Which wine should you choose for your wedding?

Which wine to choose for your wedding ? Complete guide by our sommeliers

Wedding season is just around the corner. From the drinks reception to the wedding cake, it is important for the happy couple to choose wines that complement every moment of the celebration. Grand cru, grape varieties, appellations, food pairings: discover all our advice for choosing the right wines for your wedding.

Which wine for the aperitif and drinks reception ?

The ceremony is over and your guests can now enjoy the drinks reception. To accompany your canapés, surprise breads and culinary highlights, a plancha station, smoked salmon carving or oyster bar, offer fresh and refreshing wines.

Brut Champagne or Blanc de Blancs

The classic, elegant choice to whet your guests' appetites. It pairs perfectly with all canapés, oysters, smoked salmon, foie gras verrines. For a more budget-conscious option, a Crémant d'Alsace offers comparable quality at a significantly lower price.

Light, fruity rosé wine

In summer, rosé wines are very popular at the drinks reception. Choose a light, fruity cuvée, a Provence rosé will pair wonderfully with all the canapés and set a beautiful summery tone.

Cocktails and soft drinks

You may wish to offer light cocktails such as a Ti-punch. Be mindful of alcohol content early in the reception. Always plan plenty of soft drinks and fruit juices for non-drinkers and children.

Which wines to choose for the wedding meal ?

Choosing the wine to accompany your wedding meal can be just as complex as drawing up the seating plan. For harmonious pairings, define your menu with your caterer before selecting your wines. You can opt for classic or organic cuvées depending on your preferences.

Fish or seafood starters

Opt for a dry white wine that is fresh and mineral: a wine from Burgundy, the Languedoc or the Rhône Valley. These elegant, fresh cuvées are a natural match for this type of dish.

Foie gras

Choose a sweet or off-dry white wine: a Sauternes, a Coteaux du Layon or a Côtes de Gascogne. Be mindful not to serve this style throughout the meal, as it can weigh on the palate over time.

Red meat and game

For lighter meats, choose a light Pinot Noir-based red wine with red fruit notes. For more full-flavoured dishes, game, duck breast, opt for powerful, structured reds: Côte-Rôtie (Syrah) or Châteauneuf-du-Pape will elevate these dishes beautifully.

Poultry in sauce

Choose a round, full-bodied white wine to complement the delicate white meat: an AOC Côte de Beaune, a Pouilly-Fuissé or a white Côtes-du-Rhône will be excellent choices.

Fish

A dry white wine with beautiful freshness and minerality will showcase your dish: a Chardonnay such as a Chablis, a Sauvignon like a Sancerre or an Alsace wine will all work wonderfully.

Cheese course

Offer dry white wines from the Languedoc-Roussillon or the Côtes-du-Rhône. A light red wine can also work well depending on the cheeses on the board.

Wedding cake and dessert

Back to Champagne for the most festive moment of the meal. Opt for a Blanc de Blancs Champagne, a classic Brut or a Rosé Champagne for the final toast.

Our sommelier tip: for a wedding, a coherent range of 3 to 4 cuvées is better than a large number of different references. One versatile white wine, one accessible red wine and a quality Champagne are enough to cover the entire meal with elegance. Choose supple, fruity wines that will please the widest range of guests.

How to plan your wedding wine budget ?

Depending on the number of guests and quantities needed, wedding wines represent a significant investment. Here are a few benchmarks to help you plan:

Tight budget - Use crémants (Alsace, Burgundy, Loire) instead of Champagne for the drinks reception, and choose wines from accessible regions such as the Languedoc or South-West France.

Mid-range budget - Reserve Champagne for the toast and wedding cake. Serve a good Burgundy or Rhône Valley wine for the meal.

Generous budget - Offer Champagne throughout the evening and select cuvées from renowned estates for each course.

Need to calculate your quantities ? Find our detailed estimates by number of guests (50, 100, 150, 200 people) in our complete guide to wine quantities for a wedding →

Where to buy wine for your wedding ?

To get the best quality-to-price ratio, we recommend ordering your wines directly from the estates and growers. At Avenue des Vins, you order through a direct supply model: every bottle is shipped straight from the estate at estate price, with no intermediary. You can select all the wine styles you need for your wedding in one place.

Have questions about food and wine pairings ? Our oenology experts are on hand to help you make the best choice. Do not hesitate to contact us for more information and a personalised quote on 01 55 38 50 74.

Frequently asked questions - which wine for a wedding ?

Which wine should I serve at a wedding drinks reception ?

For a wedding drinks reception, brut or Blanc de Blancs Champagne is the classic, elegant choice. In summer, a light Provence rosé will be very well received. For a more budget-friendly option, a Crémant d'Alsace or Crémant de Bourgogne made using the traditional method offers comparable quality at 30 to 50% less. Always plan plenty of soft drinks and fruit juices for non-drinkers and children.

Which red wine should I choose for a wedding meal ?

For a wedding, choose a supple, fruity red wine that will appeal to the widest range of guests. A Burgundy Pinot Noir or a light Languedoc red are perfect for white meats and poultry. For more full-flavoured dishes, game, duck breast, opt for a Côte-Rôtie or a Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Avoid heavily tannic or oaked wines, which can put off guests who are not regular red wine drinkers.

Which white wine should I serve at a wedding ?

White wine is essential for fish and seafood starters, poultry in sauce and the cheese course. For starters, choose a dry, fresh white such as a Chablis, a Sancerre or an Alsace wine. For poultry, a Pouilly-Fuissé or a Côte de Beaune is perfect. For foie gras, a sweet white wine such as a Sauternes or a Coteaux du Layon is the ideal pairing.

Can I personalise the bottle labels for my wedding ?

Yes. At Avenue des Vins, you can personalise the labels on your wedding wine bottles, a very special touch that is greatly appreciated by couples and their guests. Do not hesitate to contact our team on 01 55 38 50 74 for a personalised quote and to find out about the options available.

Which wine appellation should I choose for a wedding reception ?

For a wedding reception, favour versatile, accessible appellations: Languedoc-Roussillon and Côtes-du-Rhône for everyday white and red wines, Burgundy (Chablis, Pouilly-Fuissé) for more elegant moments, Provence for rosés. On the Champagne front, independent growers (Récoltant Manipulant) offer excellent cuvées at lower prices than the major houses, ideal for a well-managed budget.

Is it a good idea to choose organic wines for a wedding ?

Organic wines are perfectly suited to a wedding, and increasingly popular with couples who care about their environmental footprint. They offer the same aromatic profiles as conventional wines, with an added layer of transparency about the farming practices used. At Avenue des Vins, our organic wine selection covers all colours and appellations, on an equal footing with our conventional wines.

From the drinks reception to the wedding cake, matching the right wine to each moment is a true art. At Avenue des Vins, our sommeliers are on hand to guide you through every choice, and to offer you grower cuvées at estate price, shipped directly from the producer's cellar.