Wedding Season | Best Wines and Champagnes for a Wedding

Which wine goes well with the wedding menu, from the champagne reception to dessert? How many bottles should you plan for? And which wine gift will make the bride and groom happy? Discover everything about the best wine and champagne for a wedding!

A Special Wine for the Wedding: Which Wine Suits a Wedding Menu, from Reception to Dessert?

Which Wine Fits the Wedding?

The guest list is set, the dream venue is secured, and the catering service is reserved, the wedding day draws near, and your plans are falling into place. However, two important questions are causing you some concern: Which red, rosé, or white wines should you select? And how much should you order? For many, their wedding day is often described as one of the most stressful days of their lives. At Millesima, we believe wine should alleviate rather than add to that stress!

How Many Wedding Guests Drink Alcohol?

Not every guest drinks wine at a wedding. Start by determining how many wedding guests will consume alcohol. Children, health-conscious pregnant women, or perhaps your cousin who prefers a teetotal lifestyle: these family members or friends who abstain from alcohol can be excluded from this aspect of the planning.

Furthermore, are all guests invited to the wedding meal or just the reception? Are they staying overnight or planning to go home after the event? Examine the drinking habits of your wedding guests. A first hint: those aged 21 to 30 often consume the most alcohol. Is the list becoming clearer? You're on the right track!

Reception & Dessert

The reception typically lasts two to three hours, during which people consume the most wine. A 0.75-liter standard bottle yields six to seven glasses. If you rely solely on sparkling wines for the reception, plan one standard bottle for three guests (for four if you also offer other drinks).

For your wedding, do you want a specific vintage? Noble vintage champagnes make a spectacular impression in Jeroboam bottle format: a 3-liter bottle holds 24 glasses and maintains a nice acidity and fresh notes over time.

For dessert, plan one glass per guest, i.e., one 0.75-liter standard bottle for six guests.

Red, Rose, Large Formats and Sparkling wines for a Wedding

How Much White and Rose Wine?

For white and rosé wines, you don't need to plan too much, as these are usually served only as appetizers and therefore stay on the tables for a shorter time. It's recommended to plan one glass of wine per person, i.e., one standard bottle for six wedding guests. If the main course pairs better with white wine than red, then plan one bottle for three people.

How Much Red Wine?

Red wines are generally served from the main course to the cheese course and therefore stay on the tables longer. Guests often refill their glasses during the main course, requiring a larger amount of red wine. Plan two standard bottles for three people to satisfy all wine lovers.

How Much Sparkling Wine Should You Plan?

Whether champagne, sparkling wine, or Franciacorta: sparkling wines are versatile and can complement almost any meal, from reception to dessert. A good sparkling wine can also be enjoyed solo, adding a touch of sparkling glamour—especially if it's a high-quality one. At Millésima, we have a preference for the most famous of all sparkling wines, champagne. However, you can replace it with your favorite sparkling wine or a Crémant from the Loire.

Large Formats for the Finest Wines

Large bottles are a special eye-catcher! And no other event is better suited to impress your wedding guests with the sight of a Magnum, Imperial, or even a spectacular Salmanazar than a wedding. Only the most exceptional wines are available in these formats, making them true rarities. The production of these special bottlings is very costly and elaborate, so they are only available in limited quantities. Their strength lies in their aging potential, which significantly impacts the quality and taste of the wines, especially in older vintages.

For the cocktail hour, consider the famous Jeroboam of Champagne, often vintage, reflecting a great year just like yours! This three-liter container serves 24 glasses, maintaining beautiful acidity and gentle freshness over time.

For the meal, a double-magnum of Bordeaux will enhance your wedding tables: preserving the aromas derived from winemaking and aging processes ensures the wine's aging capacity is effectively multiplied. In fact, this multiplication is proportional to the bottle size. Therefore, the aging potential of a magnum is doubled, a double-magnum quadrupled, and a Jeroboam sextupled. The complexity and richness of aromas are expressed within a three-liter bottle, translating to approximately 24 glasses of wine.

The Right Wine for the Wedding Menu

Surveys indicate that the wedding day is one of the most stressful, if not the most stressful day in a couple's life. And the wine choice doesn't make it easier. Even if not every wedding guest is a connoisseur, the expectations are high. The wedding wine should be special, enjoyable, and pair well with the food. Appetizer, main course, dessert—to determine the right wine quantity for your event, you should know your menu well. Red or white? Sparkling or rosé? The amount of each wine also depends on what's on the plate. How do you please both the Riesling fan and the Bordeaux lover?

Which Wines for Aperitif and Dessert?

The event begins, and appetizers adorn the plates of the wedding guests. Our recommendation? Definitely champagne: from the beginning to the end of the meal, the luxury sparkling wine accompanies both savory and sweet dishes with maximum elegance—and adds a generous dose of glamour to your celebration. For desserts, choose a semi-dry wine with a higher residual sugar content or an older vintage with less acidity. For red fruit desserts, opt for rosé champagne. Planning a chocolate-based dessert? Vintage port is an excellent choice!

Which Wines for Appetizers?

White and Rosé Wines: Whether tomato crumble, salmon tartare, or oysters—most appetizers pair well with white and rosé wine. For seafood or fish dishes, choose a lively, tension-filled white, such as a Sancerre from the Loire or a Chablis.

Which Wines for the Main Course?

Burgundy vs. Bordeaux: Often, meat-based dishes are served as the main course, but vegetarian highlights can also be part of the menu. This is where red wines typically come into play. Lightness and freshness can be provided by a Pinot Noir from Burgundy or a Gamay from Beaujolais. These reds have the advantage of being served slightly chilled and still making a good impression in the height of summer. They are also great companions to numerous summer dishes. For many red wine lovers, nothing beats a tannic, powerful red from Châteauneuf-du-Pape or a Grand Cru from Bordeaux. These are excellent choices for your wedding menu (especially if red meat is on the menu)—as long as the wedding isn't held in 38°C weather. In such cases, high-alcohol wines can quickly become overwhelming. Our recommendation: play it safe with a fresh, fruity, elegant summer wine that pairs easily with a variety of dishes and brings joy even in the height of summer.

How Many Bottles for 50 or 100 Guests?

It's time to delve into the quantity topic. This rough estimate should help you organize your event. Two basic rules apply: First, nothing is set in stone. Second, better too much than too little! How many wine bottles do you need depending on the type of wine for an event with 50 or 100 guests? We have calculated it for you:

50 Wedding Guests

Reception: Plan 17 bottles of sparkling wine, which equals at least two glasses per guest. Are the couple champagne lovers? Then replace the 17 standard bottles with 8 to 9 Magnums.

Appetizer: At least 9 bottles of white wine (about one glass per person).

Main Course: About 25 bottles of red wine (equals 3 glasses per person).

Dessert: 13 standard bottles (for 1 to 2 glasses per person).

In total, you need 64 bottles in 0.75-liter standard format for an event with 50 people.

100 Wedding Guests

Reception: Plan 33 bottles of sparkling wine, which equals at least two glasses per guest.

Appetizer: At least 17 bottles of white wine (about one glass per person).

Main Course: About 50 bottles of red wine (about 3 glasses per person).

Dessert: 25 standard bottles (for 1 to 2 glasses per person).

In total, you need 125 bottles for 100 wedding guests.

The Perfect Wine Gift for a Wine-Loving Couple

The Ultimate Wedding Gift for Every Taste

Whether for a wedding, birthday, or Christmas, a well-chosen wine gift is a cherished surprise for various occasions! Their popularity as gifts is due to their variety in form and aroma. From iconic Bordeaux red wine to elaborately packaged gift sets and attractive accessories, a wine gift is not only enticing for the fine-wine-loving couple but also for casual drinkers who can be delighted with a noble label, a sparkling Brut, or a fine distillate. Discover our range of Champagnes with gift boxes!