Choosing wine for reception...advice?

Question

I am getting married in Mexico and need to choose wine for the reception. We can buy a decent selection of wine down there, and I have an opportunity to take some down from here.

Okay, so how to choose the wine? Our reception meal will likely be a choice of fish or chicken. While it won’t be American-style “Mexican food” it will certainly be influenced by Mexican flavors – maybe Snapper Vera Cruz. So, it will be a little spicier and bolder than a typical chicken or fish dish. I won’t know exactly what the meal selection will be until after I can get the wine sent down there.

Please don’t offer the “Red with meat, white with chicken & fish” formula. I know sometimes a Chardonnay can overpower a meal, so I was thinking a Pinot Gris or Sauvignon Blanc, but haven’t hit on a winner. For red, maybe a Pinot Noir or Red Zin?

I have asked at a couple wine stores, but thought I’d see if I could get any good tips here. I’ve looked online, but it’s

sorry, the question got cut off.

I looked online but can't find as much help as I thought.

Any ideas?

Answer 1

It depends partially on taste and partially on what you can get inexpensively. I just got married, and we had our reception in a winery. We had fish and chicken, and the lighter reds and semi-sweet white wines were the most popluar.

Vidal Blanc and Pinot Grigio both sound very good, I personally think Chardonnay is crap, but that's a personal bias. I have, however, found that even hard core Chard drinkers enjoy a good Pinot Gris/Grigio or Vidal Blanc.

As for reds, Pinot Noir is a good choice, but I think Red Zin, while being a fab wine, is way too heavy for the food you want to serve. Also try an Argetinian Malbec for a medium body wine (they are excellent from Argentina!)

Just one note - do a wine tasting. Do several wine tastings. You want your wedding to be perfect, and that includes the wine! The best way to learn about wine is to drink it. The more the better. I've been told that by at least three different winemakers an countless other enthusiasts.

Answer 2

I think Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir are excellent choices. I wouldn't go any "heavier" withe red. You may consider a Pinot Grigio as a white alternate.

Answer 3

why not have a couple of each variety and let people pick what they want. Some people just like chardonnay for example, they don't care about the paring. For example, I personally don't care for sauvignon blanc, I don't care what the sommelier says.

No matter what you do you won't be able to please everyone, so why stress out over it.