Choosing the wine to serve at your wedding reception is a decision that takes more thought than randomly selecting one red and one white wine for your guests.

Becky Bloomfield, co-owner of Brentwood’s Co. Co. County Wine Company, says the wine you offer your guests sets the tone for your celebration, so you should choose wisely. Wine has a history as a social drink that is a catalyst to great conversations, but you don’t want your guests to discuss how the wine could have been better when they should be toasting and enjoying a good time in honor of your union.

While there are so many details to plan for the reception alone, Bloomfield suggests you make the wine selection one of the last items to check off on your to-do list. “There are several things to consider as you pick out the wines to offer at your event,” Bloomfield said. “For example, what type of food are you serving? Some foods and wines don’t pair well and can trash the flavor of the wine, the food or both. If you know what food you are serving, we can find the appropriate wines to accompany the meals and even the appetizers.

“Time of day is also something to think about. If it’s warm, then you’ll want to choose a wine that holds a chill, so you’ll want to stay away from red wines. Especially in the summer, you’ll want to serve something that carries a chill so that it is refreshing, such as Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay or Viognier.”

Bloomfield said couples can set up appointments at the Brentwood’s Co. Co. County Wine Company for a private consultation to help narrow down the list of beverages to offer. If a couple seeks a consultation, the most important thing to know is the budget for the beverages so that they can find a quality wine that won’t break the bank.

“Ideally, you’ll want a bottle of red and white wine per table,” Bloomfield said, “but there are so many things to consider. Choose the wines after you know what your guest list will be like. Once you have an idea of who will be at your event, you can gauge what you’ll need to serve. If there is a full bar, then there probably won’t be a need to have as much wine available.

“Wine can be very affordable. You get a discount if you buy it by the case, and all local vineyards offer wine by the case.”

Brentwood is home to three wine companies – Hannah Nicole Vineyards, Tamayo Family Vineyards and Bloomfield Vineyards – all of whose wines are sold at Brentwood’s Co. Co. County Wine Company. The Wine Company is also home to reasonably priced wines from Concord, Martinez and Walnut Creek.

“Our local wines are all award winning,” Bloomfield said. “We compete in local competitions and go up against the best from the Napa Valley, and we always finish in the top 10 percent. There are some high-quality wines from our area, and it’s nice for couples to support local businesses and local farmers.”

Another advantage to buying local wines is that it takes less time to order the wine for the event. Bloomfield said she can have cases of a local wine ready within a few days. Other wines will need to be ordered several weeks in advance.

While the Wine Company offers a variety of approximately 40 wines, Bloomfield said she can order other wines and beverages, such as champagne, which is traditional for toasting. Bloomfield also suggested that couples offer sparkling cider or seltzer water with fruit for toasting to accommodate the guests who don’t drink.

To set up a consultation at Brentwood’s Co. Co. County Wine Company, located at 633 First St., call 925-634-9463. For more information about local wines, visit www.cocowineco.com.