Recipes To Share

Posts Tagged ‘wine for the holidays’

Choosing the perfect wine to with with a holiday feast can be daunting. A bold, celebratory wine seems a good first pick – but it risks clashing with, or possibly even overshadowing, any of the delicious food cooked for the occasion. But too light or fruity, 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 wine will be an ideal complement. You might try the Beringer Vineyards, Napa Valley, 2004 – these zingy, fruity 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 for the main dish isn’t really desirable. 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 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 different wine might be a creative way of making a traditional Christmas meal seem more special. Try a Zinfandel, for example, with a succulent Christmas ham, or a Shiraz with 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 ham well. For a fat bird like goose or duck, the velvety Chassagne-Montmrachet Rouge, Blain-Gagnard, is a rich Burgundy that will underscore 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 bottle of port might be the perfect finish!

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 properly, in a wine refrigerator or wine chiller, so that you can enjoy it when you are finally ready to drink it, for another special occasion. Even a wine cooler that will hold just 12 bottles will do, but you’ll likely find that you’ll fill that up very quickly, so take expansion into consideration. (You can check out a nice wine cooler buyer’s guide at WineCoolerreviews.com.) In the meantime, enjoy your holiday meal with your family, along with a choice selection of wine.