While on the one hand an honor, planning a friend’s or family member’s bridal shower can be a bit of a daunting task. Where do you even begin? Well, if you’re thinking of planning a shower that includes delicious wine, you’re in the right place. While we’re not going to go into decor here (that will be in a future post), here’s a little advice from someone who has planned multiple showers: keep things as simple and tasteful as possible. Less is more at a shower! Remember, at the end of the day it’s about the individual being feted, their upcoming nuptials and their relationship with other shower goers. It’s about the people. Ok, and it’s also about the wine.
Speaking Of The Wine…
Most showers are held over brunch, lunch or in the afternoon and invitees are looking to have a good time without becoming too drunk in the process, which leads us to our first tip: serve a wine that is below 13.5% alcohol. Often these are white wines, rosés and Old World reds such as Pinot Noir, Merlot and Gamay. Wines that are lower in alcohol will keep the party going and ensure your event doesn’t end with passed out ladies all over the place.
The next item to consider is attire. At the showers I’ve hosted or attended, most of the guests arrive in their shower-finest, in outfits that typically seem to be light in color, which means stains will show. How do you avoid a nasty spill (and stain)? Light colored wine. We suggest sticking with whites and rosés with a token red thrown in for your guest who insists that they only drink red wine — there is at least one in every group ;).
The final reminder is that this is a celebration and what do celebrations call for wine-wise? Bubbly! Nothing says we’re celebrating a momentous life occasion more than a glass of sparkling vino. While traditional Champagne can be expensive, Prosecco and Cava can be excellent affordable alternatives.
With these three ideas in mind, here are a few bridal shower wine recommendations:
As per the above, sparkling wine is a great way to kick off a shower. I bet you’ll even find that many of the girls in attendance will want to drink the sparkling straight through the shower. Because of this you want to choose a wine that is light and refreshing. One I really love is Prosecco, Mia. It’s only ten bucks a bottle and absolutely delicious.
Because summer is wedding season, almost all bridal showers happen in the spring. I can think of nothing more perfect for spring than pink wine. And yes, I’m talking about rosé. My general rule for rosé, especially when I am unfamiliar with the wine shop, is to select one from the Provence region of France. Provence makes more rosé than any other type of wine, and they have perfected it over the decades, thus creating the iconic wine all others emulate. If you can find it, I love this rosé specifically.
White wine is often the other go-to wine for attendees of showers. Everyone has different tastes, so when choosing a white I like to go with something that tends to be a crowd-pleaser. For that I always try to choose a wine that is light, crisp and refreshing when served cold. My pick for that is Picpoul De Pinet, a grape primarily grown in the Languedoc Ruisillon region of France. Try this one.
Finally, for that person who swears they only like red wine go with a nice Gamay. The tartness of the Gamay, mixed with its fruity flavors will pair well with the typical light fare served at showers. Plus, since it is low in alcohol, it can be drunk throughout the party. One of the easiest to find quality Gamays on the market is Louis Jadot Beaujolais.
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