8th May 2026 | Cork Talk | 5 minute read
We’re all about the joy of great wine here at Virgin Wines, and there is no occasion more joyous and deserving of good wine than a wedding! Happily ever after starts with a send-off filled with sensational wedding wines, from arrival drinks through to the reception.
In this handy wedding wine guide, you’ll find everything you could possibly need including the best wines for weddings and our special wedding drink calculator. So, let’s dive in, lovebirds.
Ultimately this depends on a few things, including your number of guests and their drink preferences. If you have lots of non-drinkers and children attending, then you won’t need so much. Base your calculations on the number of adults who are going to be drinking rather than the size of your whole guest list.
Next, you’ll need to decide how much wine you wish to provide for people at each stage of the wedding. We would recommend a glass of sparkling wine for a welcome drink, two to three glasses of wine for the wedding breakfast and a glass of sparkling wine for the toast.
At weddings people tend to drink slightly more red wine than white so a split of around 60% red wine and 40% white would work, however if you know you have a lot of white wine lovers attending, or if your wedding is outside in the middle of summer, you may wish to go 50/50 or even further.
To work out approximately how many bottles to order, you should know that one standard bottle of still wine serves around five glasses, and a bottle of sparkling wine will serve six.
Easier still, skip the maths entirely and use our handy drinks calculator!
The best wines for your wedding will depend on a few things. Take into account where and when your wedding will be. People tend to drink more reds in winter, and more white and sparkling wines in summer. Don’t forget about rosé as an option either as it’s a great thirst-quencher on a hot day!
A glass of sparkling wine is the perfect way to kick off your reception and is often served as a welcome drink. Traditionally Champagne is the way to go and certainly adds a little luxury to proceedings, but it will have an impact on your budget so don’t be afraid to go for a lower cost option. Cava and Crémant are very similar in style to Champagne and if you want something a little lighter and fresher, Prosecco is the way to go.
When it comes to choosing still wines for the table, your best bet is to go for popular wine styles and grape varieties that you’re confident everyone will enjoy.
For red wines, smooth, easy-going varieties like Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are always going to go down well.
With white wines, it’s best to stick to something clean and crisp over anything oaky or complex. Think Pinot Grigio, Verdejo or Chenin Blanc.
If you decide to go for rosé wine, then a dry and crisp style is a great choice. A New World Grenache will work well or a Provence-style rosé from southern France.
If you want to have specific wine pairings for your wedding breakfast, then our wine advisors have the expertise to help you do this. There are many easy-going, food-friendly wines that will taste delicious with whatever you serve so if in doubt, your best bet is to serve crowd-pleasers that will be good with anything.
The exception to this rule would be if you’re opting for something more delicate, such as a fish main course. For lighter dishes, it’s worth thinking about the wine matching a little more carefully and choosing an elegant wine that won’t overwhelm the food.
Head to the pairing food and wine section of our wine guide to read up on classic pairings.
This really depends on what you want and your budget. The most important thing is that you’re happy with the wines and the price you paid for them.
If you love fine wines but don’t have the budget, there are many fine wine alternatives out there. Love Chablis? Try a cool-climate Chardonnay from the Casablanca Valley in Chile. If a fine Bordeaux is your style, then try a Merlot blend from South Africa. Or consider looking into lesser-known wine-producing countries such as Romania or England.
It’s all in the details when it comes to a wedding, with every decision helping to piece together your joyous day.
Our advice for your carefully chosen wines would be to ensure you cover all bases with your venue regarding how you’re going to store and serve them. It may be best to deliver directly to the venue, or you may wish to get the wine a little further in advance and store it yourself beforehand. Either way, wine should be stored in a cool, dark place to really get the most out of every single drop.
Double check how your venue or wedding planner intends to serve the wine at the correct temperature on the day. Most dedicated venues will have this covered but if you’re organising it all yourself and doing it in the middle of the woods you’ll need to think on this more carefully.
Think about glassware availability too. Wine and cocktail glasses may be provided for you, or you may need to source them yourself.
If you’d like some help in ordering wines for your wedding then please get in touch and one of our lovely wine advisors can assist. Get in touch on 0343 224 1001 or email wineadvisor@virginwines.co.uk.
