Champagne and Wine
I thought this article has some good information on champagne and wine:
Wedding season brings a chance to toast and taste
Richard Breshears
The East Oregonian
OK, it happens to most of us at least once in our lives. We're planning a wedding - either our own or someone we must care about quite a bit because wedding planning is far from fun or easy - when, inevitably, the big question comes up: "What are we going to serve at the toast?"
I frequently am asked what would be a good Champagne to serve for the toast. Frankly, unless you know and really like sparkling wines, I would suggest that you go ahead and serve a fun sparkling wine that is easy on the budget. Many sparkling wines provide a fantastic visual, are reasonably priced and taste good as well.
First, it's important to know not all sparkling wines are created equal. "Champagne," as it is widely known, is only produced in the region of France that holds its namesake. Typically, Champagnes such as Dom Perignon or Veuve Clicquot are best known for their amazing flavors, depth and price tag. Having personally attended hundreds of weddings, I would suggest that you keep the good stuff for yourself or the bride and groom to enjoy later.
A good sparkling wine, of which there are many available, is usually marked with the term "Methode Champenoise," which means that the wine is prepared in the age-old traditional manner, even though it isn't from a specific geographical region. As we say in the business, "It's good stuff."
Even though I am a huge red wine fan, I personally prefer a sparkling wine that is a bit sweet, soft and with lots of bubbles to provide a creamy finish. Probably my favorite right now is Domaine Ste. Michelle's Frizzante.
This bit of Northwest has been growing in acclaim since its introduction in 2006. The bottle presents well enough for any wedding table or portrait, is very inexpensive at under $10 and its flavors of pear and candied apple will have the bridesmaids kicking up their heels on the dance floor in no time.
Domaine Ste. Michelle also provides several other notable sparkling wines, including their Cuvee' Brut, Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Noirs and their Extra Dry.
Another brand that has been hitting the wedding scene pretty hard over the past two years is Barefoot Bubbly. Barefoot provides a fun label concept paired with really good bubbly. A new release of a White Zinfandel and Pinot Grigio will hit the shelves this month and should be fun to taste.
When considering the amount needed, a good rule of thumb is to offer one glass of sparkling wine to each guest over 21 years of age. One bottle of wine equals approximately six fluted glasses. So, if you have 50 adult guests you will need 9 bottles, or 200 adult guests would require 36 bottles, or three cases.
In any case, best wishes on your wedding and many happy years.
To see original article, go to http://www.eastoregonian.info/main.asp?SectionID=27&SubSectionID=92&ArticleID=79080&TM=61892.94
Wedding season brings a chance to toast and taste
Richard Breshears
The East Oregonian
OK, it happens to most of us at least once in our lives. We're planning a wedding - either our own or someone we must care about quite a bit because wedding planning is far from fun or easy - when, inevitably, the big question comes up: "What are we going to serve at the toast?"
I frequently am asked what would be a good Champagne to serve for the toast. Frankly, unless you know and really like sparkling wines, I would suggest that you go ahead and serve a fun sparkling wine that is easy on the budget. Many sparkling wines provide a fantastic visual, are reasonably priced and taste good as well.
First, it's important to know not all sparkling wines are created equal. "Champagne," as it is widely known, is only produced in the region of France that holds its namesake. Typically, Champagnes such as Dom Perignon or Veuve Clicquot are best known for their amazing flavors, depth and price tag. Having personally attended hundreds of weddings, I would suggest that you keep the good stuff for yourself or the bride and groom to enjoy later.
A good sparkling wine, of which there are many available, is usually marked with the term "Methode Champenoise," which means that the wine is prepared in the age-old traditional manner, even though it isn't from a specific geographical region. As we say in the business, "It's good stuff."
Even though I am a huge red wine fan, I personally prefer a sparkling wine that is a bit sweet, soft and with lots of bubbles to provide a creamy finish. Probably my favorite right now is Domaine Ste. Michelle's Frizzante.
This bit of Northwest has been growing in acclaim since its introduction in 2006. The bottle presents well enough for any wedding table or portrait, is very inexpensive at under $10 and its flavors of pear and candied apple will have the bridesmaids kicking up their heels on the dance floor in no time.
Domaine Ste. Michelle also provides several other notable sparkling wines, including their Cuvee' Brut, Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Noirs and their Extra Dry.
Another brand that has been hitting the wedding scene pretty hard over the past two years is Barefoot Bubbly. Barefoot provides a fun label concept paired with really good bubbly. A new release of a White Zinfandel and Pinot Grigio will hit the shelves this month and should be fun to taste.
When considering the amount needed, a good rule of thumb is to offer one glass of sparkling wine to each guest over 21 years of age. One bottle of wine equals approximately six fluted glasses. So, if you have 50 adult guests you will need 9 bottles, or 200 adult guests would require 36 bottles, or three cases.
In any case, best wishes on your wedding and many happy years.
To see original article, go to http://www.eastoregonian.info/main.asp?SectionID=27&SubSectionID=92&ArticleID=79080&TM=61892.94
