Suggestions for wedding

[stevebody]

Let me put in an couple of suggestions here, too, if I may, since wedding planning is a lot of what I do in our shop every day. Certainly, have to second IK's suggestion about the St. Andrews. Yummy stuff, great price. On the Bleasdale, well, IK and I will have to agree to disagree but you might like it a lot. Several of my customers didn't like it at all. 'Nuff said.

As for alternatives, inquantities sufficient for wedding receptions, I'd suggest the Rosemount, at around $6.99 per, or the Buckeley's Shiraz, a little gem that got 90- point-ish ratings from a whole slew of wine magazines and really deserves it. It will run you about $6-$7 a bottle.

There is no shortage of these things. One domestic one you night consider: the Pepperwood Grove Syrah. You've seen these in the grocery store but don't mistake this stuff for cheap plonk. The guy who makes it, Bob Broman, is a Napa Valley lifer who buys second barrels of really fine Syrah from some of the area's best producers and blends them deftly into a GREAT little cuvee. A local paper here asked me for my list of the top 25 bargain wines from last year and it was a solid Number One. It has the true character of the varietal and a richness and balance you seldom find in a cheap wine.

You might want to think about bubblies, too, for your toast. In that category, let me suggest any one of a number of Spanish Cavas: Cristalino, Aria, Seguras Viudas, Torre Oria, or the lovely, underappreciated Freixenet Carta Nevada, really great Chardonnay grapes with a great dry flavor and nice bubbles. Best part, it's dirt cheap - about $6 each.

Hope these help.