We visit a stunning villa whose wines will give added reason for cheer on your big day

We visit a stunning historic villa whose wines will add an unforgettable touch of class to your big day

WHEN THE SUBJECT of weddings comes up, we all have visions of the requisite speeches, everyone cradling a glass in hand to toast the happy couple. But when the day arrives, which Champagne should you offer your wedding guests, and what about the best wines to serve to enhance your wedding feast?
As a wedding planner and a wine lover, Marion Hunter from Dream Academy has found the perfect location for those of you looking to incorporate your passion for the vine into your big day.
Marion, who is the in-house wedding planner at the stunningly beautiful, historic Villa Giona, says: ‘Here at the Villa, there are plenty of unique and creative options to do just that, and apart from the wine, what a stunning location this is.’
Ideally situated, Villa Giona is only a stone’s throw from Verona, the Città d’Amore, a short 20 minute drive to the shores of Lake Garda, an hour from Venice, and is set amidst acres of vineyards in the Valpolicella region, home to some of the world’s greatest wines. In this area, you’ll find an abundance of Valpolicella, Recioto, Amarone, Bardolino and Soave, and Villa Giona has all the ingredients for a perfect cocktail, with no shortage of wine on hand to make your party go with a swing.

‘you can be sure that a wedding at Villa Giona will exceed all your expectations…’

MAKING AN IMPRESSION

Villa Giona’s vineyards produce the grapes for Allegrini, one of Italy’s top wine producers, and they also make their very own fine full-bodied red called Villa Giona. What better way to impress your guests than with wine produced on the very same estate that you have chosen for your special day? A few bottles of Villa Giona’s own wine to take home with you will also bring back many wonderful memories of your dream Italian wedding!
‘Wine will be one of the biggest, and most talked about parts of your wedding,’ says Paolo Saletti, owner of Villa Giona.

Your guests will remember it if it’s bad, and may well forget it if it’s good (because they’ll have drunk so much if it!), so whether you’re having a classic sit-down banquet, a relaxed buffet or a picnic in the park, here’s how to make an informed choice:

First decide on the style of reception you want…
– Do you envisage a contemporary feel, serving a classic cocktail to start? Perhaps a Bellini using some of the local Prosecco and fresh peaches grown in the Villa Giona area. Do you want the champagne free-flowing all day? Or are you offering red and white with the meal, keeping Prosecco for the toasts?

How much wine should you allow per guest?…
– ‘You don’t want to serve so much your guests are drunk by the time you cut the cake,’ says Marion. ‘Nor do you want empty glasses on the table by the time the starters have been cleared. So normally a ratio of half a bottle of wine per head is enough for most people.’

Where’s the best place to get the wine from?…
– At Villa Giona there is no need to worry about looking around for the best prices, because you are getting it straight from the source, and there is a wide range of wines available to suit all tastes and budgets. As a great guest activity, Marion and Paolo at Villa Giona can also arrange visits to the vineyards, and of course, tasting sessions too. They also do fun cookery classes where wine is also very much in evidence. Paolo says: ‘I often have to remind Marion to put the wine in the food and not in her glass!’

Should you order more wine than you need?…
– ‘If you’re worried your notoriously ‘thirsty’ friends and family will drink you dry, and would like to make a larger order than you anticipate drinking, (just in case), don’t worry,’ says Marion. ‘At Villa Giona, the wine will never run out, but if it does, I will send Paolo to pick a few more grapes and get Franco (Baffoni, Marion’s partner), to jump on them,’ she jokes.

What season is the wedding?…
– Winter, summer, autumn or spring… As with flowers, there are perfect times of year to serve certain wines. Prosecco, Bardolino Rosé and Soave are all fashionable choices in spring or summer, both for toasts and during the welcome finger food buffet.

What’s on the menu?…
– This will also influence which wines to select. Buffet, barbecue or traditional three-course wedding breakfast? Generally, the lighter the food, the lighter the style of wine; the richer the dish, the fuller, and more complex a wine should be.

‘At Villa Giona, obviously the wine par excellence has got to be our very own ruby red Villa Giona,’ says Paolo. ‘It’s a great blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and spicy tones of Syrah. Villa Giona is a great Summer red wine and lends itself well to most dishes served at the villa. It’s our baby!’
Other wines on the list are the Villa’s Palazzo della Torre and Valpolicellas, both ideal with pasta, risottos, white meats and fish. For a more fullbodied choice to serve with red meats, cheeses or truffle-based courses, then, Marion says, you can’t beat La Poja, a complex and elegant monovitigno wine made from the local Corvina grape. Then of course there is the King of Valpolicella Wines: Amarone. Ideal for a more hearty meal or as a great meditation wine.

SEEING RED

Marion says, ‘If there is a colour that sums up the Valpolicella Region, then, for me, it has to be red, the colour of its wines. The love affair between man and his vines is ever present here. I just love to see the aged, wrinkled hands of the locals who nurture the vines through the spring rains, the torrid summer heat waves and the autumn winds, until the grapes are transformed into fine wines for our happy couples to enjoy on their special day. We at Dream Academy/ Villa Giona will put just as much love into nurturing your special plans.
‘You can be sure that a wedding at Villa Giona will exceed all your expectations, and from the very minute you come on one of our free sourcing tours, Dream Academy and Villa Giona will have the door, our hearts and a bottle of wine open and ready to greet you.’ Cin Cin!

For further
information visit:
www.dreamacademy.it
www.villagiona.it