A wedding day wine for every day!

When my friend Julie asked me three weeks ago for some recommendations for wines to serve at her wedding, I was eager to help. She said she wanted something fun and affordable. I immediately went to the Reverse Wine Snob blog for ideas.

The wedding, which took place this past Saturday, was held at a small B&B in Cloverdale--and it was hot. Everyone was parched by the end of ceremony; as the bride and groom hurried off to have their pictures done, the guests quickly assembled at the beverage station. I was poured a tall glass of the Hannah Sauvignon Blanc, a wine that I have previously blogged about and that we found on sale at Costco for only $10.99. It was very refreshing!

When we sat down for dinner, the sun was setting and the temperature was also dropping. The family-style meal included pork and chicken in a tomato-based, spicy sauce with vegetables; the tasty food suited the rustic setting perfectly and was an ideal match for red wine. There were two options for red wine: the 2009 BV Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (which was good) and the Evodia Garnacha (which was even better!).

The 2010 Altovinum Evodia Old Vines Garnacha from Calatayud, Spain was only $8.99 at Costco, and I suggested it because it received high marks on the RWS blog. (After tasting it, I wish I had picked up some for myself.) It was round and plush, with just a little bit of spice that paired nicely with the dinner. Flavors of blackberry, blueberry, black cherry and licorice were supported by good structure and a long, juicy finish. I never would have guessed this wine was under $10 a bottle; it was really delicious and at that price, it qualifies as an amazing everyday value wine!

For the toast, they served the La Marca Prosecco, which was also purchased from Costco for a great price ($10.99/bottle compared to $15.99 at Whole Foods).

Julie and Chris did a great job planning their wedding. I merely suggested a few affordable wines to serve; ultimately, the bride and groom made the final decision and everyone seemed to enjoy the wine selection [and everything else]. For wedding day wines, everyday wines, and even the high-end stuff [think Dom Perignon and $100 Napa Cab], the selection at Costco is hard to beat.

Congrats to Julie and Chris! Hope you're having a terrific honeymoon...Cheers!

Sparkling wine: the affordable luxury

If you associate Champagne with special occasions, that's understandable. That unique pop! sound is often preceded by a proposal, an announcement, or a major accomplishment. But sparkling wine can be a very refreshing option on a hot summer day and it pairs well with many types of food (especially ethnic cuisine like Mexican or Chinese food as well as sushi and dim sum). 

Don't rule out it because of price!

There are many sparkling wines made outside of the Champagne region that go by other names ("cremant" in other regions in France, "prosecco" in Italy, "cava" in Spain, and of course, the sparkling wines made here in the US). 

 

These other sparklers offer a great value, so start celebrating this weekend with one of the value-priced bottles described below. At these prices, you might want to sip sparkling all week-long.

I discovered the Toques et Clochers Cremant de Limoux at BevMo; it’s currently on sale for $13.39. I was pleasantly surprised by this sparkler from the Limoux region located near the southernmost tip of France. It is zesty and light with bright lemony notes. Delightful on its own, it would also pair well with appetizers, salads, olives and cheese.

BevMo is also the best place to stock up on my favorite Napa bubbly in the $17-$25 range, particularly Mumm Brut Rosé and Domaine Carneros Brut. They also carry many Spanish sparklers between $8-$15.

There are also some good less-expensive options at Whole Foods, too. As tempting as the top-shelf varieties of Veuve Cliquot, Moët, and Nicholas Feuilante can be, disregard them and look a little lower for La Marca.

La Marca is a reliable Italian prosecco for $15.99. I’m not adventurous when it comes to Prosecco because some can be borderline sweet (or super-sweet), but the La Marca is crisp and clean and very food-friendly.

And when you have a legitimate special occasion that allows for something a little pricier ($50+), remember the B’s—go for a bottle of Bruno Paillard, Billecart-Salmon, or Bollinger (these three legit Champagnes are all available at Whole Foods, too). 

Get your sparkle on this Saturday and Sunday and celebrate something (anything)!