There’s something extra festive about popping a large-format bottle of wine on your wedding day (or at your shower, bachelorette, or rehearsal dinner). These 1.5L behemoths come in all varieties and price points, from elegant French Champagne to surprisingly affordable Bordeaux. To find the best bottles, we asked three local wine shops to recommend their favorite wedding-worthy bottles.
Classic Champagne: Louis Roederer Brut Premier NV, $140
“From the makers of Cristal, Louis Roederer Brut Premier is the House’s flagship multi-vintage Champagne and its most popular wines,” says Andrew McMurray of Zachys in Scarsdale. “It’s a bright, juicy, elegant Champagne, [that] can be drunk throughout the night.”
Rosé All Day: Saveur du Temps, Costieres de Nimes Rosé 2016, $27
“Hailing from the Southern Rhone, close to Provence, this reliable bottle is crisp and dry with wonderful notes of red berry and watermelon,” promises Susan Baldaserini of Coxsackie’s Reed Street Bottle Shop. “It’s an elegant-looking bottle, it’s very food-friendly and affordable, and, in our shop, we refer to it as ‘the party starter,’”
Bordeaux on a Budget: Tour St Christophe 2014, $59.99
“Quality wine does not need to break the bank on your wedding day,” recommends McMurray. “This off-the-beaten-path producer from Bordeaux has striking approachability, layers of rich fruit, silky tannins, and classic minerality. With a mere 4,000 cases produced, this wine is hard to come by, and will certainly leave an impression with your guests.”
Local Vintage: Eminence Road Farm Winery, Elizabeth’s Vineyard 2015, $48
“Eminence Road is one of our favorite New York State producers. They get grapes from the Finger Lakes and produce the wine in the Catskills,” says Baldaserini. “Their Elizabeth’s Vineyard Cabernet Franc is a rich, berry-forward bottle that will stand up to a lot of different foods. They don’t bottle many magnums, but it might be worth it to reach out in advance to see if they’d bottle some specifically for your special event.”
Pretty in Pink: Luc Belaire Rosé, $60.99
“A dramatically beautiful sparkling rosé, [this bottle has] a rich, vibrant pink color,” promises Brittney Paulo of Wine and Spirits Discount Warehouse in New Rochelle. “A blend of three of France’s most famous rosé grapes — Syrah, Cinsault, and Grenache — it’s refreshing but not too sweet and aged for the perfect effervescence.