Key Post: Wine for a wedding.

Hello,

I would very much appreciate any useful information on the following. I am organising wine for a wedding and have been informed that the hotel will provide bottles at €17 each but charge €8 for corkage so I was thinking of getting the wine myself and paying for just the corkage.
Now, any ideas on good deals out there? I am heading up to Newry tomorrow to see if there are any bargins up there but am based in Dublin and was wondering if anyone knew any places that may cater for this?

many thanks

Re: Wine for a wedding.

my brother is geting married later this year.
We are going over to france in sept. to buy the wine, he has worked out that he will save circa 1500 by doing so.
j

Re: Wine for a wedding.

Thanks Jem,

I considered La belle France but have probably left it a bit late for that, but for future reference is there a limit on what you can take back? Does it matter how many people go with you? Eg. the more people travel the more you can bring back or is it just a case of proving it is for your own comsumption, be it wedding or something else? Is it Calais your headed to?

thanks

Re: Wine for a wedding.

Think you can bring back approx 110 bottles of wine per person- ring customs and check- but its definitely per person travelling. There are special €99 deals at the moment to go over and back on the ferry.

Re: Wine for a wedding.

Make sure you try before you buy.

I would recommend buying a few bottles in advance of your main purchase and trying them with the same food on your menu.

Choose a brand in the republic and when you are happy, buy it in at a discount in the North or in Calais.

Don't go "on spec" and just but what is on discount.

You may end up with something that while a lovely wine, just doesn't quite work with the meal, or, to paraphrase Douglas Adams, "more or less completely fails to please the palate".

Re: Wine for a wedding.

I agree with the idea of trying before you buy - but dont necessarily stick to the same brand as in Ireland-for eg if you have an idea that a sancerre will go with your main course, then go and buy a few bottles and try- if you are really a novice ( like me) in relation to wine, I find that a useful tip is to look out for gold or silver medal awards on the bottle- and don't necessarily buy in the 'wine-beer' warehouses at the ferry or in the area surrounding- go to the nearest city- and go to a LeClerk ( spelling?) or other large supermarket- you will find very good value- they often have a wine specialist on hand, and if you let him know you are there to buy a large number, he ( or she) will be happy to steer you in the right direction- and will often let you sample. I've been over often and have bought wine in this way, and have to say I've never been guided wrongly by the wine expert.

Re: Wine for a wedding.

We got ours through a shop at home, paid 5.75 per bottle for the Long Mountain.
You could approach the likes of a supervalu or centra and they should get u a good rate.

One of the lads here got theirs in Aldi, nice wine too, Myra I think

Re: Wine for a wedding.

And for God sake make sure that whoever is looking after the wine at the hotel does not make the (unbelievable) mistake of opening every single bottle at the start of the event rather than waiting to see how many are needed. Read that this happened to someone not too long ago, at least 40 bottles gone to waste......wouldn't you go mad?!

Wine for a wedding.

Thanks all,

Some good suggestions, MB - good idea about testing with the food, may try SV although I found a crowd at the Naas Road who sell bottles by the dozen and am getting their list. I'll report back on the Newry run to let you know. Also Tesco have 25% off all Austrialian wine until the 15th of May but we won't be opting for this. However they have a nice Languedoc for €5.99.
Bluebean - don't worry at €8 a bottle for corkage I'll be counting every cork and will make sure none goes to waste!

Regards

Re: Wine for a wedding.

If you are buying enough wine for a wedding, Tesco will give a discount as I am sure other places do too. Also, don't be afraid to ask for it on sale or return.

Re: Wine for a wedding.

Statler said:

If you are buying enough wine for a wedding, Tesco will give a discount as I am sure other places do too. Also, don't be afraid to ask for it on sale or return.

Click to expand...

Oddbins do sale and return also on wine and champagne.

If you avoid the usually overpriced brands (Mo[font=&quot]ë[/font]t & Chandon etc.) you can get very good quality French [I know, I know - if it's not French, it's not champagne] champers, for example, at €15 - €20 a bottle.

Re: Wine for a wedding.

Most reasonable places in Dublin will be delighted to give you a discount for wedding supplies. They may also do "drink or return".

Also have a look at [broken link removed]link from The Wineroom bulletin board.

Re: Wine for a wedding.

Hi,

My friend is a lorry driver doing continental work and as a sideline brings home a lot of wine. I know he has supplied several wedding parties a year for the last few years. Maybe if you have contacts in the transport business they could help you out.

Re: Wine for a wedding.

I trust your friend is declaring this wine at port of entry.

Re: Wine for a wedding.

I make regular trips over the border to Morrissons in Enniskillen since I moved to the North West last year. Morrissons dont have a decent website so I've taken my chances on when to make the trip but I've never failed to find a good class, well known name at a reasonable (by comparison) price. Recently I've managed to get Wolfblass (red label) Chardonnay at 5.99 stg (~€8.50) per bottle recently. Also got hold of Rosemount Shiraz Cabernet a while back at 4stg (~€5.70) per bottle. I think most wedding guests would be impressed with these on the table rather than the usual hotel plonk. My experience is that you get a good quality wine up there for the same price you could pay for Tesco's own plonk down here. Not ideal I suppose spending your money outside of the country but when I can buy a bottle of Fetzer white up there for about €5.50 a bottle and see it in Tesco down here the following week for €10.99 what can you do. I wonder if you were buying in bulk for a wedding how these prices compare to France+travel costs?

Re: Wine for a wedding.

Try this site www.drinksareus.com prices seem to be pretty good

Re: Wine for a wedding.

Got wine for my wedding from Dunnes - Argentian merlot for 6 euro per bottle - Not petrol either..

Re: Wine for a wedding.

We bought in Coopers in Limerick.

The Woodlands does a, bring 3 keep 2, deal which is better value than straight corkage - its like corkage spread over 2 bottles.
Have to work off a set list, most of which are bit plain jane, but you could try twisiting their arm to get another wine accepted which is what we did. Wine was about 8ish a bottle.

Wolf Blass - has anyone ever brought this wine at a good value. tried going to the source which is australia (ppphhfft) they do not seem to sell it online. So the only way is buy online in ireland or buy in the north still too fecking much

We bought Wolf Blass for our wedding last year. We got if up in Belfast at approx EUR 5.50 per bottle. Excellent value i must say. Very fine wines also.