Chianti Wine Festival
Choosing a Special Wine for the Holidays
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 light or fruity, and the traditional holiday meats might make the wine seem bland in comparison. Since holidays bring together friends and family from all over the country, the wine needs to please this group of possibly very diverse tastes. 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. 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 want to try the $12 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. 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 different wine might be an inventive way of making a traditional Christmas meal seem more festive. 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 – hams or other cold meats – you might try the Chianti Classico 2001 Borgo Salcetino, an Italian wine available 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 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, just keep it for yourself, to enjoy at another time – it is a gift, after all. And, dont forget to store it with care, in a wine refrigerator or wine chiller, so that you can enjoy it when you are finally ready to drink it, for that 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 check out a nice wine cooler buying guide at WineCoolerreviews.com.) In the meantime, enjoy your holiday meal with your family and friends, along with an excellent selection of wine.
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