From vintage champagne to quality Prosecco and Cava, find out more about which glass of bubbly would be best to serve for your wedding toasts and reception.
Top 5 Champagnes and sparkling wines for your wedding
The wedding toasts will be one of the most emotional and memorable moments of your special day. As you and your wedding guests raise and clink glasses in celebration of you and your loved one coming together, there is no doubt that you will want to mark the occasion with the perfect bottle of bubbly.
There is a good range of quality champagnes and sparkling wines suitable for every budget at the minute, as more and more producers have been working to make exquisitely fine and flavoursome fizz. The wide choice that is now available does however create one problem; how do you choose a bottle that is right for your wedding and its guests?
Choosing the right bubbly for your wedding
From high end vintage Champagne to superior sparkling wines, the broad selection of good quality bubbly that is now in the UK means that you can seriously impress your wedding guests with your tipple of choice, regardless of how much you choose to spend.
Vintage Champagne
Vintage champagne is considered to be the best of the best, and there are many superior bottles to choose from for your special day. 1996 Dom Perignon Vintage is a particularly rare but fine wine, a treat your guests are guaranteed to appreciate. Another great vintage from the house is the 2003/2004 which has a light, floral bouquet and gritty minerality; the classic Dom Perignon style.
Top end champagnes may work best if you have a larger budget or a small guest list. Alternatively, you can have a couple of bottles at the head table or in the bridal suite for you and your bridal party.
Iconic brands
With its striking Yellow Label, Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label is one that many guests will recognise and be excited to sample. With a classic Champagne taste and perfectly balanced house style, this rich yet elegant luxury champagne has a fresh fruit flavour, smooth vanilla notes and a clean soft mousse; perfect as an aperitif or for a celebratory toast.
Moet & Chandon, Laurent Perrier, Billecart Salmon and Krug are other Champagne houses that are well-known for their exceptional quality and also likely to impress wedding guests.
Blanc de Blancs
From Pol Roger to Prosecco, there are Blanc de Blancs styles suitable for every budget. This superbly light and elegant wine is one we would recommend for your toasts or even during your reception as it goes well with small bites of food and canapés.
If you are looking for something a little bit different that will become a talking point amongst guests, select an aged Blanc de Blancs wine as it will have a fuller, richer and more complex flavour.
Italian Prosecco
Perfect for weddings on a set budget, a quality Italian Prosecco can ooze just as much class and sophistication as a bottle of Champagne. Typically crisp, dry and with plenty of vibrant floral and citrus flavours, the sparkling wine has a classic character that most guests will know and love
You may want to opt for the Frizzante style for your toasts, which has a lighter, fine mousse.
New Zealand Fizz
Made using classical Champagne varieties and techniques, New Zealand bubbly has great elegance and finesse as well as a very reasonable price tag, perfect for weddings with larger guest lists. Sparkling wines from the Marlborough region will typically be well-structured with a refreshing level of acidity, while Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne varieties are perfect if you are looking for something rich and weighty.
Whichever Champagne or sparkling you do decide to serve at your wedding, remember to save and take home an empty bottle. This can be used as a candle holder or vase within your home; the perfect reminder of your special wedding day.
Author bio: The Champagnes and sparkling wines mentioned in the blog post are available at Corks Out, an online wine merchant specialising in sourcing quality classic and lesser known wines from iconic brands and boutique labels.
