You don’t have to spend a fortune on wine for your wedding reception. There are dozens of good choices that can fit into any budget. Here are recommendations from Ned Towle, director of the Westchester Wine School.
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At the Reception
Yes, you need to have a sparkling wine for the toast, but it doesn’t have to be a Champagne, which comes only from France’s Champagne region. Towle says his wife, Linda, loved a sweet, sparking Italian wine, La Spinetta Moscato d’Asti ($15), so that’s what he and she served at their reception. Other great, and reasonably priced, sparkling wines, he says, are Albrecht’s Crémant from Alsace ($17), Long Island’s Wolffer Estate Sparkling Brut ($34), and California’s Roederer Estate Brut ($20), Gloria Ferrer Royal Cuvee ($16), and Domaine Chandon Blanc de Noirs ($16). Also consider: Pol Roger Brut ($32), Nicolas Feuillatte Brut ($28), and Piper-Heidsieck Brut ($30).
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At the Dinner
You’ll need at least one red and one white wine, Towle says, regardless of what entrées you are serving. The most versatile white wine is Sauvignon Blanc, particularly one from California. According to Towle, good California Sauvignon Blancs include those made by St. Supery, Joel Gott, Sterling, and Robert Mondavi, all under $15. For the best of the premium Sauvignon Blancs, try those made by Grgich, Cakebread, and Rochioli ($30-$35). A favorite red wine, he says, is Cabernet Sauvignon, and Washington State’s Cabs stand out for their purity of flavor, balance, and reasonable prices (under $20). Check out Ex Libris, Chaz Point, Château Ste. Michele’s Canoe Ridge and Snoqualmie Reserve, and Woodward Canyon’s Nelms Road.