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 fruity or light, and the traditional holiday meats could 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. Sauvignon Blanc is earthy and crisp – a perfect match for an herb-encrusted turkey or herb-based dressing dish. The warm, natural tastes of this wine will be an ideal complement. You might consider the $12 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 is that one wine for spicy side dishes and one to go with the main dish isn’t really desirable. This isn’t a traditional three-course meal, usually, but a family-style extravaganza. But for red wines – traditionally heartier, and better for these wintry months – the Pinot Noir is simple and tasty enough to go with everything. Simple, homey, and sure to please – the perfect family Thanksgiving combination. If you’re feeling more adventurous, however, you might try Beujolais Nouveau. 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. Since it’s winter, you’d probably be better off staying with red wines. With lighter meals – hams or other cold meats – try the Chianti Classico 2001 Borgo Salcetino, an Italian wine priced at under $15. Its tannin taste complements the oiliness of ham well. For a fat bird like goose or duck, the velvety Chassagne-Montmrachet Rouge, Blain-Gagnard, is a rich Burgundy that will bring out 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, you might want to finish off with a nice bottle of port!
One more consideration about wine and holiday feasts – you may well receive a bottle or two of wine from your dinner guests. You shouldnt 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, dont forget to store it properly, in a wine fridge or wine cellar, so that you can enjoy it when you finally do uncork it, for your own special occasion. Even a small 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.
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