The holidays are right around the corner and us wine lovers know that the wine selection is just as important as the food selection. Pairing the right wine with your dinner selection can take your dining experience to the next level. During the holidays we have enough on our plate. We’re juggling table arrangements, glassware, cooking times and a heap of other things. Luckily for you, brainstorming wine selections doesn’t have to be one of them. I have included my favorite wine selections of holiday dishes and entrees. Whether its Thanksgiving or Christmas, I got you covered.
Roasted Turkey
Oaked Chardonnay – One of the most basic tips of wine pairing is lighter wines should pair with lighter meat. However, Chardonnay was not selected simply because it’s a white wine. This full-bodied wine can stand up to the mix of flavors that is sure to end up on your plate and palate.
Honey Baked Ham
Zinfandel– This fruit forward red wine will be a congruent pairing to the sweetness that we can expect from much of holiday hams. If your family is like mine, we drizzle our ham with a cherry glaze. Those same cherry notes are found in Zinfandel.
Creamy Baked Mac & Cheese
Off dry or dry Riesling. This sparkling wine adds a bit of crispiness that will take you by surprise but in the most enjoyable way possible. The acidity in the wine also helps to cleanse your palate and enhance the flavors of the mac & cheese. The acidity in the wine really cuts through the cheese and makes it more refreshing. Also, acidity in wine is known to increase appetite so you’ll definitely be back for round two…or four. Chardonnay also pairs wonderfully with mac & cheese.
Dessert
Wine pairing rule 101: your chose of wine should be sweeter than the dessert. I like to end my night off with a Port wine. This fortified dessert wine is high in ABV% so it’s a great transition to the family games we typically kick off after eating. Not to mention Ports pair amazingly with pumpkin pies. Who doesn’t have a pumpkin pie for the fall holiday?
The above dishes are just some of my family’s holiday favorites. Please keep in mind that’s its nearly impossible to find a wine that pairs perfectly with each dish served for holidays. The key is to find a wine that pairs well with the main dish yet does not overpower the other flavors. If there are any dishes you would like suggestions on, drop them in the comments! What wines do you pair your holiday dishes with? I am always looking for new wine pairing ideas and would love to give them a try!
