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Best Bubbles for Weddings

By Natalie MacLean
Taittinger Champagne Brut AC, France - Champagne: Lovely crisp aromas of green apples, citrus and toast. A lasting finish. Pair with: shellfish, seafood, fried foods or drink as an aperitif. 814723 $54.95 Score: 91/100.

Santa Margherita Prosecco Di Valdobbiadene Brut Veneto, Italy: A sparkler with nice, light effervescence, pictured left. Refreshing aromas of limes and green apples present. Pair with: appetizers, pancetta-wrapped shrimp, roasted asparagus. 687582 XD 750 mL $18.95 Score: 88/100.

Dante Rivetti Riveto Moscato D'asti D.O.C.G., Italy - Piedmont: A lovely, refreshing and sweet wine with aromas of melons. Pair with: spicy Asian food, grilled salmon, fresh fruit desserts. 30775 MS 750 mL $17.95 Score: 88/100. Favorite Sparkling Wine.

S. Anderson Blanc De Noirs 2000 Napa Valley, California (Cliff Lede Vineyards): Well-made bubbly with toasty goodness. Great price! 006056 (D) 750 mL $36.95 Score: 90/100.

Louis Roederer Brut Premier Non Vintage Champagne (268771, $59.95)
France: One of the best non-vintage champagnes on the shelf. This top-notch producer owns more than two-thirds of its vineyards, which helps with quality control. Toasty aromas of ripe peaches and yeasty richness. Score: 90/100.

Cloudy Bay Pelorus Brut 2001, Marlborough, South Island: Great value. Very dry and toasty. 338459 (D) 750 mL $32.95 Score: 89/100.

Ca'Bianca Moscato D'Asti 2005 D.O.C.G.: The kind of wine you drink and then ask yourself why you don't drink it more often. Possibly the world's most under-appreciated wine: lightly sparkling and fruit fresh. Perfect as an aperitif, after-dinner sipper or with fruit flans. 651935 (M = medium dry) 750 mL $14.95 Score: 90/100.

2002 Sumac Ridge Steller's Jay Brut, Okanagan, B.C. $24.99: A full-bodied and robust sparkler with lovely aromas of green apples and toast. Made using the classic champagne method with a blend of pinot blanc, pinot noir and chardonnay. Aged three years. Perfect for oysters and other
shellfish. Score 88/100.

Roederer Estate N.V., $34 California: A California sparkler that has loads of fruit and body. This is the one I recommend when someone asks what's your favorite "reasonably priced" bubbly that's widely available in stores? Score: 89/100.

Veuve Clicquot N.V., 563338 $61.05 Champagne: Pear and hazelnut aromas with a long finish. When you're willing to pay a little more, this is the one I recommend. More toasty, less fruity than the Roederer. Elegant. Score: 90/100.

Summerhill Pyramid Winery Cipes Brut, Okanagan, British Columbia: 314419
$19.95: Hands-down the best Canadian sparkling wine I've ever tasted. And lest that qualification seem too reserved, let me say that this is a marvelous, robust and rich bubbly that holds its own next to the famous non-vintage sparklers from around the world. Toasty goodness, a strong backbone and green apple zip. Score: 90/100.

Natalie MacLean's bestselling book Red, White and Drunk All Over: A Wine-Soaked Journey from Grape to Glass has just been published in paperback. She was named the World's Best Drink Writer for the articles and wine picks in her free wine newsletter available at www.nataliemaclean.com.

CHOOSING SPARKLING WINE FOR YOUR WEDDING

Michel Longuet, Wine Editor
The Bonnie & Clyde charms, left, are made with Swarovski crystals and pearls (available in a wide range of colors) and a sparkling rhinestone pendant in the center are available at www.marissatoni.com.

Selecting sparkling wine for your wedding can be a romantic event in itself. Here are some suggestions for finding your ultimate beverage. ... more/

Choosing wines and champagnes

Michel Longuet
Once your menu is set, the next step is to add beverages and wines to your menu. By deciding what you want to serve your guests, you can save time and money when discussing your menu with a caterer.

There are different ways of trying and selecting wines and champagnes. You can attend consumer wine shows where you can taste test and exhibitors can help you choose wines. You can explore wine lists at restaurants, take a wine tour, ask parents and friends for their suggestions, or check out wine retail outlets.

Several wines are available only at wine retail outlets. Retail outlets usually offer a complimentary wine tasting, glassware rental service, free delivery, personalized label service, accessories and advice on quantities and wine selections.

Wine Serving
There are no rules, but there is a natural sequence to serving wine with food. Always serve a dry wine before a sweet one, an average vintage before a great one, a white before red, a young before an aged one. Remember that a wine should always complement the dish, not overpower it. Use a tulip-shaped glass for red, white and rosé wines. A classic red wine glass has a larger bowl than the tulip glass. A classic white wine glass is slimmer.

CHOOSING A WINE
Look at the wine for color and clarity. It should be bright and without sediment.

Swirl your glass to bring out the aroma (nose or bouquet). Think of words to describe the wine, such as fruity, vegetative, floral, spicy, nutty, earthy, woody or chemical. If the wine smells of vinegar, it's too old.

Taste the wine, noting fruitiness, acidity, tannins and alcohol. Swirl it slowly around your mouth before swallowing. Your tongue has four different taste areas, which react to sweetness at the tip, sour on the upper edges, bitterness at the back, and texture (body/astringency) down the centre and on the insides of the cheeks. At the finish there should be a lingering taste that reaffirms the quality of the wine.

DAN AYKROYD ICEWINE WINS AWARDS
Dan Aykroyd's 2005 Signature Reserve Vidal Icewine took top honours at this year's Ontario Wine Awards by being presented with the prestigious `Savour Ontario - A Program of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Wine of the Year Award'

In addition to winning the prestigious `Wine of the Year' award, the Dan Aykroyd 2005 Signature Reserve Vidal Icewine, which scored an average of 94.5 by judges in the competition, also took the gold medal in the `Vintage Hotels Vidal Icewine Award' category, surpassing a number of prestigious wineries in Ontario.

According to Aykroyd, "We are making wines genuinely enjoyed by ourselves and it's just the beginning. These awards should make everyone proud in our Province that we are producing winning vintages which hopefully some day can be staples in our nation's export catalogue."

The Dan Aykroyd 2005 Signature Reserve Vidal Icewine, which is available at the LCBO in the Vintages section, is barrel fermented and produced under the guidance and supervision of Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits' Vice President of Winemaking, Tom Green. The Ontario Wine Awards also awarded a gold medal to Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits-owned EastDell Estates' 2006 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay, which won in The Distillery Historic District Oaked Chardonnay Award - Under $20 category.

For more information please visit www.DanAykroydWines.com, www.eastdell.com or www.diamondwines.com.