The holiday season is one of the most popular times to host gatherings with an all-out meal. And nothing quite fits a special occasion like great wine. Read on to learn about pairing wine with holiday fare.
Here in California, we do things a little differently, and that includes our holiday celebrations.
If the weather is cooperating, we might pull out our grill in winter. If the olive oil harvest is exceptional, we’ll pour some olio nuovo on our Thanksgiving spread. Or, if the season starts early enough, we’ll have Dungeness crab at Christmas.
We like to celebrate all aspects of the Golden State, and we do so this time of year – be it a wine country inspired table or a beachside gathering. But one thing that’s always sure to be on the table? An assortment of California wines. Because nothing compliments a special occasion like festive wines on your table. Read on to learn about pairing wine with holiday fare.
Our biggest advice for pairing wine and food is to think of wine as an ingredient – one who’s main role is to elevate the food.
Start by identifying the primary elements in the dish (fat, acid, salty, sweet, spicy, or bitter) and search for a wine that will provide balance.
For example, a rich and salty dish like this Mac and Cheese with Fresh Peas, Cauliflower and Toasted Garlic Breadcrumbs, goes with a Chardonnay because it has enough body and acidity to balance it.
The classic pairing adage is that fish goes with white wines and meats with red wines. While there is some truth to that, feel free to get much more creative with your pairings.
Keep in mind that all wines bring some element of acid, alcohol, body, sweetness, and, in the case of red wines, tannin. You generally want your wine to have more acid and sweetness than the food you’re pairing it with and for it to have a similar intensity.
Be it Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, or New Year’s, there are a few wine pairing guidelines during the whole holiday season.
Now is not the time to get experimental. Opt for wines that are crowd-pleasers, food-friendly, and, of course, delicious.
Kick off your celebration with some bubbly, and then have at least one other wine if you’re having a sit-down meal.
Think of flavors of wines like you do a haircut: you can add more but not less. So, you can go bigger in taste or texture during your party, but don’t go less subtle.
Pay attention to all the dishes on the menu, but don’t be so precious as to try to pair a wine with every side dish.
However, you want to account for any “hero sauces” or sauces used on main dishes like a roast or main course. A turkey paired with a simple herb butter gravy will need a different wine than one served with pumpkin mole.
Now that you have the lay of the land, here are some holiday dinner recipe ideas, along with some suggested pairings.
Nothing quite says special occasion like oysters! Pair these spicy Grilled Oysters with Green Chile Butter from ¡Hola! Jalapeño with a brut sparkling wine.
Pair this plant-based Roasted Butternut Squash Pepita Pesto Dip recipe from Salt & Wind with a Marsanne, Roussanne, or Chardonnay
We’re always game for winter salads, and the sweet-tart flavors and crunch of this Winter Beet and Citrus Salad with Dates and Almonds add a refreshing contrast to heavier mains. Serve it with sparkling wine or Chardonnay.
Go for a bit of decadence with the classic comfort food that is French Onion Soup. The caramelized onions and cheese are natural with Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon.
Our friend Meg of This Mess Is Ours has a recipe for Meyer Lemon Brown Butter Pasta that is perfect this time of year when Meyer lemons are in season. The richness of the brown butter and the lemon go fabulously with a Chardonnay.
For some, it isn’t the holiday without a centerpiece roast, and this Beef Rib Roast with Horseradish Ricotta Cream fits the bill. Serve it with Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon.
Sonoma County has some of California’s best duck and top Pinot Noir, which happen to go lovely together! Serve this Seared Duck Breasts with Port Cherry Sauce with a Pinot or Merlot. Since cherries are out of season, use good quality frozen ones.
Serve it as a vegetarian main or a side; this Focaccia Bread Pudding with Wild Mushrooms and Goat Cheese can do it all. It also goes just as well with Chardonnay as it does Pinot Noir.
If you serve a big spread, you might want to finish the meal on a lighter note. Serve these White Wine Poached Pears Stuffed with Chocolate, Dried Plums and Hazelnuts along with sparkling wine or dessert wine.
For something without gluten but with many great flavors, turn to this light and airy Gluten-Free Coconut Cake from GFree Foodie and pour a glass of sparkling wine or dessert wine.
You probably know that tamales are on many holiday tables, but maybe you haven’t thought of having them for dessert. Serve these Mexican Chocolate Sweet Tamales with Hot Honey from ¡Hola! Jalapeño with a fortified dessert wine.
While we can’t tell you which wines pair best with your Christmas dinner or holiday cocktail party unless we know your exact menu, there are a few incredibly food-friendly styles of wine.
Namely, rosé sparkling wine and dry Riesling are super versatile as they can go with spicy food, rich food, and seafood.
If you’re making a sit-down dinner with a turkey or another roasted meat, light to medium-bodied red like a Pinot Noir from Sonoma or Santa Barbara or a classic California Zinfandel will do the trick.
And, there is no time like the holidays to pull out the dessert wines.
If you’re heading to a party and are not sure what they’re serving, you can opt for one of the above picks and know you will at least be in the ballpark.
Aida Mollenkamp is a food and travel expert WSET Level 2 certified, on-camera host, author and founder of Salt & Wind, a travel company for food lovers. The company started with the food and travel online magazine, Salt & Wind, and has expanded to include concierge services and boutique group travel for food lovers with Salt & Wind Travel. Prior to forming Salt & Wind, she hosted Ask Aida on the Food Network, Foodcrafters on the Cooking Channel, and In The Pantry on Yahoo! Aida was raised in Southern California and makes her home in the Golden State, often sharing her favorite local finds and farmers’ market trips.
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