For a christening, two bottles meet different needs: a Champagne or an easy-going wine for the reception, and a bottle for laying down from the child's birth year, kept by the adults to be opened with the child once they come of age. For the reception, our suggestions range from €16.95 to €49.95 per bottle. For the keepsake bottle, choose styles known for long ageing: great red Bordeaux, Sauternes, vintage Port or vintage Champagne.
Which wine to serve at a christening reception?
The reception or meal often brings together guests with varied tastes. Easy-going wines served at the right temperature work better than very distinctive cuvées. Also provide plenty of non-alcoholic drinks for everyone: children, drivers and guests who do not drink alcohol.
- A brut Champagne: the most classic choice to accompany the congratulations. A 75 cl bottle serves about six glasses.
- A fresh rosé: pleasant for an outdoor lunch or a buffet.
- A supple red: for the meal, a fruity red with soft tannins suits most guests.
- The magnum: practical and elegant for table service.
For organising the reception and pairing with the meal, also read our article Why choose a good wine for a christening, and Crémant vs Champagne if you are hesitating between the two.
Our pick for this article
Our selection for the reception
| Wine | Style | Shop price |
|---|---|---|
| Drappier Carte d'Or | Brut Champagne | €38 |
| Deutz Brut Classic | Brut Champagne | €42.50 |
| Moët & Chandon Réserve Impériale | Brut Champagne | €45 |
| R de Ruinart Brut | Brut Champagne | €49.95 |
| Minuty Rosé 2024, Côtes de Provence | Fresh rosé | €16.95 |
| Argali Prestige Rosé Magnum, Château Puech-Haut | Rosé, 1.5 L magnum | €39.95 |
| Prestige Rouge 2021, Château Puech-Haut | Languedoc red | €19.99 |
| Chorey-lès-Beaune 2023, Nuiton-Beaunoy | Burgundy red, Pinot Noir | €28.95 |
Browse all our Champagnes, our rosé wines, our magnums and large formats and our gems under €100.
The keepsake bottle: a birth-year wine to open at 18
It is a tradition cherished by godparents and parents: choosing a bottle from the child's birth vintage, or failing that from the year of the christening, and keeping it until they come of age. The bottle stays in the adults' care throughout those years; it will be opened and shared with the child once they are an adult, as a dated keepsake of their arrival in the family. Our article Why can you only drink wine once you are of age? explains why wine has no place before that age.
A short note slipped in with the bottle, or a personalised label on the case rather than on the bottle itself, gives this gift even more meaning.
Which wines age long enough for 18 years?
Eighteen years in the cellar is a long time: not every wine is made for it. The following styles are generally known for their ability to age for a long time when properly stored:
- Great red Bordeaux (classified growths of the Médoc and Graves, great wines of Pomerol and Saint-Émilion): their tannic structure allows them to evolve over many years.
- Sauternes and great sweet wines: sugar and acidity protect them over time. Château d'Yquem is renowned for its very long ageing potential.
- Vintage Port: it is declared only in certain years and is designed to age for a long time in bottle.
- Great red Burgundy: grands crus can also last many years in the cellar.
- Vintage Champagne: made from a single year, it ages at least three years in the cellar before release, often longer. Great prestige cuvées can evolve well, provided they are stored with care.
By contrast, most rosés, light whites and non-vintage Champagnes are made to be enjoyed young and are not suited to this project.
Good to know: the birth vintage is not always available straight away. Great Bordeaux, often sold en primeur, are generally delivered about two years after the harvest, and vintage Champagnes several years later. For a very recently born child, you may need to wait before finding a bottle from their year.
Keepsake bottles available, by budget
Here are bottles for laying down available in our shop, in limited quantities. Choose the one that matches the child's birth year, or the year of the christening:
| Wine | Vintage | Style | Shop price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champagne Lallier 2016, Grand Cru millésimé | 2016 | Vintage Champagne | €59 |
| Ruinart Millésimé 2016 | 2016 | Vintage Champagne | €99 |
| Dom Pérignon Vintage 2015 | 2015 | Vintage Champagne | from €235 |
| Château Branaire-Ducru 2023 | 2023 | Saint-Julien red, classified growth of 1855 | €310 |
| Château d'Yquem 2023 | 2023 | Sauternes, sweet wine | €375 |
| Château Haut-Brion 2019 | 2019 | Pessac-Léognan red, first growth | €730 |
| Château Mouton Rothschild 2019 | 2019 | Pauillac red, first growth | €880 |
Other vintages of Château d'Yquem, from 2010 to 2020, are available on its product page. You can also browse our selections by year, for example vintage 2022, vintage 2021 or vintage 2020, as well as our vintage Champagnes. To learn more about Yquem, read Château d'Yquem: history, terroir and secrets.
How to store the bottle for 18 years?
- Lying down for still wines and Champagnes, so the cork stays moist.
- At a stable temperature, ideally around 12 °C, without sudden changes.
- Away from light and vibration, with humidity close to 70%.
- In a cellar or wine cabinet, never in a kitchen, an uninsulated garage or an attic.
- Without moving it unnecessarily, and keeping the invoice with the bottle.
When the day comes, stand the bottle upright for a few hours before opening so that any sediment settles. Our article on wine storage covers these good practices in detail.
Frequently asked questions
Which wine to give for a christening?
For the reception, a brut Champagne or an easy-going wine suits most guests. As a gift, a bottle for laying down from the child's birth vintage, kept by the parents or godparents, can be opened with the child when they come of age.
Which wine can be kept 18 years for a child?
Styles known for long ageing include great red Bordeaux, Sauternes such as Château d'Yquem, vintage Port, great red Burgundy and some prestige vintage Champagnes. Most rosés and everyday wines are not made for such long ageing.
How much does a birth-year bottle cost?
At Le Caveau des Pépites, the keepsake bottles available range from Champagne Lallier 2016 at €59 to Château Mouton Rothschild 2019 at €880, including Château Branaire-Ducru 2023 at €310 and Château d'Yquem 2023 at €375.
How should the bottle be stored until the child turns 18?
Lying down, in a cellar or wine cabinet, at a stable temperature of around 12 °C, away from light and vibration, with humidity close to 70%. Avoid moving it and keep the invoice with the bottle.
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