Hello fellow wine lovers,

A few months ago I got some great advice on this board for wines to provide for afriend's wedding. I'm back again to ask the same advice, but this time it's for my own wedding.

I'm looking for wines that will come out to on average $10 a bottle (i.e., if I save a little on white I can spend more on red). It's probably safe to say the maximum price of any single bottle will be $15 after tax. The food menu is a seasonally-focused California/Mediterranean menu with items like fava bean crostini, tuni sashimi, mini goat cheese souffles, crab cakes, lamb with gremolata, salmon with lemon bagna cauda, asparagus, polenta tarts with wild mushrooms, and other goodies of Spring.

Our typical wine choices for such fare would be a crisp white (e.g., sauvignon blanc, albarino, verdejo) and a food-friendly red like pinot noir (the bride's favorite grape), rhone red, barbera, nebbiolo, or other Italian red.

I would probably choose the 03 Basa Rueda Blanco, since it was such a hit at the previous wedding, but the supply here on the West Coast appears depleted and the 04 isn't set to arrive until it's too late. The other popular wine from that wedding, Altos Las Hormigas Malbec, would probably work with the lamb okay but with nothing else.

Any thoughts? White? Red? Sparkling?

Thanks in advance.
-Nick

njachow,

BevMo has the 2002 Luna Sangiovese for $10 (that is NOT to be confused with Luna di Luna -- Luna is a CA winery) and I hear it is a phenominal buy. It is available at Costco for $9.79 or something like that. (I think Tanzer gave this a 91). I would deffinitely pick one up to give it a spin.

I would also seriously consider a 2003 Barbera. They are just coming out and the vintage should be awesome. I think one might also make an excellent pairing with your dinner.

On the white front, if you want a CA SB you can find 2003 Joel Gott for $10 and I think that is pretty decent. Otherwise, I'd go for either an NZ/South Africa SB or an inexpensive German such as Dr. L or Gysler Scheurebe Qba (or maybe it is even a Kabinett). If I think of other things, I'll post them.

a

Congratualtions on your upcoming wedding. As far as I'm concerned, the red you must get is the non-vintage Marietta Old Vine Red #36. At about $9 a bottle, it's outstanding, and widely available.

The topic of selecting wedding wines is a topic that is very near and dear to me right now since we are getting married in May. Now, now tie this into the other thread about collectors hording wines and ........ taa daa! problem solved. Of course now this means well be serving quite the assortment of quality wines. We're actually calling the reception more of a "tasting" and "wine and food pairing" that we're giving to our friends and family. When we met with the caterer he was very excited to be preparing a menu for quite an assorted selection of wines.

If you check the food thread I posted a bunch of wine and food pairing wine a few months ago and many of those wines were under the $15 range. Check outBoitano Family Wines for some very nice, affordable wines. They have a great Barbera and Sangiovese that we are including at our wedding recept.......ugh err........ tasting party.

pick up a bottle of Castle Rock Pinot Noir and give it a try - it should be a terrific crowd pleaser, and is widely available for less than $10.

Dover Canyon Renegade Red from Paso.

The Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc/Viognier is about $12.

Congrats!

Consider Seghesio's Sonoma Zinfandel (about $11/bottle).