The Wine Bottle

Selecting just the right wine for a festive holiday meal can be quite challenging. A bold, celebratory wine seems a good first choice – but it risks clashing with, or possibly even 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. Since holidays bring together friends and family from all over the country and possibly the world, the wine needs to please 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. 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 particular wine could be an ideal complement. You might 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 is that one wine for spicy sides 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. 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. Homey, simple and sure to please, it’s a perfect combination for a family Thanksgiving get-together. If you’re feeling more adventurous, though, 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 serving a nice Zinfandel with the Christmas ham, or a Shiraz with the 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 oiliness of ham well. For a fat bird like duck or goose, the velvet 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). Don’t forget to finish off with a good bottle of port!

One more thing about holiday feasts and wine – a guest may well bring along a bottle of wine of their own. 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, just keep it for yourself, to enjoy at another time – it is a gift, after all. And, don’t forget to store it with care, in a wine cooler or wine cellar, so that you can enjoy it when you are finally ready to drink it, for another special occasion. Even a 12 bottle wine refrigerator 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 recommendations guide at WineCoolerreviews.com.) In the meantime, enjoy your holiday meal with your family, along with an excellent selection of wine.

Tags: holiday wine, wine, wine for the holidays