The Auswine Forum

Hi forumites, I have been asked to do the honourable task of selecting wines for my mates wedding in byron bay in March.

Below is what he has requested...
The three courses are:

1. Garden (veg dish with a cream base) - Paired with Riesling

2. Sea (scampi with crustacean mayonnaise) - Paired with a Chardonnay

3. Paddock (black angus fillet) - Paired with a Chilled Pinot Noir

We are thinking the wine for the Garden course, looking like a riesling, is going to be the standard white for the day so we won't need too many bottles of the Chardonnay. Also we want to do a chilled red *[I was thinking chilled to 14 degrees would be adequate] for the day as it is going to be pretty hot, but we also want to get a heavier red for the big red drinkers. Like a Shiraz Viognier blend. And then of course will need a sparkling. Below are the numbers we are looking at.

Let me know what you think.

1. Standard White and first course - Riesling * 42
2. Second White for Sea course - Chardonnay * 18
3. Standard Red - Chilled Pinot Noir * 24
4. Second Red for big red drinkers * 6 [I was thinking 12 bottles minimum]
6. Sparkling * 48
Total 138 bottles

The overall budget he has in mind is $2500-3000 for 95 people which equates to $18-21 a bottle with the amount of bottles he was thinking.

Here's my initial selection. They are all quite readily available at present and from reasonably well known wineries so guests might recognise them. Also I have tried to spread the selection to all states (sorry NSW).

1. Pikes traditional riesling 2014
(Or Henschke greens)
2. Xanadu next of kin chardonnay 2013
(Or Seppelt jaluka)
3. De Bortoli estate pinot 2013 (a richer style which might match the black Angus better?)
(Or Last horizon or Bellingham estate wink wink Simon1980)
4. Gemtree uncut shiraz 2012
5. Bay of fires chardonnay pinot brut NV and Petaluma croser rosé NV

Soooo, what does everyone think about the quantities of each wine? (There will be beer and cocktails as well)
Has anyone had any recent experiences with the wines I have selected or wines they have tried which I should consider?

Any suggestions welcome (Gavin maybe you could help with some/all of the wines?)

Thanks in advance! Cheers!

2014 O'Leary Walker Watervale or Polish Hill Riesling - $19
2013 Seville Estate The Barber Chardonnay - $20
2013 Last Horizon Pinot Noir - $20
2008 Massoni Shiraz - $19
NV Brown Brothers Cuvee - $20 and 2010 Taltarni Tache - $20

Total of $2712

Not tried most of those choices, suspect they're good ones!

So just FWIW.. Agree on the Pikes Traditionale Riesling. For bubbles, I'd go the Cave de Lugny Cremant de Bourgogne BdB, no contest for me, although I'd love to try a blind lineup of sub $20 fizz just to be sure.

International flavour? Kumeu River Village Chardonnay 2012. Yeah I'm a kiwi, but this is a good one under $20.

Not sold on the Pinot at 14C, would go for 16 or 18 myself, think the young ones can show a bit lean and mean at 14C, but would obv soon warm up I suppose.
So for Pinot, not sure what to recommend at that price point, would likely also consider a crowd pleasing Montepulciano (like the budget Gran Sasso) to match the steak?
I do hear good things about the Hoddles Creek Pinot 2013?

Suspect many people would continue on the bubbles or Rizza anyway if it's that hot, other than a few die hard red bigots. And definitely don't forget a few beers?

I think the numbers look good, but if in doubt get an extra dozen reserve bottles that you or the happy couple would be happy to drink into the future!

Odyssey got married a few years back (fantastic wedding), he may have some tips too....

wow, 1.5 bottles average on a hot day??
methinks you are going to have a lot left over, unless you are not providing beer.
oh, and don't forget the bongs.

My first reaction is that is a lot of wine for the number of guests....Nearly 1.5 bottles per person....So at 5-6 glasses per bottle that is 7.5-9.0 glasses per person.
If everyone at your wedding is going to drink a lot, that might work...but I'd probably guess that this is quite a bit.
If you include beer and cocktails, there is going to be even less wine drunk (or a lot of really smashed guests).
You'll know the guest list better but I think a typical amount is probably closer to .5 bottle a person because you'll have some guests that don't drink at all, some that prefer beer, some that drink a little and some that drink a lot.

I personally like the idea of matching but I would say only a handful of guests will really care. Most will pick what they like to drink, even if that means the pinot w/ the seafood...Also, while I think Riesling is a fantastic choice, unfortunately, I think a lot of people will want a Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio....

If you're going to have a sparkler as an aperitif and for the toast, you're still at over .5 bottle per person. The toast is 95/6 so 16 bottles. Add whatever you think will get drunk prior to that but I would say not as many as you think. You still have beer and cocktails.

I'd personally probably just go with one red which will be easier to buy for...You will probably be surprised at how many people want a bigger red with their steak if given a choice...

I do like the wines you picked for the given budget...I think it was well thought out....but I do think if you end up with .7 bottles per person (which is still high given you have beer and cocktails) you're at 67 bottles which ends up close to 45/bottle as a budget which starts getting you some nicer wines....Or you can still spend 20ish on some whites but a bit more on reds and the sparkling and you'll have yourself some pretty nice wine...or just save your mate a bunch of money...

Another comment on the numbers.... assuming it's a mid arvo wedding, then a break for photos while guests linger, then an evening dinner?? So 7-8 hours?

If so, people will drink more than you think, mainly in the afternoon, especially bubbly and beer. I'd say a bottle per person minimum, but agree it will even out a bit with non drinkers, beer drinkers etc. Always better to have far too much though, a wedding where the wine runs out would certainly be memorable! And of course some liquor suppliers will allow you to return a portion afterwards if needed.

LGW wrote:Hi forumites, I have been asked to do the honourable task of selecting wines for my mates wedding in byron bay in March.

Below is what he has requested...
The three courses are:

1. Garden (veg dish with a cream base) - Paired with Riesling

2. Sea (scampi with crustacean mayonnaise) - Paired with a Chardonnay

3. Paddock (black angus fillet) - Paired with a Chilled Pinot Noir

We are thinking the wine for the Garden course, looking like a riesling, is going to be the standard white for the day so we won't need too many bottles of the Chardonnay. Also we want to do a chilled red *[I was thinking chilled to 14 degrees would be adequate] for the day as it is going to be pretty hot, but we also want to get a heavier red for the big red drinkers. Like a Shiraz Viognier blend. And then of course will need a sparkling. Below are the numbers we are looking at.

Let me know what you think.

1. Standard White and first course - Riesling * 42
2. Second White for Sea course - Chardonnay * 18
3. Standard Red - Chilled Pinot Noir * 24
4. Second Red for big red drinkers * 6 [I was thinking 12 bottles minimum]
6. Sparkling * 48
Total 138 bottles

The overall budget he has in mind is $2500-3000 for 95 people which equates to $18-21 a bottle with the amount of bottles he was thinking.

Here's my initial selection. They are all quite readily available at present and from reasonably well known wineries so guests might recognise them. Also I have tried to spread the selection to all states (sorry NSW).

1. Pikes traditional riesling 2014
(Or Henschke greens)
2. Xanadu next of kin chardonnay 2013
(Or Seppelt jaluka)
3. De Bortoli estate pinot 2013 (a richer style which might match the black Angus better?)
(Or Last horizon or Bellingham estate wink wink Simon1980)
4. Gemtree uncut shiraz 2012
5. Bay of fires chardonnay pinot brut NV and Petaluma croser rosé NV

Soooo, what does everyone think about the quantities of each wine? (There will be beer and cocktails as well)
Has anyone had any recent experiences with the wines I have selected or wines they have tried which I should consider?

Any suggestions welcome (Gavin maybe you could help with some/all of the wines?)

Thanks in advance! Cheers!

Love to help, thanks for thinking of me.

To your choices, and personal opinion only, of course. (the opinion expressed are those of the writer, not those of management ... oh sh%%T, I AM management, sigh)

1. Pikes traditional riesling 2014 perfect choice Riesling I reckon, its fantastic, delicious, long etc.
(Or Henschke greens)

2. Xanadu next of kin chardonnay 2013
(Or Seppelt jaluka) Seppelt Jaluka is a MUCH better wine than the NOK, if you can get them at similar price, Jaluka everyday.

3. De Bortoli estate pinot 2013 (a richer style which might match the black Angus better?)
(Or Last horizon or Bellingham estate wink wink Simon1980) De Bortoli, outstanding VFM and really good wine!

4. Gemtree uncut shiraz 2012 Very good, and you are right, probably a known name for guests. Rich, full bodied, a good drink.

5. Bay of fires chardonnay pinot brut NV and Petaluma croser rosé NV - either or both good choices, have a personal preference for the Sparkles of Tasmania, but Croser very good.

re quantities, host's choice.

Thanks all for your speedy replies.
Catchnrelease- thanks for your suggestions. Have you tried either of the Seville estate or last horizon? Be interested in your tasting notes if you have.
TriggerK- yes both the hoddles creek chard and pinot would have been at the top of my list but having trouble finding good quantities of them.
Felixp- a double chamber billy at each table has been requested but I doubt it will be approved by the host
Polymer- thanks for your opinion on number of bottles. It would be nice to spend a bit more on each bottle but might also open up too many choices!
Gavin aka management-I wanted to have a margaret river chard in there just so most states are covered, any other suggestions from MR? If you like, can you please send me a pm on what stock you have available of the chosen wines? Thanks

Also has anyone tried the rosemount district release robe chardonnay 2013? I saw it did quite well at the latest halliday chardonnay challenge. Sound like pretty good VFM at around $13

I think the main thing is 1.5 bottles/person is a lot...So lets' just say 13.5% alcohol on average which is 8 drinks. 12 drinks over 6 hours would mean each person has a BAC of .169 if they were male and 82kg. If it was 8 hours that drops to .135. That assumes 0 beer and 0 other drinks. With 1 beer and 1 shot equivalent cocktail added to that over 8 hours and you're at .180 and .214 with 6 hours.

If you can find a place that will take extra back, I guess too much is better than not enough...but I think in this case that'll be a LOT extra...Well, I guess the married couple can always spend their first year drinking their wedding wines...

I take my hat off to you and your mate, Laurie. The wine served at wedding receptions usually doesn't get much thought, if at all.