Choosing the Right Wine for Your Holiday Celebration
Choosing the perfect wine to with with a holiday feast can be challenging. A bold, celebratory wine seems a good initial 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. And, or course, holidays bring together family and friends from all over, and the wine needs to appeal to this 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.
There are many traditional Thanksgiving wines. 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 consider 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 anything. Simple, homey, and certain to please, it’s the perfect combination for a family Thanksgiving. 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 serving a nice Zinfandel with the Christmas ham, or a Shiraz with the turkey. Ideally, stick to red wines, though; this is winter, after all. 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 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 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). Don’t forget to finish off with a good 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 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. Otherwise, save it for another time – it’s a gift for you, after all. And, don’t forget to store it with care, in a wine refrigerator or wine chiller, so that you can enjoy it when you finally do uncork it, for another 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 buying guide at WineCoolerreviews.com.) In the meantime, enjoy your holiday meal with your friends and family, along with an excellent selection of wine.