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| Wedding Wines Are Whatever You Want them to Be Posted: 06 Aug 2021 04:30 AM PDT  Hannah Brown and her fiancé, Andy Putch, have been busy collecting inspiration for their upcoming wedding in Provence, France. But it's not all Pinterest boards and bridal magazines. "When we're at a restaurant with a sommelier, we always ask for their favorite vineyard recommendations in France," says Brown, who works in marketing in New York City. Showcasing Provençal wines is a priority for the couple. Their wedding was scheduled originally for May 2021, but the pandemic postponed the festivities until next year. The guest list will be small and the event outdoors, but "we always planned to go all out on food and wine," says Brown.  Brown's appreciation for wine and her desire to be a generous host comes from her father. Growing up in Belgium, he would take the family on spontaneous road trips to discover new wine regions. "He would load up the trunk with cases of wine and, back at home, fill up shelves and shelves of Ikea wine racks in our basement," she says. "He loved a Châteauneuf-du-Pape, a Brunello di Montalcino, a Tignanello, big, bold reds. If he were here today, he would commandeer the wine list for my wedding." In his absence, Brown feels connected to him as she selects the wines that she hopes will delight guests.   "It's important to create an experience for our guests that has a real sense of place," she says. The postponement gave the couple more time to research. They've discovered new-to-them wines at bars and restaurants like Bibber & Bell and Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels in New York City, Allison Bart's Downstate Wine Club, and Sawyer's in Southwest Harbor, Maine. Once they finalize the dinner menu, they plan to taste bottlings from Domaine de la Citadelle, Château Lacoste, Château d'Estoublon and others from Provence and nearby regions. "Going into it, we're thinking two reds, two whites and a rosé," says Brown. "But we'll have to wait and see what we really love. It could change, depending on what we discover. We love funky reds, minerally whites." As Covid-19 vaccinations become more available, couples can again plan for their big day, in some cases after months of delays. Sommeliers have noticed a change in perceptions of what's considered a "traditional" wedding wine. "I am seeing a real interest in wines that have some residual sugar," says Mark Cartland, wine director at Island Vintage Wine Bar in Honolulu. "This represents a seismic shift from the days where couples only wanted dry wines for their guests. It is now not uncommon to have a request for a German Riesling or Italian Moscato d'Asti to be included in the lineup."  Couples also capitalize on the growing ubiquity of canned wines, which can offer a more convenient, cost-effective option. "I've noticed couples are leaning toward affordable quality, lots of natural wines and more unique offerings," says Kristin Olszewski, wine director at Gigi's in Los Angeles. She's also the founder of Nomadica, a canned wine brand. She believes couples are choosing canned wines for weddings because they tend to have "universally appealing flavor profiles."
While the landscape of wedding wines continues to evolve, certain classics remain as popular as ever. Sparkling wines continue to be a trusty go-to, which influenced famed fashion designer Vera Wang to enter the category. Wang, known for her glamorous bridal gowns, last month launched Party, a premium Italian Prosecco served in a sleek silver bottle and outfitted in bold, neon-green lettering. "Prosecco is not only about weddings," said Wang at a press event in June. "It's about celebrating life, not simply milestones, but every day. That's one of the grounding points I wanted to connect with people on."  Katie Collopy can relate to that sentiment. A publicist in New York City, she's planning her wedding next July in Northern California. "The last year showed us that we shouldn't take anything for granted and that every moment, especially a wedding, is cause for celebration," says Collopy. "We definitely want to go all out on the things that are important to us: food, wine, etc. "That being said, the last year was hard for a lot of people, and I think doing anything too ostentatious would be a bit distasteful." Collopy and her fiancé, Taber Brown, have studied wine. A couple years ago, they even attempted to craft their own vintage. "From our tiny NYC apartment," says Collopy. "It didn't go well, but we had fun nonetheless." They won't be making a second vintage attempt for their wedding. Instead, it's all about finding the right combination of traditional and unconventional for their wedding wines—whatever that looks like. "Our Champagne toast will be with Krug, the wine with which we celebrated our engagement," says Collopy. "I'd love a fun mix of smaller producers that Taber and I enjoy, as well as some crowd pleasers for other guests. While wine won't be the most important element of our wedding, it definitely is essential to curating the whole experience." |
| Italian Pinot Grigio is More Versatile Than You Might Think Posted: 06 Aug 2021 04:00 AM PDT  Classic and crisp, Italian Pinot Grigio is a crowd-pleasing white wine and warm weather staple. There are plenty of steely and neutral bottlings, but the versatile grape can deliver fruity, floral, mineral and even nutty tones. Here are nine Italian Pinot Grigios that don't skimp on flavor. Venica & Venica 2019 Ronco del Cerò Pinot Grigio (Collio); $28, 93 points. Classic varietal aromas of crushed tomato vine, exotic fruit and wild herb almost jump out of the glass. On the vibrant, savory palate, tangy acidity underscores pineapple, grapefruit and green melon, while an energizing mineral note evoking saline lingers on the finish. Grand Cru Selections. —Kerin O'Keefe Alois Lageder 2019 Porer Pinot Grigio (Alto Adige); $26, 92 points. Racy and mineral driven, this vibrant white has compelling aromas of wet slate, Alpine wildflowers and mountain herbs. Certified organic and biodynamic, it’s dry and linear, featuring ripe yellow pear, graphite, white pepper and hazelnut alongside bright, restoring acidity. Dalla Terra Winery Direct. —K.O. Jermann 2019 Pinot Grigio (Friuli); $30, 92 points. Aromas of Alpine herb, white spring flower and ripe orchard fruit mingle together in the glass. Tangy and rounded, the savory palate boasts intense flavor and finesse, doling out ripe yellow pear, white peach and a hint of green melon alongside fresh acidity. LUX Wines. —K.O. Kofererhof 2019 Pinot Grigio (Alto Adige Valle Isarco); $30, 92 points. Aromas of ripe white stone fruit, sun-warmed hay and Alpine wildflowers mingle together on this savory white. On the dry, medium-bodied palate, hints of fennel seed, hazelnut and saline accent a core of yellow pear and honeydew. Fresh acidity keeps it nicely balanced. Skurnik Wines, Inc. —K.O. Pacher Hof 2019 Pinot Grigio (Alto Adige Valle Isarco); $31, 92 points. Demonstrating Pinot Grigio’s potential for yielding wines boasting serious quality when made in the right hands, this lovely white has heady aromas of white spring wild flower, ripe pear, Alpine herb and a whiff of hazelnut. Showing flavor and finesse, the crisp, dry palate features creamy apple, white peach and a hint of lemon drop alongside a tangy saline note. Vias Imports. —K.O. Tiefenbrunner 2019 Pinot Grigio (Vigneti delle Dolomiti); $19, 91 points. Aromas of honeysuckle, green apple and honeydew melon follow through to the juicy palate, along with a note of white peach. Tangy acidity lifts the rich flavors. LLS–Winebow. Editors' Choice. —K.O. Castelfeder 2019 Pinot Grigio (Alto Adige); $16, 90 points. Delicately scented, this has aromas of white stone fruit, citrus and mountain hay. The rounded, medium-bodied palate features ripe pear, candied lemon drop and hazelnut alongside tangy acidity. Bacchanal Wine Imports. —K.O.
Elena Walch 2020 Pinot Grigio (Alto Adige); $19, 90 points. Savory and bright, this lovely white has aromas of white stone fruit and whiffs of white spring flower. Reflecting the nose, the tangy palate doles out ripe yellow pear, creamy apple and a hint of nectarine before a clean, dry close. USA Wine West. —K.O. Peter Zemmer 2020 Pinot Grigio (Alto Adige); $17, 90 points. Enticing scents of spring blossoms and summer orchard fruit waft out of the glass. On the polished, expressive palate, fresh acidity accompanies ripe yellow pear and apple before a white almond close. HB Wine Merchants. —K.O. |
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