I’ll drink to this
as a winemaker whose fiancé is also in the wine industry, tamra kelly-washington’s nuptials were always going to centre around wine. here, she shares how she chose the drops that would create her dream day
Yealands Estate winemaker Tamra Kelly-Washington and Simon Kelly tied the knot last year in Barbaresco, a hilltop village in the Piemonte region of Italy – the home of the Nebbiolo grape. We asked Tamra how she married wine and romance for vows amongst the vines.
Why DID YOU MARRY IN ITALY?
Simon and I lived and worked in Italy for a number of years making wine and fell head over heels in love with the place. He proposed in Barbaresco last year while we were there on holiday, so it seemed fitting to plan our wedding there.
WHY IS WINE SO IMPORTANT TO A WEDDING?
Choosing a wine for your wedding is just as important as any other detail. The right wines can enhance the food you choose and the experience your guests have.
HOW DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR WINE LIST?
We wanted to create a real treat for our guests who had travelled so far to join us for our wedding. Although the Piemonte region has a huge reputation for producing stunning red wines, Simon and I wanted to include wines on our wedding day that we had a personal connection to as a couple. We decided to select magnums (1.5-litre bottles) where possible and to match a wine to every course we were having at our reception – no mean feat as there were six courses to work through!
We choose a champagne produced in France, a specially crafted Marlborough sauvignon blanc (of course!), a stunning white wine from the Veneto region in Italy, two different Barbaresco wines from our favourite producer, a moscato d’Asti out of the Piemonte region and one very special Montepulciano from Hans Herzog in Marlborough – a wine that Simon and I have a special soft spot for.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE COUPLES PLANNING THEIR WEDDING WINE LISTS?
We are lucky in New Zealand to have such a large variety of stunning wines that can work perfectly for every occasion, especially a wedding. There are five golden rules to remember:
◆ Try to select a menu that will suit everyone – not too obscure. Stick to the classics, such as a good sauvignon blanc and pinot noir, which will certainly be crowd-pleasers.
◆ Choose something based on the setting and time of year, for instance a summer wedding may call for a white focus and lighter-style reds. Winter may warrant heavier-bodied varieties.
◆ Something with bubbles cements the celebratory atmosphere. Champagne is great, but if your budget does not allow for it, there are some fantastic, more affordable sparkling wines to choose from available in New Zealand.
◆ Don’t be afraid to ask the venue if it will allow you to bring in your own wines. Doing so will give you much more flexibility and control over which options you can select.
◆ Remember it’s a celebration – don’t be afraid to splash out on something special. It’s a really exciting process selecting the wines with your fiancé – make sure you have fun! W