Wedding Cuvée: The Perfect Wedding Wine

Sparkling wine has always belonged to weddings. It is the wine of optimism, of celebration, of hope for the future. At Iron Horse, that feels especially true. We are there for the toast that follows “I do,” for the laughter of family and friends gathered around, for the champagne towers and the first clink of glasses, and, wonderfully, for the anniversaries that follow years later.

We are not simply part of meals or milestones. We are part of promises. And few moments are more joyful than when two people begin a life together and celebrate it with bubbles.

The Wine Named for a Wedding — Mine, To Be Precise

Wedding Cuvée has been part of the Iron Horse family since 1980. The first vintage was released in 1983, and it has been our most beloved sparkling wine ever since.

It was named for a wedding in the family. Mine, to be precise.

When I tell people that, they tend to swoon ahhhh… until they notice my left hand. Then it’s ohhhh.

I have heard every joke. And I am always the first to laugh.

But what I hear far more often — at dinners, at tastings, from people I have just met — are the love stories. They served Wedding Cuvée at their wedding. They opened a bottle when they proposed. They have a bottle they are saving for a milestone anniversary. Or something important they just haven’t decided what yet, and hopefully it will be a spontaneous decision.

Somehow, over the years, this wine became much bigger than its origin story. That is the best thing I can say about any wine we make.

What Is Iron Horse Wedding Cuvée?

Wedding Cuvée is our interpretation of Blanc de Noirs — a sparkling wine made primarily from Pinot Noir, grown on our estate in the Green Valley of the Russian River Valley in western Sonoma County.

The current release is our 2020 vintage: 84% Pinot Noir and 16% Chardonnay. The Chardonnay adds brightness, lift and that characteristic Iron Horse elegance. It is made in the Méthode Champenoise: the second fermentation happens in the bottle, the traditional method that creates the fine, persistent bubbles that make a sparkling wine worth pouring. To be considered vintage quality, a wine must age a minimum of three years en tirage. Wedding Cuvée surpasses that standard. The current disgorging is four-plus years, and we riddle and disgorge to order, which means the wine is aging longer and longer. It arrives always fresh, and with each passing month gains in refinement and creaminess.

In the glass, it is pale peachy, pink-tinged, with lively bubbles and a pure mousse. On the nose, raspberry, strawberry, and a touch of lemon zest. On the palate, vibrant fruit, creamy texture, and a crisp finish that makes it, as I have said more than once, dangerously easy to drink.

Each of our sparklings has its own personality. But Wedding Cuvée always has what I think of as a certain irresistibility. It could easily have been called Love Potion.

The grapes are grown in our Gold Ridge soil — a rare, well-drained sandy loam among the most coveted in California for Pinot Noir. The cool coastal fog and breezes of Green Valley extend the growing season, allowing the fruit to develop complexity slowly. This is estate farming, sustainably practiced, and it shows in every bottle.

Wedding Cuvee consistently earns 93-plus-point ratings from both Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast, which we are proud of. But the rating I hold closest is the one that cannot be quantified: the number of times this wine has been at the table for something that mattered.

The White House Chose It

We have been honored to be served at the White House across seven presidential administrations, beginning in 1985 with the historic Reagan-Gorbachev Summit Meetings.

But the chapter most relevant here is this: Laura Bush selected Wedding Cuvée to welcome Prince Charles and Camilla as newlyweds. And then she chose it again for her daughter Jenna’s wedding.

That is not a coincidence. That is a recommendation.

A Story That Stayed With Me

Last month, Kyle and Shirin came back to Iron Horse to celebrate their first anniversary. It was cold and foggy. Our winemaker David Munksgard spent two hours with them in the cellar, tasting through the wines, telling the story behind each bottling.

At the end of the visit, Shirin turned to David and said:

“In a sense, you were at our wedding.”

And David said yes.

That is Iron Horse. Not just a bottle on the table. A memory that stays with you. And for us — knowing that the wine we make is intertwined with people’s lives — that is what inspires everything we do.

A Few Things Worth Knowing About Wedding Season

May still feels like the beginning of wedding season with flowers everywhere, a sense of anticipation, and the first rush of celebrations even as the center of gravity has shifted toward fall.

And for all the talk of micro-weddings, most celebrations are still generously sized. The average wedding today has 117 guests. Two cases of sparkling wine go faster than you think. Plan accordingly using this post as a guide for how much wine to buy for a wedding. We always do.

How to Serve Wedding Cuvée

Temperature: Serve at 42–48°F. Chill in an ice bucket for 20–30 minutes before serving.

Glassware: There are no rules. The classic flute is elegant and keeps the bubbles lively. The tulip is beautiful and opens the aromas. The coupe is pure fun: old Hollywood, a little irreverent, and back in fashion for good reason. Even a regular white wine glass works. The best glass is the one that makes you happy to be holding it.

Pairing: Wedding Cuvée is remarkably at home wherever the reception takes you. For the grazing table — artisanal cheeses, charcuterie, fresh chèvre — it is a natural. For passed hors d’oeuvres, oysters, or caviar, it is ideal. It holds beautifully through a family-style dinner, alongside roast chicken, salmon, or a pasta station that has everyone gathered and talking. And if your reception ends with late-night sliders or a cheeseboard that somehow reappears at midnight, Wedding Cuvée is still the right call. The bubbles don’t quit, and neither does the celebration.

How much to order: One bottle serves six toasting pours. For 100 guests, plan for 18–20 bottles for the toast alone. And always have extra.

The toast itself: Keep it short, heartfelt, and specific. A toast that says something true about the couple is worth ten that say something general about love.

To Wedding Season, and to All the Couples

Here is to May, to wedding season, and to all the couples carrying Iron Horse with them into one of life’s happiest occasions.

We are honored, always, to be part of the celebration.