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Wedding wines

Saturday, August 30, 2014 | 11:33 PM | 0 comments

If you did not opt for wedding wine from your hotel, you may need to do some research on where and what type of wine that you need to get. Well, N & G have been spending some time researching for wines. G without any knowledge on wine except knowing the taste whether is smooth, she have to learn from scratch. Having to select the right wine, you need to know the following:

1) Type of wine: red or white
2) Dishes you are serving
3) Year of the wine - it matters because of the grapes
4) budget

Here is a guide that helps G to know a bit more on wine:

Red, White, or Rosé?

Although sparkling wine is a wedding fixture, consider also serving one red and one white still wine if the reception includes a meal or hors d'oeuvres. Professional wedding planners advocate serving equal amounts of red and white wine—if only so you don't disappoint half the crowd. For those who want to pour just one wine with the meal, there is a happy compromise: dry rosé, a wine that's refreshing and also substantial enough to drink with sturdy foods.

White Wine Top Picks

Look to Sauvignon Blanc, which is a super-versatile white that goes splendidly with seafood, chicken, eggs, vegetables, and salads. The citrusy 2008 Geyser Peak California Sauvignon Blanc and the pleasantly pungent 2009 Brancott Reserve Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand are tremendous values at $13, and they're often discounted. Or go with crowd-pleasing, easy-to-drink Pinot Gris (Pinot Grigio in Italy), such as the mouth-filling 2009 Nobilo Regional Collection Pinot Gris from New Zealand ($13); the 2008 King Estate Oregon Pinot Gris ($16), with pretty pear and stone fruit flavors; and the rich yet bracing 2008 Estancia California Pinot Grigio ($13), which has more depth of flavor than most readily available Italian Pinot Grigios.

Also consider unoaked or lightly oaked Chardonnays, which are great to sip alone and, with their unadulterated fruit flavors, match a wider range of dishes than the toasty, buttery type of Chardonnay. Delicious choices include the crackling-crisp 2008 Morgan Metallico Monterey Chardonnay ($20) and the steely, mouthwatering 2008 Chehalem Inox Willamette Valley (Oregon) Chardonnay ($16). "Inox" comes from the French word for stainless steel, and several New World producers use this term on labels for wines that receive little to no oak barrel contact. Kunde Estate in California's Sonoma Valley is among them; its 2008 Nu Chardonnay ($18) is another to consider.

Red Wine Top Picks

Cabernet Sauvignon is the most popular red wine in America, and it's best suited to serving with hearty beef and lamb dishes. The 2006 Charles Krug Peter Mondavi Family Yountville Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($27) is tasty proof that there are indeed affordable Cabs made in Napa; this one is supple, medium- to full-bodied, and has textbook cassis and cedar Cabernet character. The concentrated yet palate-cleansing 2007 Amavi Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley (Washington), at $27, is as good as many $50 bottles. Merlot lovers need look no further than the supple, plummy 2006 Souverain Alexander Valley Merlot ($19) from Sonoma County.

Silky, earthy Pinot Noir is extremely flexible with many foods, including fish and vegetarian dishes, yet it also pairs nicely with light red meats, pork, and poultry. Pinot can be pricey, but fine value can be found in the 2008 Kenwood Reserve Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($25); and for a taste of Burgundy, in the 2007 Joseph Drouhin Véro Pinot Noir ($19), named for and made by Véronique Drouhin-Boss, a fourth-generation Drouhin winemaker from Burgundy's famous Drouhin family. She also oversees production at Domaine Drouhin Oregon.

For something a little more exotic, consider any of Ravenswood's spicy, briary California Zinfandels, particularly the 2008 Napa Valley ($15), which will please most red-wine lovers. The Alamos Selection Malbec ($13) from Mendoza, Argentina, is supple and juicy in black fruit flavors and is widely distributed. It's a super bargain.

Remember Rosé

Sweet white Zinfandel is fine for casual, at-home quaffing, but weddings call for a more serious pink wine (and no, that's not an oxymoron). Dry rosé is crisp and fruity, does not have the sweetness of white Zinfandel and other blush wines, and pairs beautifully with salads, poultry, pork, tuna, salmon, and even sirloin. Rosé also hits the spot in both warm and cool weather, day and night. Top affordable bottles include the bold (for rosé), meat-friendly 2008 Beckmen Vineyards Purisima Mountain Vineyard Santa Ynez Grenache Rosé ($18); the more delicate, very refreshing 2009 Frog's Leap La Grenouille Rouganté Pink Napa Valley ($14); and the 2008 Angove Nine Vines Grenache-Shiraz Rosé from South Australia ($11), brimming with fresh raspberry flavors; and the 2008 E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône Rosé ($14), with its refreshing acidity and juicy cherry and watermelon flavors.

With much research, they had selected Pierre Jean Merlot 2012 as recommended by N.

Country: France

Tasting Note: Medium dry with hint of sweetness and soft to the palate. It is elegant, refined, with a remarkable fruitiness. Easy drinking and so enjoyable even without food.

Pairing: Grilled meat, tomato-based pasta, mushroom, smoked chicken, duck, ham and many more.

Volume: 750ML

Vintage: 2012

Place that they get their wines:

Crystal Wines

491 River Valley Road

#01-02/03 Valley Point

Singapore 248371

xoxo

N & G