Wedding: The Guide to Choosing Your Wines

At La Cave du Canal, we have helped dozens of couples plan the most beautiful day of their lives.

And if there's one thing we've learned, it's that wine is a discreet but essential pillar of a successful marriage.

You don't need a sommelier diploma to make the right choices.
All you need is to know a few simple rules, listen to your instincts... and have a good advisor by your side.

We give you our best tips 😉

Finding the Right Balance

Balance: that's the key word when it comes to choosing wine for multiple people.

The challenge is to satisfy all these people without getting lost along the way.

And for that, it is better to avoid choosing solely according to your personal tastes.

We recommend thinking in terms of wedding moments: reception, meal, dessert, and why not even a wine for the evening dance.

Each stage can have its own wine, its own personality, its own style.

To avoid making a mistake, opt for accessible wines with personality.

A straight Chardonnay, neither too woody nor too soft, often works wonders.

On the red side, a silky Pinot Noir from Burgundy or a supple Côtes-du-Rhône are safe bets.

And what about rosé? Provençal rosés remain unbeatable for their freshness, especially for a summer wedding.

It is always recommended to have a balance of red, white and rosé wine, even if your dishes seem to point towards one type.

Because not everyone has the same tastes.

Top tip: Have a mini tasting at the winery with your witnesses. It's a fun and helpful experience... and we always laugh a lot 🥂

Key Figures by Type of Wine and Number of Guests

How many bottles do you need is often a source of stress, but with the right guidelines, everything becomes clearer.

And we save you from unpleasant surprises... or emergency bottle returns at 10 p.m. 😅

Example for a reception of 50 people

For 50 guests, we recommend:

• 15 bottles of wine of honor (champagne, sparkling wine, dry white or rosé)
• 25 bottles for the meal (half red, half white)
• 6 to 8 bottles of sweet or mellow wine for dessert

In total, count on about one bottle for every 2 people for the entire wedding.

But it also depends on the length of the reception and the profile of your guests.

Do you have a majority of red wine lovers? Plan to include more in this category.

And if the sun is strong, the rosés risk disappearing very quickly 🍑

So what do we do if there are 100 of us? Do we double up?
Not exactly...

For a Party of 100 People

We increase, but not necessarily at the ratio of x2.

For what ?

Because at 100, the service is structured, and quantities can be better controlled.

Count:

• 30 bottles for the reception
• 45 to 50 bottles for the meal
• 10 bottles for dessert

And if you're planning a late-night dance party with boards, add 10 easy-drinking soft drinks.

Why Large Formats Can Save Your Budget

Magnum is chic.

But it is also more cost-effective per liter, often better preserved and more user-friendly to serve.

A magnum is equivalent to two bottles, but it has more table presence.

And opening a double magnum of red wine during the main course is a real treat.

Plus, there's often less waste, which is always good for organization.

We've talked numbers, now it's time for the sensory experience 🍽️

Wines for Every Moment of Your Wedding

The Wine of Honor: Light, Sparkling and Full of Promises

This is the moment when it all begins.

People chat, clink glasses, and snack.

We recommend here:

• A lively crémant or an elegant rosé champagne
• A very chilled dry white, like a chardonnay from Limoux or Burgundy
• Or even a light, fruity rosé

No overly powerful wines here. We stick to lightness and freshness.

And if you want to make an impression, offer a special vintage with a little personal anecdote.

Then we sit down to eat, and then... the serious stuff begins!

The Wedding Meal: Creating Memorable Food and Wine Pairings

The food and wine pairing is the soul of the meal.

No need to complicate things.

But if you follow a few simple rules, you can create magical moments.

Aromatic Whites to Enhance Starters

Foie gras, marinated fish, scallop carpaccio…

All of this deserves an expressive but structured white.

A lightly oaked chardonnay or a lively sauvignon blanc will work wonders.

Also consider whites from the Rhône or Alsace, which bring a lot of character.

Elegant Reds to Enhance the Main Course

Rib of beef, stuffed poultry, candied lamb...

Red wine should accompany meats without overwhelming them.

Pinot Noir is king for these kinds of exercises, but a well-aged Grenache can also shine.

No need to have a wine that is too strong.
What we are looking for is elegance, finesse, freshness.

And a nice red, served at the right temperature, can really enhance a dish.

Wines to Pair with a Sweet Dessert

Dessert is the grand finale.

A sweet or liqueur wine, in small quantities, can work wonders.

No need for a heavy sweet wine: a sweet Jurançon or a well-balanced Loire wine is great.

You can even dare to use a rosé champagne for red fruit desserts.

And for those who want to finish in style... a few bottles of well-chosen old rums or whiskeys always have their effect 🥃

Sparkling Wines

There's one sound we love to hear in a reception hall: the pop of the champagne cork.

It is a sound that announces celebration, sharing, joy.

And frankly, no other wine has this immediate power to make guests' eyes shine.

But then, is it absolutely necessary to serve champagne? Or can we indulge in other bubbles?

Champagne or Crémant: Which Bubble to Say “I Do”?

Champagne remains the king of weddings.

It's chic, it's elegant, and it makes an impression.

A good blanc de blancs or a well-balanced rosé champagne, and the emotion is there.

We avoid the big, impersonal brands sold in supermarkets.
For the same price, you can often find a better vintage from a small producer or a wine merchant like us.

And what about crémant? Well, it's the rising outsider!

Crémant d’Alsace, de Loire or du Jura… it offers fine bubbles, lovely freshness, and unbeatable value for money.

Do you want to please without breaking the budget?

A good crémant can totally compete with an average champagne.

And your guests might not even know the difference — unless you tell them the story behind the bottle 😉

Cheaper and Just as Festive Alternatives

Looking for festive and affordable bubbles?

Here are some options that are definitely worth knowing about:

• Prosecco : Italian, smooth, and joyful. Ideal for cocktails or as an aperitif.
• Natural sparkling wines : also called "pét-nat", with a more rustic bubble but lots of charm Natural sparkling wines : also called "pét-nat", with a more rustic bubble but plenty of charm.

These sparkling wines have style, and often a great personality.

In short, you can make a wine pairing sparkle without emptying your wallet.

But to find these nuggets, you still need to know where to look...

Where and How to Buy Your Wedding Wine Without Making a Mistake?

Wine Merchant, Winery or Supermarket: Who to Trust?

Each option has its advantages… and its pitfalls.

The wine merchant : this is the assurance of personalized advice, possible tastings , and bottles chosen with passion.

Do you have a theme, a menu, or a specific desire? We'll guide you toward the right choices.

We also offer tasting packs for future brides and grooms.

You taste several vintages with your loved ones, you choose together, in a good mood .

We can also provide you with a free quote, based on the number of guests, the menu, and your preferences.

If you have a crush on a producer, buying your wine directly from there can be a good idea.

But be careful: it can quickly become complicated if you have to juggle several types of wine (red, white, rosé, sparkling, etc.).

And the supermarket?
Yes, it's simpler.

But the prices aren't always better. And you're left with unremarkable labels.

A Selection of Wines Under €10, €15, and €20

• Under €10: Perfect for a reception or simple but effective dinner wines. Consider rosés from Provence, reds from Languedoc, or a dry white from Gascony.
• Under €15: Here, we're starting to see some real complexity. A Burgundy Chardonnay, an elegant Pinot Noir, or a mineral Loire white.
• Under €20: this is the gem zone. These vintages are full of personality, perfect for a main course or a beautiful, refined starter.

And if you order in quantity, we can offer you decreasing prices.

A Question?

We welcome you to our cellar, at 231 Rue La Fayette, in the 10th arrondissement.

You can also send us a short message on Instagram or via the contact form .