Champagne for weddings: Top tips from the expert, sommelier Drífa

Champagne at weddings is the most iconic drink for celebrating love. In this episode, we’ve invited sommelier and flavour expert Drífa Yngvadóttir Hafsø to take us on a real in-depth exploration of the world of bubbles. Drífa shares the journey that began in a dusty French wine cellar when she was 19 and led to her life as a sommelier and expert. She also shares personal memories from her own wedding in the countryside – where she put together the menu herself, hand-picked the drinks and, finally, sabred the champagne with a hacksaw.

Together, we’ll talk about history, flavour, etiquette and design. You’ll get tips on everything from choosing the right bottle for your bridal toast to pairing your champagne with food for a truly magical wedding dinner. What’s more, Drífa will teach you the basics of how to sabre champagne like a real pro on the big day!

Drífa also goes through all the practical details you need to keep track of ahead of the celebration: How do you work out the amount of drink per guest? Which glasses should you use, and what do terms like ‘grower’s champagne’ actually mean? You’ll also get tips on how to save wedding bottles for future anniversaries, how to plan your own visit to a champagne estate in France, and why Drífa is more than happy to give the bride and groom a lift in her own vintage cars (a cream-coloured Lotus and a red Alfa Spider).

We’ll also be tasting a Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs from the Lanois estate. It comes in a truly unique bottle with roots dating back to the 19th century – perfect for anyone who wants something really stylish on their wedding table. Drífa shares her best serving tips and tells the story of the estate – a small family business run by a female winemaker, where the bottles are charmingly named after her children, Valentin and Maxime.