The best wine for Christmas, is the one you’re going to pick, but to find the perfect wine, there are a few tips and tricks, a few rules you have to consider which is what I want to explain in this video.
Our wine videos to watch next:
The 9 Primary Styles of Wine https://youtu.be/70T6ntxnnlI?feature=shared
Pairing Wine & Food: Top 3 Essential Tips for Success https://youtu.be/MVGyGeIU6rE?feature=shared
7 Classic Wine & Food Pairings We Need More Of https://youtu.be/82NdJn7NgIM?feature=shared
The Best Wine in the World? POMEROL, Finest Bordeaux https://youtu.be/-dX8uEyS2QA?feature=shared
00:00 – Best Wines for Christmas Intro
01:27 – Why Wine for Christmas?
02:50 – Perfect Wine Styles for Christmas
04:54 – Food Pairings for Christmas
06:33 – My Top Picks
Video Content (Transcript)
Why Wine for Christmas?
Why is wine such a popular choice for Christmas? First, it’s a FESTIVE drink that can help to create a celebratory atmosphere. Second, wine is the finest alcoholic drink, it’s much finer than beer, here’s a video where I compare wine and beer if you’re curious, and it’s not as lethal as hard liquors, so it’s much more VERSATILE and why it can be paired with a variety of different foods, and why it’s a great conversation starter. And finally, wine is a great GIFT, THE liquid that represents the SHARING AND it brings in PRESTIGE onto a dinner table. It’s perfect!
Perfect Wine Styles for Christmas
Here are the wines styles to have for Christmas: Champagne or Sparkling Wine are classic choices to celebrate. Opt for Brut or Extra Brut styles for their dryness, complexity AND food-friendliness. If you don’t have the money for Champagne, in this video I explain the available alternatives to Champagne like Prosecco, Moscato or Cava. Rich White Wines like Chardonnay or Viognier are excellent choices for their richness and buttery notes which can stand up to richer hearty winter foods like roasted poultry or ham.
Light Red Wine such as Pinot Noir or Beaujolais are lighter-bodied reds that pair well with roasted turkey or salmon. They offer delicate flavors of red fruits with good complexity and earthiness. While Full-Bodied Reds like Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz are bolder options with more tannins and body for heartier dishes like beef Wellington or roast lamb. Finally a sweet Dessert Wine like Sauternes or Muscat is a delightful pairing with Christmas pudding or fruitcake as they offer luscious flavors of honey, dried fruits, or caramel.
Food Pairings for Christmas
Basically, here’s how to use those wine styles for a Christmas holidays meal. Champagne or sparkling for the toast before the meal, with the appetizers. You can bring back sparkling wine on the dessert as well. The white wines go with the entrees if they’re lighter in flavor, the salads, the seafoods, the prawns, oyters, we love our oysters for Christmas in France, the smoked salmon, or the fish if that’s what you’re having, while the reds are for the meaty entrees, a Charcuterie board, the meaty mains and the cheese. Dessert wines like sweet ones, Port or Sherry are to go with desserts AND the after-meal digestif while conversing with grand-pa.
7 Comments
I will be enjoying the Chinon from the French Collection, and some Lustau Pedro Ximinez for dessert.
I'm going to try a Fleurie with roast turkey.
Here in Denmark, the Christmas food is extremely fatty, salty and sweet. It is usually duck or roasted pork with pickled red cabbage, browned potatoes and heavy fat sauce. To pair with this, the common choices are Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Amarone, Barolo or Priorat. I often suggest my customers that go with duck and lighter side dishes to go with blanc de blancs champagnes like Charles Heidsieck, Les Mesnil, Ruinart or Pol Roger. The fatty duck and blanc de blancs goes surprisingly well together.
Interesting, well to start a Champagne and or Gruner Veltliner with the anti- pasta course. And next, because it will only be Pasta(Ravioli) most likely a Chianti Classico and or a Brunello. And to finish, an Inniskillin Cab Franc Icewine.
And a mix of whatever anyone else would like..
And as always: Enjoy the sunshine held together by water🍷
Happy holidays to all🎄
Loire chenin blanc this year, I'm more a fan of whites with body than light reds, so will probably drink that with my turkey, but have a Bordeaux for the red drinkers or the next day!
We are going off the beaten path. We are having a homemade, dry, cranberry wine with ham and shrimp.
I’ll usually open something special. I love a Syrah with lamb, or a Burgundian Pinot noir with turkey.