On Thu, 02 Feb 2006 11:16:19 -0500, Mark Lipton >
wrote:

>DaleW wrote:
>> Sometimes geeks have to suck it up. While I love the Brun white and
>> both Brocard almost-Chablises (Kimmeridgien & Jurassique), the reality
>> is probably the bride wants to find the comfort zone for the "gimme a
>> glass of Chardonnay crowd", not to please the 4 to 6 people in the
>> crowd who might care. I think you'd be better served for her wishes by
>> picking a more typical CalChard. Maybe Tom S can give some ideas in
>> this price range, or you'll have to sample yourself- Columbia Crest, RH
>> Phillips, Cartlidge & Brown, Raymond have all been drinkable to me in
>> past.
>
>Spot on, Dale, though the bride is a bit of a wine geek too (she
>actually drinks less CalChard than *I* do). My thinking was that a
>crisper French Chard would likely please both crowds, but I readily
>confess to not knowing the mindset of the "gimme a chard" crowd very
>well. Thanks for the recommendations, BTW. I fully intend to sample
>anything that I'd recommend to the bride.
>
>Mark Lipton

I lean toward the group that suggests a wedding reception is not in
the category of wine appreciators. What is needed is a wine that those
who appreciate wine will say, "not bad" and those who simply and
reflexively ask for a "glass of red" or "glass of white" will remark
"this is good!"

In that vein, I also agree with the Sam's suggestion---not Sam's in
Chicago, the huge wine/liquor merchandiser, but Sam's as the
membership buying club from Wal-Mart. They offer a small, but well
chosen selection of wines ranging up to $50/bottle for some cabs and
champers, but they also offer some excellent values in every-day
quaffers.

For the bulk consumption of the masses at a wedding reception, I'd
look to the Yellowtail Chard and Shiraz. Sam's near me offers them in
1.5L bottles at about $10.50 per. (The same bottles at local grocery
stores are $14.50, so you're near that desired price point but saving
some bucks as well.)

Spend the money saved on a better cut of beef for the meal.


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
www.thunderchief.org
www.thundertales.blogspot.com