HOLIDAY WINE 101
Oh hello, are we here again? The earth has once again made a full rotation around the sun, my fresh new Ugg boots are ready, my fingers are numb, and my tan is sadly faded. That was fast, right? It’s a good thing my daughters never let me put away their mini Christmas trees on their dresser last year, it saves me at least little time. . .
Before we get to shopping and wrapping and cooking decorating and crafting and glitter in our eyes (nasty stuff, that), let’s start with the wine! Because wine can both soften the blow and make all those events more tolerable, dare we say: enjoyable! If your wine plan is made, everything else just falls in line. Trust me, I’m an expert. I have a degree.
I present you with your 2019 Holiday Mantra:
“Holiday wines don’t need to be stressful, perfect or expensive.”
You like me already. I can feel the glow.
Whether you are buying wine for your own table or bringing wine to Aunt Midge and Uncle Ernie’s house there are just a few things to think about. Other than whether your son will drink too much apple cider (there is sugar in that!) or spill cranberry sauce on Midge’s white dining chairs. (Just turn the cushions over, shhh). My first piece of advice is to go with lower-alcohol wines, as no one wants to see Uncle Ernie inebriated after one glass of wine. Second, don’t stress about the perfect wine pairing- drink what you like! I am saying it again- drink what you like. Even your kids will tell you that!
This is the time to listen to them. Would THEY drink a V-8? No, no they wouldn’t.
Wine is good, so be good to your guests and family! Don’t stress, this is supposed to be fun!
Finally, wine does not need to break the bank. So, pour a glass, stick with me and grab a notepad, you’re going to make a list, and when we are done your first holiday order of business is accomplished!
Champagne Pierre Gerbais
Let’s start with bubbly…
Bubbles translate into C-E-L-E-B-R-A-T-E.
Best way to win over the in-laws is sparkling wine. Just a quick tutorial – there is so much out there in terms of quality and value. Sparkling wine can be made by different methods in different regions, with different grapes and rules. Soooooo, this is why price, taste and quality vary. Bubbles are fantastic with Turkey and one of my family’s Thanksgiving favorites!
Let’s pause for a moment and talk about sparkling wine vs champagne. CLUE: Sparkling wine is a carbonated wine. How bubbles get there, depends on the style it is made in! The quick snapshot is sparkling wine can only be called Champagne if it comes from the region of Champagne in NE France, just outside Paris. And Champagne can only be made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes using a process called “Méthode Champenoise” or traditional method that causes a secondary fermentation to happen in the bottle (meaning C02 is captured in the bottle, giving the wine its sparkle).
Franciacorta, Cap Classique, Cava, and Cremant are also sparkling wines that are made solely using this method. Can you say value AND delicious!(expert note: Why? Because these wines are lower in price and made in the same method as Champagne offering quality and value). For those Prosecco lovers out there, the reason this wine is often cheaper is because it is typically made in a stainless-steel tank, with the bubbles pumped in (although there are some producers who use the traditional method).
Let’s move on to still white wine. It is really hard to go wrong here. A lot of sommeliers will point you to Riesling, which can range from bone dry or very sweet. I can hear my sister say…. “No way I am drinking that.” But this is one of the best food wines! So, don’t overthink it-just drink it! The reason this wine is such a good fit with food is the high acidity in the wine will cut through the sweet, spicy and Salty flavors with delicious results. You can’t really go wrong here- Eroica is a great value (@ $12.00) from Washington State and Germany is crawling with choices!
What’s on my table? I usually go with a good Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay, usually from France. Chardonnay can typically stand up to the richer dishes like stuffing and gravy. A good white Burgundy or a value-oriented Macon Chardonnay can be worth reaching for. Also, this is typically a crowd pleaser. Sancerre or St Brix (both French Sauvignon Blancs) are well liked and drinkable, and nothing is better than a well-made white Burgundy. They are easy to drink and pair well with food! Also, Kistler Chardonnay from the US is one of my faves.
Italian White wine: Personally, I think white wine from Italy is so underrated. Honestly, anything you go with here is good. Verdicchio, Fiano, Etna Bianca, Soave and Arneis.
Other Whites I love: Godello making a revival in NW Spain is delicious. If you can find it- try it! Rueda (Verdejo grape) and Albarino from Spain are two more good options.
Ok breathe… you okay? Slide into my DMs if you need more help (I have a teenager, can you tell?)
EUCLID
For red wine, Pinot Noir is a great wine for the holidays. It’s easy drinking and it’s a delicious wine. Personally, I love a good Red Burgundy. Nothing is better. The question is can I afford it? To deal with the affordability issue, I tend to reach for one of my favorite regions, Willamette in Oregon. (Just a pronunciation lesson: Willamette, sounds like Dammit! It’s Willamette, Dammit!) My go to: Ken Wright Cellars, Purple hands, Cristom, Sotter, Strandline and Bethel Heights.
Outside of Pinot Noir, reach for Syrah. This under-rated grape is delicious and one of the best values out there. Grammercy Cellars out of Washington State makes yummy wine, as well as Euclid in Napa, and Syrah from Australia and France’s Rhone Valley are excellent value. I just picked up a Languedoc Rhone blend called L’Hortus de Bergerie Pic Saint Loup which is delicious- and also $15.00 USD.
Did you make your list? Did you include a few extra bottles for yourself, so you can endure the rest of it? My friends, good wine is the foundation of a good Holiday Season. Now that you have the basics, don’t just buy pretty labels! Be educated and whatever you buy, enjoy it! Cheers!
Champagne Recommendations:Bollinger, Billecart-Salmon, Dom Perignon, Krug, LaurentPerrier, Louis Roederer Pol Roger, Ruinart. Favorite Rosé Sparkling: Ruinart Rosé, Chandon Rosé, Billecart-Salmon Rosé, Krug rosé and Veuve Clicquot!
USA Sparkling Wine recommendations: R. Stuart Bubbly ($28.00), Chandon Blanc de Blanc ($35), Roederer Estate Brut ($28.00), Schramsberg Brut Blanc de blanc ($41.00), Soter Vineyards Mineral Springs Brut Rosé ($65.00), Domaine Carneros Blanc de Noir ($39.00), Argyle wine ($28.00 and up), and Sokol Blosser ($28.00)
Around the world: Cremant de Bourgogne. My recent favorite for the price is Cave L’aurance Cremant de Bourgogne ($12.99-19.99), Cava (Spain) and Franciacorta (Italy)