The holiday season is here, bringing festive gatherings and delicious meals. As you plan your celebrations, choosing the perfect wines to accompany your dishes can enhance the entire experience. Whether you’re a wine novice or a seasoned enthusiast, these holiday wine pairing tips will make your celebrations unforgettable.
With a few simple tips and secrets, you’ll confidently pick winners every time. From classic turkey to creative desserts, there’s a match for every course.
Tips for perfect holiday wine pairings
Here are the top tips for choosing wines to complement your holiday dishes and delight your guests. Understanding basic pairing principles will help you confidently navigate the world of holiday wines.
Create balance
One of the most important concepts in wine pairing is to create balance in flavor and intensity. Pair delicate foods with light and subtle wines, and rich and hearty dishes with robust, full-bodied wines.
Sweetness is another area where balance is an important consideration. To avoid flavor clashes, choose a wine that’s as sweet or slightly sweeter than your dish.
Acidity is another important factor. Many holiday foods, like buttery mashed potatoes or juicy prime rib, are rich and fatty. High-acid wines can cut through these dishes, so you can taste each bite of food as if it were your first.
Finally, select wines that go with the herbs and spices in your dish rather than overpower them. When selecting a wine, focus on your dish’s most prominent spices or herbs.
Add variety to your holiday wines
Don’t forget sparkling wines — they’re not just for toasts. They’re versatile and can pair well with everything from appetizers to main courses to desserts.
Using regional wines is another way to add variety. Wines often pair well with foods from the same region. For example, serve Italian wines with Italian dishes.
When it comes to holiday wine pairing, there are tried and true favorites that you can count on. If you are in doubt, choose crowd-pleasing wines like pinot noir or sauvignon blanc. These classic wines pair well with a variety of holiday dishes.
Make sure you offer various non-alcoholic alternatives for your guests. Provide high-quality grape juices or non-alcoholic wines for those who don’t drink alcohol.
Serving and enjoying holiday wine
Make sure you serve your wines at the right temperature. Serve white wines chilled and serve red wines slightly below room temperature. The correct temperature can significantly affect the taste and enjoyment of your wine.
Lastly, trust yourself and don’t worry too much about the rules. If you enjoy a particular wine with a certain dish, then that’s the perfect pairing for you.
Perfect wines for your holiday feast
Now that we’ve covered the essential tips for holiday wine pairing, let’s review some specific recommendations for your holiday table. Whether you’re serving a traditional roast turkey, a succulent ham or vegetarian options, there is a wine that will make your meal even better.
These are suggestions meant to inspire you, not strict rules. Experiment and choose the wine pairing that seems right for you and your guests.
Turkey or chicken
When serving roast turkey, choose a versatile chardonnay. Oaked, full-bodied chardonnays offer a richness that pairs well with white meat and many side dishes.
If you prefer red wine, a medium-bodied pinot noir goes well with the delicate poultry flavors. The wine’s light to medium body and bright acidity pair well with both white and dark meat.
Ham
Holiday ham’s saltiness and subtle sweetness make for interesting wine pairings. A slightly sweet riesling is a fabulous choice. The wine’s natural sweetness balances the ham’s saltiness, while its crisp acidity cuts through the richness of the meat.
For red wine enthusiasts, a fruity zinfandel is a perfect match. Its bold berry flavors and hints of spice stand up well to the strong flavors of ham, especially if it’s glazed or honey baked.
Beef
Bold red wines truly shine when it comes to beef. A full-bodied cabernet sauvignon is a classic choice for a beef roast like prime rib. The tannins in the wine help cut through the beef’s richness.
Another outstanding option is a rich malbec. Malbec has a smooth texture that goes well with a tender, well-prepared roast. The wine’s moderate acidity helps balance the richness of the meat.
Lamb
Lamb’s rich, slightly gamey flavors are best paired with robust wines. Medium or full-bodied reds are ideal companions for this flavorful meat. A syrah’s dark fruit and smoky character pair beautifully with grilled or roasted lamb.
Bordeaux blends, typically consisting of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc, are another fantastic choice. These wines provide a complex flavor and go especially well with lamb cooked with herbs like rosemary or thyme.
Pork
Pork’s versatility allows for a range of wine pairings. Choose a medium-bodied red like merlot, which offers plum flavors that complement pork’s lean meat.
Alternatively, a fuller-bodied white like viognier is the perfect choice for enhancing pork’s subtle flavors. For pork dishes with fruity sauces or glazes, a pinot gris is an excellent choice, as its crisp acidity balances the sauce’s sweetness.
Vegetarian dishes
Focus on the meal’s dominant flavors, textures and cooking methods rather than defaulting to white wines. Mushrooms, with their earthy, umami flavors, pair well with light to medium-bodied red wines like pinot noir.
Crisp white wines work well with green vegetables and salads. A sauvignon blanc beautifully enhances the flavors of asparagus, bell peppers or zucchini dishes. Try a fuller-bodied white like a viognier or an unoaked chardonnay for roasted root vegetables.
Dessert
Pairing wines with desserts can be a delightful way to end a meal. The wine should be as sweet or sweeter as the dessert so it doesn’t taste bitter or sour in comparison. Sauternes, a sweet white wine from Bordeaux, France, goes well with fruit-based desserts.
Ruby port is a classic choice for chocolate desserts. The wine’s sweetness and body stand up to dark chocolate’s intensity. Moscato d’Asti, a light, sweet and slightly sparkling wine, is perfect for lighter desserts. It pairs wonderfully with fresh fruit, light pastries or sorbet.
Toast to perfect pairings
Wine pairing is both an art and a science. These tips provide a foundation but trust your palate and experiment. After all, the most important part of any holiday gathering is the joy of sharing good food and drink with loved ones.
Anne Jolly is the creator of the food blog Upstate Ramblings. She loves cooking, especially for the holidays