair

Ouch! I mentioned chardonnay because it's so popular and most of Julio's and his betrothed's guest are not so much into wine.
Seppelt Jaluka 05 and Diamond Valley Blue Label 04? Admittedly those may stretch Julio's budget a bit.
Cheers
daz

Sorry, didn't mean to sound aggressive. The 2005 Williams Crossing is showing more fruit than the 2004, much more unwooded-like, if you like. It will impress buff and novice alike.
Adair

GraemeG · Post by **GraemeG** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 8:15 am

Adair's list was good. I would advise against 'wine apartheid' for the bridal table - that's just mean. Someone mentioned the Water Wheel 04 shiraz - I sourced some of that for my brother's wedding earlier this year. Very popular. The whites were all Kiwi efforts due to the bride's nationality, but for remaining reds I went to auction and got a case of 96 Goundry reserve cabernet. Langtons were flogging vast quantities of it, and they were a bargain. If you're prepared to hunt around, and take the odd risk, then sourcing older interesting wines in bulk at auction might be a possibility too.
regards,
Graeme

PS When I married, we had a wedding breakfast. Makes the drinks very easy - endless magnums of bubbly is all you need!

Julio · Post by **Julio** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 8:46 pm

I put two potential reds head to head last night - 2004 D'Arenberg High Trellis Cabernet and 2004 Jim Barry Lodge Hill Shiraz. The Lodge Hill won hands down, in fact, I was really disappointed with the High Trellis given some of the reviews I have read. The Jim Barry has enough fruit to keep the non-winos happy and enough oak and secondary character to keep the more discerning drinker happy. Will keep trying a few but the Lodge Hill is going to take some beating - lovely wine.

rednut · Post by **rednut** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 5:53 pm

We had Seppelts 2002 Victorian Shiraz at our wedding at Seppelts nearly 2 years ago and it was a very understated wine, enjoyed by all and in your price bracket easily.

winetastic · Post by **winetastic** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 3:33 pm

Firstly, congrats on the upcoming festivities!

My fiancee Gemma and I are getting married in Nov ourselves, naturally the wine selection is an important part of the planning. We are having the reception at Mount Pleasant in the hunter valley, thus the red will be Philip Shiraz (03 hopefully), the white will by Elizabeth Semillon (current vintage) and the bubbles will be the crowd pleasing McWilliams white/red fizz.

If we were holding the event elsewhere, I would definitely be tempted to throw in Leo Buring Eden Valley Riesling for the white, however I think it very hard to find a better red at $12-13 than the Philip Shiraz. Hard at $15-20 for that matter

Julio · Post by **Julio** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 11:26 pm

Thanks, congrats to you too.

The Philip is too oaky for my palate. The 2004 Jim Barry Lodge Hill Shiraz has won a spot as one of the two reds we will serve up... having fun trying to find the other one at the moment. Will ned to get onto the whites and sparkling soon.

winetastic · Post by **winetastic** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 8:28 am

Which vintage of the Philip did you find to be oaky? The 03 is rather fruit forward I found

Julio · Post by **Julio** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 5:34 pm

Think it was the 2003 that was too oaky for my liking.

I have been recommended by a very knowledgeable and reputable source to have the Yalumba Hand Picked Eden Valley Reisling as one of the whites. I found it a bit difficult to track down but managed to at my 4th stop last night. It was a 2002 - terrible immediately on opening but after 10 minutes in the glass it opened into a lovely balanced wine, not too lemon/limey as some reislings can be, nice and zesty with good acidity and length. I would be interested to hear some thoughts from the forum on this wine.

Cheers

Ollie · Post by **Ollie** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 7:07 pm

Hi Julio,

I recently got married in England on December 30th, it was an unbelievable day that couldn't have gone any better!
Being a fan of Aussie wines I always wanted to serve my guests something different from the unispiring French offerings I'd experienced at other weddings, but we still had to stick within a budget and I also tried to choose wines that would appeal to masses!
In the end we served the following:

For the Pre-dinner drink - Seppelt Sparkling Shiraz 2002
Really well received, it surprised a load of people, the majority had not sampled Sparkling Shiraz before so I hope it will encourage some to seek it out for themselves for their own drinking.

For the wedding breakfast - St Hallett Poachers Blend 2005 & St Hallet Gamekeepers Reserve 2004
Again well received, wanted the 2005 Gamekeepers but it was too hard to get hold of for the right price, at the time of purchase England seemed to be awash with the 2004!
Both the St Halletts are easy drinking, well blended wines

For the Toasts - An Italian Prosecco Roboso Rose
12% Alcohol but still very light, a lovely pink colour, it appealed to those who are not so keen on Champagne(Step forward Mother!)

My advice would be, choose something that you would be happy to drink but apeals to those non wine loving guests

Good luck and enjoy your day!!
Cheers

Ollie

Julio · Post by **Julio** » Tue May 01, 2007 9:28 pm

Just thought I'd let you know what we settled on:

Sir James Cuvee Brut
2004 Seppelts Original Sparkling Shiraz

2006 Pewsey Vale Eden Valley Riesling
2006 Leeuwin Estate Siblings Sauvignon Blanc Semillon

2004 Jim Barry Lodge Hill Shiraz
2004 Majella Cabernet Sauvignon