Wines for the Holiday Season
Choosing a wine to go with a festive holiday meal can be a challenge. A bold, celebratory wine seems a good first pick – but it risks clashing with, or worse overshadowing, any of the delicious food prepared for the occasion. But too light or fruity, and the traditional holiday meats might make the wine seem bland in comparison. Furthermore, holidays are a time when families come together from all over town, the country, or even the world – and the bottle needs to be able to appeal to a diverse group of people. Here, therefore, are some ideas to get you started, along with some specific recommendations, so that the holiday bottle becomes a gift to share, not another source of stress.
Traditional Thanksgiving wines are many. A Sauvignon Blanc is crisp and earthy – a perfect pairing with a herb-encrusted turkey or herb-based stuffing dish. The warm, natural tastes of this particular wine could be the perfect complement. You might want to try the Beringer Vineyards, Napa Valley, 2004 – these fruity, zingy wines have a great earthy taste. Or, incorporate the grass notes of the $15 Ferrari-Carano from Sonoma County, for a rosemary-based dish. Riesling is another option, good with spicy dishes. A recommendation here is the $18 Pikes Clare Valley Riesling.
The problem, of course, is that one wine for spicy sides and one for the main dish isn’t really ideal. This isn’t a traditional three-course meal, usually, but a family-style extravaganza. For red wines, which are typically heartier and more suited to these wintry months, Pinot Noir is both simple and tasty enough to go with practically everything. Simple, homey, and sure to please – the perfect family Thanksgiving combination. For the more adventurous, the Beaujolais Nouveau might be a good choice. This fruity wine goes wonderfully with turkey – and best of all, it’s perfectly seasonal; it’s always released on the third Thursday in November! For your dessert – if it’s pumpkin pie – bring out a cream sherry; they’re sweet enough to stand up to the spicy confidence of the pie.
For Christmas dinner, a new wine can be an inventive way of making a traditional Christmas meal seem more even more special. Try a Zinfandel, for example, with a succulent Christmas ham, or a Shiraz with turkey. You would probably be better off sticking with red wines, since it is winter. With lighter meals – cold meats or hams – try the Chianti Classico 2001 Borgo Salcetino, an Italian wine that can be had for under $15. Its tannin taste complements the ham well. For a fat bird like goose or duck, the velvety Chassagne-Montmrachet Rouge, Blain-Gagnard, is a rich Burgundy that will enhance the meat’s richness. For a beef or lamb dish, try a Bordeaux (such as the 1998 Les Pagodes de Cos, St-Estephe, just over $20, an elegant, decadent bottle). And, a nice port might be the perfect finish!
One more thing about holiday feasts and wine – you may receive a bottle of wine from a dinner guest, as a gift. You shouldn’t feel obligated to serve it at all, unless it really is a special wine that goes well, and that you want to share. Or, you could just save it for another occasion; it is a gift for you, after all. And, don’t forget to store your wine properly, in a wine fridge or wine cellar, so that you can enjoy it when you finally do uncork it, for that special occasion. Even a 12-bottle wine cooler will do, but you’ll likely find that you’ll fill that up very quickly, so take expansion into consideration. (You can find a nice wine cooler buyer’s guide at WineCoolerreviews.com.) In the meantime, enjoy your holiday meal with your friends and family, along with a choice selection of wine.
