Emily Champion and fiancé Nick Letherbarrow go wedding wine tasting at the iconic Berry Bros. & Rudd, here’s everything you need to know about the experience.
The sound of laughter accompanied by the clink of wine glasses is one of the best wedding sounds – crisp champagne announces the toasts, while fragrant whites and full-bodied reds bring the celebration and make the menu sing. And, as Emily Champion and fiancé Nick discovered, choosing the wines is also a special part of the wedding journey – in the right hands, it can be as much fun as twirling in potential wedding dresses, selecting beautiful blooms or curating that everyone-on-the-dancefloor playlist. Step forward expert wine merchants, Berry Bros. & Rudd who helped Emily and Nick taste their way to their perfect wedding wines.
Wedding Wine Planning
Emily and Nick wanted their wine picks to feel personal to them, and something they could revisit in years to come, so they went to Berry Bros. & Rudd for some words of wine wisdom. ‘We both love wine,’ laughs Emily, ‘but our palates aren’t quite as sophisticated as we’d like – so we turned to the experts.’ The couple also wanted to make each moment of their wedding journey special – rather than simply ticking off yet another chore.
With their rich ambience, the historic St James’s cellars in London made for an ideal day out. ‘Stepping into the wine cellars at Berry Bros. & Rudd felt like a world away from the London streets above,’ says Emily. ‘It was funny, as we had this idea of wine cellars as dark and dingy, but instead, we were led into light, modernised and beautiful spaces for the tasting. Every corner had been thought through – with subtle nods to the heritage like barrel-inspired ceilings and walls covered in segments of vintage wine boxes.’
A Warm Welcome From The Wine Experts
As Britain’s oldest wine and spirits merchant, Berry Bros. & Rudd has deep relationships with renowned wine producers. But don’t assume this heritage equals stuffiness – far from it, as Emily and Nick found out. Expert adviser Edwin Dublin, who has more than 20 years at the company, ‘made us laugh so much – even before any alcohol was consumed!’ says Emily. ‘And his knowledge of the company heritage to his expert guidance in the wines shone through from start to finish.’ Emily also appreciated Edwin’s down-to-earth attitude. ‘Even though we’re not wine experts, he never made us feel like we needed to be.’
Which Wedding Wines To Choose
Every wedding is different, and that’s why Berry Bros. & Rudd offer a personalised service based on customers’ preferences, menu and budget – helping to make the most of this, yet outlining pairings of quality. First up for Emily and Nick’s tasting was the champagne, one from Berry Bros. & Rudd’s Own Selection range. ‘The delicious Own Selection Brut Champagne really kicked things off,’ says Emily, admitting, ‘We could quite happily have polished off the bottle over some oysters – and probably will at some point!’
Edwin picked out ‘four incredible wines’ for the couple, two reds and two whites, including their Own Selection White Burgundy. Says Emily, ‘The absolute standout was a Californian Pinot Noir. We both fell in love with it. And just had to take it home with us!’ Emily says she and Nick were blown away by quite how much they enjoyed their tasting experience. ‘That moment – tasting it, knowing how much we were both enjoying it – was honestly one of our favourite bits of wedding planning.’
A Wedding Wine To Remember
It’s often said that the wedding day whizzes by, so what brings back memories is always welcomed. As Emily explains, ‘That Californian Pinot is now more than just a great bottle. It will be piece of our wedding story. It’ll always remind us of that tasting – and the day it became “our wine”.’ With bridal practicality, she adds, ‘It also comes at a fairly reasonable price tag.’
And just as Proust had his madeleine, so every happy couple should have their wedding wine. ‘We’ve already earmarked a few bottles to open on future anniversaries,’ says Emily. ‘There’s something lovely about knowing we can pour a glass and be taken right back, not just to the wedding day but to that afternoon at Berry Bros. & Rudd, tasting and laughing – and enjoying a history lesson!’
Wine Tasting Recommendations And Revelations
‘We wanted the wine to taste amazing, but what surprised us was how special the experience became,’ says Emily. ‘Every time we open one of those bottles, we’ll remember that moment, and all the fun we had.’ Is it something she would recommend? ‘Definitely,’ says Emily. ‘Every couple planning a wedding should experience that feeling!’
Emily and Nick also thought that the Berry Bros. & Rudd spaces were incredible. ‘We could see it as an iconic London wedding venue,’ says Emily. ‘Equally, it’s a classy spot for a whisky tasting session with the groomsmen or a really special pre-wedding dinner with family.’
Happily for those intrigued by this idea, Berry Bros. & Rudd do hire out event spaces. They also have a shop in Basingstoke, Hampshire that offers the wine-tasting experience that Emily and Nick enjoyed.
Final Words Of Wisdom
For Emily and Nick, the takeaway from their Berry Bros. & Rudd experience is that wedding wines are where memories are made – both at tasting and to be evoked with each future uncorking. ‘We hope our wines take us right back to walking through the cellar, tasting that Pinot and feeling totally in sync,’ says Emily. ‘We hope they teleport us back to laughing, crying and dancing with our closest friends and family. They will undoubtedly take us back to our wedding destination on our favourite Greek island, Folegandros. And,’ she smiles, ‘they’re also for every celebration that comes next.’
Wine Tasting Notes
- Berry Bros. & Rudd Champagne by Mailly, Grand Cru, Brut
- 2023 Berry Bros. & Rudd White Burgundy by Collovray & Terrier
- 2022 Berry Bros. & Rudd Sancerre by Domaine David Sautereau, Loire
- 2021 Berry Bros. & Rudd Good Ordinary Claret by Dourthe, Bordeaux
- 2021 Berry Bros. & Rudd Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir by Au Bon Climat, California, USA
For more information visit bbr.com
Get in touch with [email protected] for more information and to book your wedding tasting at Berry Bros. & Rudd in London or Basingstoke
Sussex Cellar photo credit: Alistair Jones
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