What wine for a wedding?
Quick answer
For a wedding, plan Champagne for the toast (1 bottle per 3 guests), an elegant white for starters, and a smooth red for the main. Average budget: 8-15 EUR per bottle when buying in bulk.
Detailed answer
Wedding wine needs to balance quality, volume, and budget. The rule of thumb: half a bottle per guest for the meal, plus one Champagne flute each for the toast (roughly 1 bottle per 6 flutes).
For the toast, a non-vintage brut from a reputable house (around 25-35 EUR) delivers the best bang-for-celebration ratio. Crémant from Alsace, Burgundy, or the Loire (8-15 EUR) is an elegant and more affordable alternative.
For the meal, the selection follows the menu. A dry, mineral white (Chablis, Sancerre, Gavi) pairs with fish and poultry. A smooth, fruity red (Burgundy Pinot Noir, Saint-Émilion Merlot, Barbera d'Asti) pleases the widest crowd with meat courses.
Budget tip: when ordering 50+ bottles, many Belgian wine shops offer a 10-15 % volume discount. Stop by 20hVin in La Hulpe or La Cave du Lac in Genval for a tasting and tailored advice.
Don't forget non-alcoholic or low-alcohol options for guests who don't drink. Quality dealcoholised wines have improved dramatically in recent years.