How to choose champagne for a wedding?
Par Pépites de vin
Champagne is the drink of celebration par excellence, and therefore of weddings! It symbolizes celebration, joy, elegance… However, with so many varieties and brands of champagne available, it’s hard to find your way around and know how to choose the best champagne for your wedding. In this article, we’ll answer some of your questions to help you make the best choice.
Article summary
What's the best champagne for a wedding?
We recommend that you choose a top-quality champagne for your wedding, to mark the occasion!
You can opt for a champagne from one of the great houses, which will be unanimously acclaimed by your guests: Taittinger, Veuve Clicquot, Ruinart, Moêt & Chandon… But these are very expensive champagnes that may not fit into your budget. With this type of champagne, you’re paying not only for quality, but also for brand and reputation.
So why not take a look at « producer » champagnes? These are champagnes produced by lesser-known but equally high-quality independent producers.
We recommend producers such as Vollereaux, Jean Duclert or Dominé champagnes, for example, which offer excellent value for money, and often have nothing to envy the big brands in terms of taste!
When should champagne be served at a wedding?
Champagne is usually served in quantity during the cocktail party (or vin d’honneur) with a few appetizers. It’s the perfect aperitif to whet the appetite.
It can also be re-served to guests during dinner, for toasts and speeches. Finally, it’s customary to offer a final glass to accompany dessert. But you can also make champagne the main drink of the wedding and offer it throughout the evening!
Our tip: always include a few bonus bottles to be served late in the evening to refresh your guests who have stayed on the dance floor!
Which champagne to serve for the vin d'honneur?
For the vin d’honneur, choose a brut champagne (i.e. not very sweet), so as not to spoil your guests’ appetite before the meal. Brut champagnes are easier to digest and drink.
You can also opt for rosé champagne to add an original, festive touch. If so, choose a rosé champagne that’s not too sweet!
There’s no right answer: choose according to your budget and your desires!
What to eat with champagne
Champagne goes well with a wide variety of dishes:
For example, seafood (a perfect match with oysters, for example!). In this case, choose a brut or extra-brut champagne (even less sweet).
Champagne can also accompany all kinds of savory appetizers: foie gras toast, salmon toast, verrines…
It’s also a great match for certain cheeses: Brie, Chaource, goat’s milk cheeses… It’ll surprise your guests and make a memorable souvenir!
Can champagne be served with dessert?
Of course! Champagne goes perfectly with sweet desserts: chocolate fondant, crème brûlée, tarte tatin… For these desserts, the choice is yours: you can choose a brut champagne, a slightly sweeter champagne (demi-sec) for a touch of sweetness, or a rosé champagne whose fruity aromas go very well with a wide spectrum of desserts.
Our tip: a rosé champagne would be an excellent match for a red fruit tart!
Where to buy wedding champagne?
You can buy champagne in supermarkets, but you’ll have to choose between « branded » champagnes and entry-level champagnes of low quality. Brand-name bottles can be very high quality and add a prestigious touch to your evening, but they won’t suit all budgets.
What’s more, you won’t have the benefit of specialist advice to accompany you.
If you want to have a choice and benefit from sound advice, choose a specialist: a wine merchant, for example. However, wine merchants who are willing to let you taste are increasingly rare, and they generally don’t offer a delivery service.
You can also call on Pépites de Vin! You’ll benefit from the advice of a sommelier specialized in pairings, and a wide range of wines & champagnes at fair prices that you can taste free of charge. Finally, Pépites de Vin also offers a delivery service directly to the wedding venue, so you don’t have to worry about logistics!
What's the best champagne for a wedding?
Pépites de vin offers for each wedding a tasting! Whether in person according to the availability of our sommeliers and your location, but also remotely! (we send samples and we accompany you in the tasting in video conference).
One of our sommeliers will offer a selection of champagne according to your needs, your menu and your budget. You can taste different champagne with the advice of an expert, and make the best selection for your wedding. This will allow you to make the right choice without any mistakes and without wasting time!
Do not hesitate to contact us via the contact form at the bottom of the page to book your tasting.
How many bottles of champagne for a wedding?
It depends of course on the weddings and your guests!
We advise you to count on average 3 cups per person for the wine of honor (or 1 bottle for two) and an additional cup for the dessert or 4 cups per person in total
Find here all our advice on the amount of wine and champagne to provide for a wedding.
What is the price of a good champagne for a wedding?
For a champagne from the big house, count 35 to 50 €.
For a good producer champagne, you will find excellent between 20 and 30 € (ask our sommeliers for advice!)
In any case, avoid champagnes under 20€ which will often be of low quality. If your budget is less than 20 €, opt for a champagne crémant, you will find excellent ones for less than 15 €!