Marking your union in style
Choosing the perfect champagne for your wedding day is akin to selecting your ideal life partner—it’s a decision filled with excitement, anticipation, and dreams of a beautiful future together. Just as you prepare to toast to your new journey in life, it’s essential to reflect on the significance of this special occasion. It’s not just a celebration of love and connection; it’s a symbolic representation of two hearts, minds, and lives intertwining into one.
The choice of champagne speaks volumes about your personal style, taste, and ethos. Much like fashion, art, or music, it reflects your identity and leaves a lasting impression on your guests. Your wedding day is an opportunity to express yourself authentically, to showcase your values and preferences through the champagne you choose to serve.
Whether you prefer the crispness of brut, the elegance of extra brut, or the sweetness of demi-sec, there’s a champagne that perfectly embodies your unique taste and personality. Ultimately, it’s about selecting a champagne that resonates with you as a couple, one that brings you joy and reminds you of the deep connection you share.
As a traditionalist with an innovative twist, I understand the importance of craftsmanship and quality in champagne. From the meticulous fermentation process to the careful selection of grapes, every step contributes to the creation of a truly exceptional champagne. My recommendations reflect this commitment to excellence, offering you a curated selection of the finest champagnes to elevate your wedding celebration.
From the classic elegance of Brut Champagne Magnum for pre-reception drinks and toasts to the magical allure of Vintage Champagne for your most intimate gatherings, each champagne embodies the spirit of luxury and celebration. And let’s not forget the creativity and fun of champagne cocktails during the reception—a delightful way to add a touch of glamour and excitement to your special day.
Champagne List
Pol Roger: Immerse yourself in the elegance and refinement of Pol Roger Champagne. With a legacy dating back to 1849, Pol Roger is renowned for its exceptional quality and timeless sophistication. Indulge in the crisp, refreshing taste of their meticulously crafted cuvées, each bottle a testament to the artistry and dedication of the Pol Roger family.
Bollinger: Elevate your champagne experience with Bollinger, a symbol of luxury and excellence since 1829. Crafted with precision and passion in the heart of Champagne, Bollinger’s distinctive blends captivate the senses with their rich, complex flavors and unparalleled depth. Discover the allure of Bollinger and toast to life’s most memorable moments in style.
Héloïse-Lloris: Embark on a journey of refined taste and French elegance with Héloïse-Lloris Champagne. Named after the beloved wife of French footballer Hugo Lloris, this prestigious champagne captures the essence of celebration and romance. With its delicate bubbles and exquisite flavor profile, Héloïse-Lloris is the perfect companion for special occasions and cherished memories.
Armand de Brignac – Ace of Spades: Prepare to be dazzled by the unparalleled luxury of Armand de Brignac Champagne, also known as Ace of Spades. Crafted by a passionate team of winemakers using traditional methods, each bottle of Armand de Brignac is a masterpiece of opulence and taste. Elevate any occasion with the unmistakable brilliance of Armand de Brignac Champagne.
Laurent-Perrier: Experience the epitome of elegance with Laurent-Perrier Champagne. Founded in 1812, Laurent-Perrier is celebrated for its exceptional craftsmanship and dedication to quality. From the crisp freshness of their Brut to the delicate charm of their Rosé, every sip of Laurent-Perrier Champagne is a testament to the art of French winemaking.
Billecart-Salmon Brut Reserve: Delight in the harmonious balance and finesse of Billecart-Salmon Brut Reserve Champagne. With its pale gold hue and delicate bubbles, this renowned champagne exudes sophistication and refinement. Indulge in the complex layers of citrus and floral notes, creating a sensory experience that lingers long after the last sip.
Dom Perignon: Step into the world of luxury with Dom Perignon Champagne. Named after the legendary Benedictine monk who pioneered champagne production, Dom Perignon represents the pinnacle of prestige and taste. With its exquisite blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes, Dom Perignon Champagne offers a symphony of flavors that elevate any celebration.
Krug: Discover the artistry of champagne with Krug, a symbol of craftsmanship and excellence since 1843. Renowned for its rich, expressive flavors and unparalleled complexity, Krug Champagne embodies the spirit of creativity and innovation. Indulge in the distinctive character of Krug and celebrate life’s moments with style and sophistication.
Perrier Jouet: Immerse yourself in the world of beauty and elegance with Perrier Jouet Champagne. Founded in 1811, Perrier Jouet is celebrated for its exquisite craftsmanship and distinctive floral notes. From the iconic Belle Epoque cuvée to the timeless Grand Brut, each bottle of Perrier Jouet Champagne is a tribute to the art of living beautifully.
Ruinart: Experience the legacy of excellence with Ruinart Champagne, the oldest champagne house in the world. Established in 1729, Ruinart is renowned for its commitment to quality and tradition. With its signature blanc de blancs style and delicate effervescence, Ruinart Champagne offers a timeless expression of elegance and sophistication.
In conclusion, champagne is more than just a drink—it’s a symbol of elegance, sophistication, and celebration. By choosing the best champagnes for your wedding day, you’re not only treating your guests to a memorable experience but also creating lasting memories that you’ll cherish for years to come. So, raise a glass to love, laughter, and happily ever after—cheers to a lifetime of beautiful moments together!
Click here to explore our selection and join us in celebrating your love story in style. Cin cin!
Top 10 Champagnes for your wedding day – V1
Marking your union in style:
Choosing a champagne for your wedding day is an important decision, just as important as choosing your ideal mate, but before you enjoy your bubbles to mark your new union to celebrate love, connection, and a new chapter in your life, its time to reflect on the future. It’s a new beginning and the joining of two hearts, minds, and lives, and so let’s mark the day with something special. There is something about bubbles that brings an air of sophistication and elegance to mark an occasion.
Your choice of champagne just like fashion, art, music or wine has a funny way of showcasing your personal identity, and so you are choosing a champagne that matches your style and taste and possibly your mindset which mirrors your ethos by choosing a more vegan option and so what do you want your champagne to say about you? Let’s be real there is an element of reputation at play here and so think carefully about what you want to say on your special day, because it speaks volumes about you.
Whatever your preferred taste profile, brut, extra brut or demi-sec, a vintage or a non-vintage there’s sure to be a Champagne to suit you both and ultimately, it’s about taste that should prevail when selecting your Champagne selecting one that you as a couple enjoy the most and that reminds you of the connection that you hold but also pairs well with your menu.
Being a traditionalist at heart an old soul, with an alternative innovative viewpoint I love champagne for its craftsmanship being fermentation in “The traditional method” it speaks, quality grapes, soil and patience but teamed with my pragmatic and methodical mind I sees things from a new perspective and so my recommendations would reflect this, I rarely follow the crowd and so this will be no exception.
When it comes to Champagne the most premium quality producers harness the CO2, that is naturally created as a by product of fermentation, sparkling wines are most commonly produced using one of two methods: Bottle fermentation or tank fermentation.
Champagne – The base wine
The first step in producing nearly all styles of sparkling wine is to make a base wine. It is typically dry, high in acidity and low in alcohol. The base wine is usually a blend of different wines, these can be from different vintages, varieties and/or vineyards.
Second Fermentation
Sugar and yeast are added to the dry base wine. The yeast converts the sugar into alcohol and CO2. The alcohol that is created brings the abv of the wine up by around 1.5%
To stop the CO2 from escaping the second fermentation must take place in a sealed vessel. This is typically a sealed bottle (bottle fermentation) and the traditional method is practiced throughout the world but is most famously used in the production of both Champagne and Cava.
Cava is the Spanish term for a traditional method sparkling wine produced in certain regions of Spain. Most Cava comes from the Catalunya region. The grape varieties used to make Cava are mainly local Spanish varieties, although Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are also permitted and can add both fruit flavours and acidity to the base wine.
Champagne AOC is a famous traditional method sparkling wine from northern France. The base wine for Champagne is typically a blend of three grape varieties Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier. The climate is cool and this provides ideal conditions for creating a base wine with low alcohol and high acidity. To achieve consistency most champagnes are a blend of base wines from several vintages. These wines are referred to as non-vintage.
In South Africa, the labelling term Cap Classique is used to signify a traditional method of sparkling wine, sometimes the champagne grapes are used other times they may use other grape varieties such as Chenin Blanc.
In exceptional years, a portion of the best grapes are used to create a Vintage Champagne, Vintage Champagne is made with grapes harvested in a single year. These wines are particularly complex and are aged in contact with the lees for a long period of time, followed by extended bottle ageing after disgorgement. They combine pronounced apple, citrus-fruit and autolytic characters (Bread, pastry notes) with notes of nuts and honey from bottle aging. These champagnes are produced in small quantities and command very high prices.
Disgorgement
Is the removing of the Lees (yeast) from the neck of the bottle, after riddling (a process for collecting all the lees in the neck of the bottle), the neck of the bottle is frozen and the lees are trapped in the plug of ice and when the crown cap is removed, the pressure created by the dissolved CO2 forces the plug of ice and lees out of the bottle.
Dosage
Before the bottle is resealed, the wine is topped up with a mixture of wine and usually sugar, the process of adding this mixture is known as dosage. The dosage determines the final sweetness of the wine.
Brut – Most wines are made in this way and a very small amount of sugar is added, but the wine tastes dry due to the high acidity and lively bubbles.
Demi- Sec – indicates medium sweetness.
My recommendations:
Brut Champagne Magnum – Pre reception drinks & Toasts:
For large wedding parties opting for Brut Magnums, Jeroboams, Methusalehs would make perfect sense to have the same champagne for your reception drinks, Bridal Toast and Cake cutting toasts. It’s a crowd pleaser and a great start to pop open something with just enough sweetness to balance the natural acidity in Champagne to start the proceedings, not to mention the epic centre stage it will have for any guestlist.
Depending on numbers you might opt for a magnum is the equivalent of two 75cl bottles, a Jéroboams (four 75cl bottles) and Methusalehs (six 75cl bottles). For toasts just a reminder that only half a glass of champagne is poured and so you would expect to get eight-sized pours per bottle (on the safe and conservative side (8-12 pours is possible).
Vintage Champagne – Bridal party, Engagement dinner, Wedding breakfast.
What is more magical than opening a cold delicious, high quality vintage champagne for your engagement dinner, wedding breakfast and bridal party to enjoy as you cement your union in style and quality. Spare no expense for your most intimate and close friends and family, what’s more celebratory than a cold, bubbling flute of premium Champagne!
Bar during reception – Champagne Cocktail or sparkling wine
Now, this is where we get creative and fun! Opting for a champagne cocktail or sparkling wines. Still in true champagne spirit but creating champagne cocktails will add a spicey element to your wedding party, adding a pop of pink rose giving it a great time to shine. Try sparkling wines like Cava, Crémant (Blanc de balance and blanc de noirs) or Italian classic Prosecco with a dash of Elderflower Liqueur for a sumptuous twist. What better way to add style and glamour to any occasion.
This makes perfect sense to utlise your brut magnums to create classic champagne cocktails include bucks fizz, or a fruity Kir royale made with crème de cassis, or something a little more unique, try a champagne mojito or refreshing Sgroppino (mixing champagne with vodka and lemon sorbet). Fans of an Aperol spritz can put champagne to good use in a sparkling aperitivo spritz during summer.
Conclusion
Champagne is an essential part of any wedding, whether you are pouring a glass at cocktail hour, pre-dinner drinks, or providing every guest with a toast.
It’s the drink that conjures up memories of special occasions and a touch of luxury. Champagne is no everyday drink so, when buying a bottle, it’s worth buying the best – so we’ve rounded up the best champagnes to buy so you can find the ultimate bottles to pop.
For champagne remains the most decadent option with the strict production rules, labelling regulations and its traditional method of production and grapes, explain why its price tag is often higher as well as why it retains such a distinct character.
For dinner I would opt for a classic white and red wine followed by port or sweet wine, click here to view this article.
Best champagne to have with shellfish: Constantine Solarris NV, £27.99
Best richly flavoured champagne: Henriot Brut Souverain NV, £37.50
Best vintage champagne: Les Pionniers Brut 2013, £37
Best champagne to impress your friends: Beaumont des Crayères Brut Grand Reserve NV, £37.95
Best grower champagne: Henri Chauvet Blanc de Noirs NV, £26.95
