On the Grapevine

NON VINTAGE NUPTIALS

30 August 2007

After June, October is the most popular month in which to get married. And so a little in advance, here are some wine words of advice for those planning to get 'hitched', hitch-free.

Firstly, two obvious statements... It is not good form to drink before the wedding - a rule applied to guests, bride, groom and priest. A registrar may call a halt to proceedings if they suspect signs of intoxication. Nor is it wise for the day's orators to self-inebriate, a surprisingly facile temptation in a convivial atmosphere.

Keep things simple and traditional at the Wedding Breakfast. Sauteed veal sweetbreads with late harvest Fallanghina may tempt the epicurious, but such culinary showmanship will distract from the main event. A suitable objet trouvé: the dark red velvet coloured, sapele mahogany scented '04 Claret from Château Reynier. Cuvée Héritage is traditional, evoking rich, home-baked Polish chocolate cheesecake [£15.99, Bedales, T. 020 7403 8853]. With white, apply a non-exuberant Chardonnay. From between Mâcon and Beaujolais, Domaine de Vignemont's '06 is a couth, crowd-pleasing example: juvenille, but not jalopy [£12.99, Bedales]. Satiably satay on the nose, on the palate, a food-friendly pincer like acidity grasps, enthralls, then releases with a citrus and pine nut sigh.

The actual toast must be made with white Champagne. Wine from France's most northerly region is considered the definitive, auspicious, liquid starter pistol to married life. Even though some supermarket own-branded bubbles can be bright and elegant, save them for home consumption. Economically, a smart packaged brioche scented rendition from an established house like Perrier-Jouët - Grand Brut, will ensure a consistently-consistent non vintage, lighter style [Buy 2 bottles save 25% = £20.99, Majestic Wine].

www.thedailywine.co.uk

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