Author: Dirk Chan
Wow…Christmas is almost upon us, so here is our annual picks to accompany the classic turkey and/or ham dinner with all its fixings. Start your evening off with a sparkling wine,followed by whites, reds, a dessert wine and perhaps a lovely port to end off the evening. With the year we’ve all been through, perhaps it is time to go big this year!!
Sparkling Wines
Sparkling wines are a great way to start any function whether its a greeting aperitif or to pair with appetizers. Lively and clean, these will get everyone ready for what’s to come next.
NV Mezzacorona Mezza (Alto Adige, Italy) – $20.49
NV Cleto Chiarli Brut de Noir Rosé (Emilia-Romagna, Italy) – $27.49
2019 Mongarda Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Superiore (Veneto, Italy) – $29.99
NV Domaine Deliance Cremant de Bourgogne Brut Reserve (Burgundy – Cote Chalonnaise, France) – $37.99
Champagne
Now if you serve Champagne, your audience will immediately know you’re here to do some serious partaking and celebrating.
NV Champagne Baron-Fuente Grande Reserve Brut (Champagne, France) – $58.99
NV Champagne Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut (Champagne, France) – $65.99
NV Henri Billiot et Fils Rosé (Champagne, France) – $81.99
2015 Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage Extra Brut (Champagne, France) – $119.99
NV Champagne Ployez-Jacquemart Extra Brut Granite (Champagne, France) – $219.99
2012 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne (Champagne, France) – $399.99
Whites & Pinks
Whites with a touch of sweetness is preferred because of the sweetness of some of the fixings – candied yams, cranberry sauce, and honey for the glazed ham. A completely dry white will seem more austere and void of fruit due to the sweetness of the food so I recommend Rieslings (dry or off-dry, both work), Gewurztraminers or other Germanic or Alsace varietals. Having said that, some will always go with a dry creamy Chardonnay or Chenon irregardless and that’s perfectly fine. Also, don’t forget that rosés work really well too!
2021 Villa des Anges Chardonnay (Languedoc-Roussillon, France) – $19.99
2022 Cave de Saumur Chenin Blanc Les Pouches (Loire Valley, France) – $21.99
2022 Bisci Verdicchio di Matelica (Marches, Italy) – $23.99
2021 Allegrini Lugana Oasi Mantellina (Veneto, Italy) – $33.99
2021 Hubert Brochard Sancerre (Loire Valley, France) – $39.99
2020 Contino Blanco (Rioja, Spain) – $49.99
2019 Les Vins de Vienne Condrieu La Chambee (Rhone Valley, France) – $76.99
2021 Willi Schaefer Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese (Mosel, Germany) – $99.99
2021 Francois Mikulski Meursault (Meursault, France) – $156.99
2022 Lantides Little Ark Rosé (Peloponnese, Greece) – $29.99
2021 Feudo Montoni Rose di Adele Nerello Mascalese (Sicily, Italy) – $39.99
Reds
For reds, try to avoid the big oaky tannic monsters. Oak and tannins are the enemies when pairing with slightly sweet food, try for a red with lots of up-front fruit, little oak and a soft tannins like a Beaujolais (served slightly chilled) or a Pinot Noir.
2021 Manos Negras Pinot Noir (Mendoza, Argentina) – $20.99
2022 Casa Girelli Cembra Pinot Nero (Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy) – $25.99
2019 13th Street Gamay (Ontario – Niagara, Canada) – $26.99
2018 Cune Reserva (Rioja, Spain) – $29.99
2020 Franck Balthazar Cotes-du-Rhone (Rhone Valley, France) – $30.99
2020 Maison Albert Brenot Bourgogne Rouge (Burgundy, France) – $37.99
2019 Rust en Vrede Estate Vineyards Syrah (Stellenbosch, South Africa) – $49.99
2021 Veronica Ortega Villa de Congosto Kinki (Bierzo, Spain) – $61.99
2019 Quinta do Portal Grande Reserva (Douro, Portugal) – $76.99
2016 Cotarella Le Macioche Brunello di Montalcino (Tuscany, Italy) – $104.99
2021 Stephane Vedeau Cote-Rotie J. Boutin Bonnevaux (Rhone Valley, France) – $119.99
2018 Gambal-Work Bentrock Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir (California – Central Coast, United States) – $157.99
2019 Quinta dos Muros M7 (Douro, Portugal) – $199.99
2017 Poggio Al Tesoro Dedicato A. Walter Bolgheri (Tuscany, Italy) – $249.99
2009 Les Asteries (Bordeaux – St. Emilion, France) – $299.99
2010 Château Haut Bailly (Bordeaux – Pessac-Leognan, France) – $369.99
Dessert
As for dessert, remember dessert wine should be sweeter than the dessert itself.
2018 Château Pajzos Harslevelu Late Harvest Tokaj (Tokaj, Hungary) – 500mL – $24.49
2019 Château Coutet (Bordeaux – Barsac, France) – 375mL – $51.99
2007 Marchesi Gondi Cardinal de Retz Vin Santo del Chianti Rufina Riserva Tenuta Bossi (Tuscany, Italy) – 375mL -$64.99
2011 Château Climens Premier Cru (Bordeaux – Barsac, France) – 375mL – $114.99
Port (Post Dinner)
Port is always good for the final touches of a meal whether its a ruby or a tawny. Try with blue-veined cheeses and roasted nuts.
1996 Barros Colheita (Douro, Portugal) – 375mL – $39.99
Taylor Fladgate 20 Year Old Tawny Port (Douro, Portugal) – $69.99
2015 Taylor Fladgate Quinta de Vargellas Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) – $84.99
1994 Dow’s Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) – $249.99
Taylor Fladgate Golden Age Tawny Port 50 Year Old (Douro, Portugal) – $349.99
Finally, if you are pressed for time, try out our December Mixed Case – $238.95 or our December 6-Pack – $157.50 where a lot of the wines would pair well with Christmas dinner.
Note our hours of operations leading up to Christmas and between Christmas and New Years.
Everyone, enjoy the holiday season. Best wishes for good health and happiness to everyone!