Great Fine Wine

Selecting just the right wine for a festive holiday meal can be quite challenging. A bold, celebratory wine seems a good initial pick – but it risks clashing with, or possibly even overshadowing, any of the delicious food cooked 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. 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 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 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 everything. Homey, simple and sure to please, it’s a perfect combination for a family Thanksgiving get-together. For the more adventurous, though, or for someone serving connoisseurs, try the Beaujolais 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. Since it’s winter, you’d probably be better off sticking with red wines.  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 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). And, you might want to finish off with a nice bottle of port!

One more consideration about wine and holiday feasts – 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. 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 cooler or wine chiller, so that you can enjoy it when you finally do uncork it, for another special occasion. Even a 12-bottle wine fridge 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 and friends, along with a choice selection of wine.

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