Galway
Now recently asked us to help with an article about wedding wines. Here is what we came up with together:
Tell
us a bit about yourself…
Following a successful
career at some of Canada's
top hotels and restaurants, Fergus O'Halloran moved back to his native Galway in 2004. He was heavily involved in all aspects of
the design, planning and philosophy of luxury boutique Galway
hotel The Twelve, in Barna, of which he is now Managing Director..
Noted for his exceptional food and wine pairings, Fergus is an experienced
manager and a knowledgeable sommelier and wine educator who has been
awarded a vast number of Wine Spectator and industry accolades.
Fergus has a tremendous passion and belief in food tourism and in showcasing
local ingredients and skills. He contributes significantly to the national
conversation and direction of the hospitality sector and is involved with the
Restaurant Association of Ireland,
the Western Tourism Forum,
the Irish Hotels Federation
and Galway Tourism Committee, Galway Food Festival and Wild West Food Trail.
If a couple feels clueless about wine, would a wine tasting lesson help?
We
do a menu tasting inclusive of wines with every couple. This actually turns
into a wine class over the duration of their evening. They leave with a better
knowledge and greater appreciation of wine and confident that their guests are
in for a great food and wine experience on the day of their wedding.
How
much wine should you allow per guest during the meal?
It
is always best to budget for a half bottle of wine per person.
What
ratio of red to white wine should you order?
Depending
upon your menu, your guests may usually consume slightly more red than white.
However, you should only be charged for what you consume. Thus, unless you are
bringing your own wine, this should not be a consideration. If it is, then the
rule of thumb would be 60% red and 40% white. Another factor is the weather. Of
course, if it is a beautiful sunny day, white wine consumption will be higher.
Buying
your own wine vs wine supplied by the venue – which option is best?
Unfortunately,
wine is seen as an afterthought by many couples and even more so, the venue. I
have attended so many weddings and functions where it is obvious that
absolutely no consideration is given to the wine served. Plonk ruins the dinner
whilst a well chosen wine makes it memorable. Many hotels will push their
‘banquet wine’ on you. This usually tends to be a wine which costs them little
and carries a high profit margin. The advice is to stay well away from this. Instead
taste wines from their list with the food you are planning to serve. If you have access to a wine which you love
and the venue does not stock it, then supply your own.
At
The Twelve, we have over 400 wines to choose from and we will match your wine to
your menu choices and to your budget.
If
couples are buying their own wine, where is the best place to go?
France,
Italy and Spain. But consider it as a holiday rather than as a trip to solely
buy wine.
Do
you have any top tips couples should consider when they go to taste their
wedding wine options?
Come
with an open mind, relax and enjoy your evening as if it were a great night out
together. Be open to trying wines outside of the norm such as pecorino,
albarinos, tempranillos, pinot from Oregon. Choose what you enjoy with the food
you are eating. Do not try to choose a wine based upon what you believe your
guests will like. By the end of your evening, you should leave with a new found
appreciation for wine and the confidence that your wedding dining experience
will be the best your guests will ever encounter.
Anything
else you would like to add?
As
we say at The Twelve – ‘’Celebrate Food, Celebrate Wine, Celebrate Life’’