Current |
| |
Sparkling Wine For Your Wedding
|
|
Special Sparkling Wine
We all envision a bridal toast with a shiny, golden glass of bubbly. We also entertain the thought,
'Do I want all my guest to be able to toast our new union?' A Champagne toast for all the guests,
with real Champagne, from the region in France of the same name, can surpass the price of a wedding dress.
Real Champagne can run upwards to $35 a bottle. To have it flowing like water isn't practical and many
of your guests will not even notice, let alone appreciate the gesture.
If the bride and groom are big fans of real French Champagne, a couple of bottles placed at the wedding
party's table can allow for toasts with the good stuff. Guests can be given a version of sparkling wine
more fitting of most budgets and you'll not hear any complaints. Especially when you choose a budget
conscious option, in an impressive looking bottle.
There are two ways to serve sparkling wine for a toast. A fixed pour involves bottles being placed on
the tables, with a sparkling wine glass at each setting. The caterers pour for each setting. This has
the highest amount of waste. The other option is to announce, about ten minute before the bridal toast,
that sparkling wine is available at the bar. Guests who are not fans of sparkling wine will be just as
happy to raise their iced tea, scotch on the rocks, or draft beer in the air to toast to your new life
together. Those who want a glass of bubbly will head to the bar for a fluteful. You need to buy
approximately half of what you would need by keeping the sparkling at the bar, than if you offered a
fixed pour.
The typical 5 ounce glass of wine is not necessary when serving sparkling wine. Many sparkling wine
glasses allow for smaller pours, often 3 ounces. This will stretch your budget because a typical bottle
will hold eight 3 ounce portions if poured correctly. Plus, if a guest really wants a re-fill, extra
sparkling wine can be available at the bar. You will find most folks want a few ounces of this bubbly
treat, but very few will want to have more than that. Plan on running out of sparkling wine. Of course
Albertsons Liquors allows you to return any unopened bottles of wine, so you can buy a few extra if you wish.
When most of us think of inexpensive sparkling wine we think of the standard labels, Andre, Totts, Cooks,
and Ballatore. These are Charmat sparkling wines and are fine for a quick toast, but will not hold up for
more than 30 minutes or so. Charmat sparkling wine is made by injecting carbonation into the wine, while
it is kept under pressure. The wine is then bottled, still under the bubble trapping pressure. The
carbonation is contained inside the bottle, but escapes quickly as soon as the cap is removed.
Real Champagne and sparkling wines made by the methode Champenoise (mah-thud cham-pen-wuz) create their
carbonation in the bottle naturally. This process allows the carbonation to be suspended inside the wine
longer, similar to micro-brewed beer. There are some inexpensive versions of sparkling wine made in the
meticulous methode Champenoise as well. These wines offer the quality and flavor of Champagne, at a
fraction of the price. Many of them are bottled in ornate bottles, leading guests to think they are
expensive. Their delightful flavors will not disclose their budget conscious price.
Spanish Cava is a great substitute for the inexpensive sparkling wines and are a quality wine made in
methode Champenoise. Cava's presentation is impressive, with classic looking bottles, surprisingly regal
and ornate. There are a few Cava's on the market that run well under $10 each. Some of the Cavas in the
$15 price range might be a great choice for the bridal party as well. Some of the Cavas under $20 are
very elegant looking and can pass for the expensive stuff. Their longer lasting bubbles will hold up
while sitting on the bridal party table, front and center.
Prosecco is another sparkling wine that is a fraction of the price of real Champagne. Prosecco is a fun
bubbly from Italy and often has an elegant looking bottle. There are several examples of inexpensive
sparkling wine from the new world as well, from areas such as California, New Mexico, Australia, and
New Zealand. Some can be a little more expensive, but often are well below Champagne's $35 a bottle
sticker price. The quality of many sparkling wines would fool all but the most savvy Champagne drinkers.
Those who drink Champagne and sparkling wine frequently will be thrilled to see a Cava poured at your wedding.
Albertsons Liquors carries real Champagne, as well as many price conscious selections that are sure to
please. Knowing your options allows you to pour bubbly for your guests, while staying within your budget.
Pouring a special sparkling wine for the bride and groom, your bridal party, and your guests is easy
when considering all your options.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
