(NAPSA)—Planning a wedding or any large event can seem like a daunting as well as a delightful task. Fortunately, you can get assistance with one aspect from a well-established expert. Consider the multitude of wine choices available to you. To help you determine what to buy and how to serve it, an authority on quality wines for more than a quarter century recommends a few simple solutions. Wine is sold in many different sized bottles. The familiar 750ml bottles are perfect for placing on the table at a seated reception. For behind the bar, your bartender will appreciate the larger double-sized bottles, or 1.5 liter versions. These serve up to 12 glasses of wine. The small 187ml bottles are a great idea for party favors. Try placing a 187ml Woodbridge White Zinfandel in a muslin sack tied with a natural ribbon and a special message from you to your guests. The fresh pink color of the Zinfandel is festive and evocative of yourlove. When choosing wines to serve at your reception, Woodbridge winemaker David Akiyoshi encourages you to be daring. While Chardonnay and Merlot are trusted favorites and will certainly be enjoyed by your guests, other varietals, such as Syrah and Pinot Grigio, are wonderfully versatile and heighten the flavors of many dishes. Encourage your guests to drink what they like and forget the rules about red with beef or white with seafood by placing both on the table. Think about matching the wine choices to your personalities. The Woodbridge Syrah from California is bold and spicy, while the Pinot When serving wine at a wedding or other festivity, have fun matching the wine’s profiles with your and your guests’ personalities. Grigio has a light andlively profile. That soundslike a perfect match. Including a note on your menu why you selected each wine will give everyone a glimpse into who you are. Engage your friends and family by offering several different wines and asking them to choose the one that best describes their own personality. It’s a great way to break the ice with the in-laws. There are many events surrounding a wedding. When making your wine selections, consider the other gatherings where you may want to serve wine. Take into account an engagement party, the rehearsal dinner and the bridal or couples showers. If you’re working with a caterer to plan your reception and don’t see your favorite wine listed, ask them if it can be ordered. Perhapsthe best tip is to enjoy your special day. Remember, your guests are there to honor you, so raise a glass of wine to yourselves and to your friends and family and toast to a wonderful future.
