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.
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 La Jara Brut Prosecco (Veneto, Italy) – $22.99
NV Gustave Lorentz Cremant d’Alsace Brut (Alsace, France) – $29.99
2024 Paltrinieri Lambrusco Solco dell Emilia (Emilia-Romagna, Italy) – $27.49
2020 Quinta de Soalheiro Nature Pur Terroir Alvarinho Bruto (Vinho Verde, Portugal) – $48.99
Champagne
Now if you serve Champagne, your audience will immediately know you’re here to do some serious partaking and celebrating.
NV Champagne Forget-Brimont Brut Terroir (Champagne, France) – $65.99
NV Champagne Ployez-Jacquemart Extra Quality Brut (Champagne, France) – $87.99
NV Champagne Pierre Peters Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Extra Brut Le Mesnil-Sur-Oger (Champagne, France) – $124.99
2006 Champagne Gardet Prestige Charles Brut Millesime (Champagne, France) – $139.99
NV Ruinart Brut Rosé (Champagne, France) – $169.99
2019 Champagne Agrapart Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Mineral (Champagne, France) – $299.99
2015 Moet & Chandon Dom Pérignon Brut (Champagne, France) – $389.99
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!
2024 Huteau-Boulanger la Muse Sauvignon (Loire Valley, France) – $21.49
2023 Cave de Saumur Chenin Blanc Les Pouches (Loire Valley, France) – $24.49
2022 Selbach Blue Fish Riesling (Mosel, Germany) – $24.99
2023 Haywire Winery Pinot Gris (BC – Okanagan, Canada) – $28.99
2023 Cantina Girlan Marna Chardonnay (Alto Adige, Italy) – $34.99
2024 Springfield Estate Miss Lucy White Blend (Robertson, South Africa) – $38.99
2022 Rockford Local Growers Semillon (Barossa Valley, Australia) – $52.99
2022 Elvio Cogno Anas-Cetta Nascetta di Novello (Piedmont, Italy) – $62.99
2022 Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett (Mosel, Germany) – $71.99
2021 Château Latour-Martillac (Bordeaux – Pessac-Leognan, France) – $94.99
2014 Domaine Daniel-Etienne Defaix Chablis Premier Cru Les Lys (Chablis, France) – $129.99
2022 Domaine Francois Villard Condrieu DePoncins (Rhone Valley, France) – $142.99
2023 Sadie Family Palladius (Swartland, South Africa) – $199.99
2024 Salwey Pinot Noir Rosé (Baden, Germany) – $28.99
2024 Domaine de la Perriere Premiere Pressée Chinon Rosé (Loire Valley, France) – $31.99
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.
2024 Bodegas Piedra Joven Ecologico (Toro, Spain) – $19.99
2020 Kaiken Indomito Cabernet Franc (Mendoza, Argentina) – $22.99
2020 Xavier Vignon Cotes-du-Rhone Cuvee Vieilles Vignes (Rhone Valley, France) – $27.49
2023 De Forville Langhe Nebbiolo (Piedmont, Italy) – $29.99
2023 Maison Albert Brenot Bourgogne Pinot Noir Rouge (Burgundy, France) – $38.99
2020 Domaine Ghislain Kohut Marsannay AOC (Burgundy – Cote de Nuits, France) – $49.99
2022 Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon (Margaret River, Australia) – $59.99
2019 Mamete Prevostini Sommarovina Sassella Valtellina Superiore (Lombardy, Italy) – $76.99
2012 Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva (Rioja, Spain) – $95.99
2016 Quinta da Pellada Vinho Tinto (Dao, Portugal) – $107.99
2016 Château Gloria (Bordeaux – St. Julien, France) – $124.99
2019 Tommaso Bussola Amarone della Valpolicella Classico BG (Veneto, Italy) – $164.99
2020 Domaine Harmand-Geoffroy Gevrey Chambertin Clos Prieur (Burgundy – Cote de Nuits, France) – $189.99
2016 Yalumba Octavius Old Vine Shiraz (Barossa Valley, Australia) – $189.99
2016 Terre Nere Brunello di Montalcino Capriolo Riserva (Tuscany, Italy) – $224.99
2001 Azelia Barolo Bricco Fiasco (Piedmont, Italy) – $289.99
2014 Vieux Château Certan (Bordeaux – Pomerol, France) – $374.99
2015 Château Canon Premier Grand Cru Classé B (Bordeaux – St. Emilion, France) – $529.99
Dessert
As for dessert, remember dessert wine should be sweeter than the dessert itself.
2016 Royal Tokaji 5 Puttonyos Aszu (Hungary) -250mL – $36.49
2018 Borgo Scopeto Vin Santo del Chianti Classico (Tuscany, Italy) – 375mL – $66.99
2019 Château Suduiraut (Bordeaux – Sauternes, France) – 375mL -$84.99
JM Fonseca Trilogia Moscatel de Setubal (Portugal) – 500mL – $199.99
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.
2018 Quinta de la Rosa Late Bottled Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) – 500mL – $39.99
NV Taylor Fladgate The Globe Historic Limited Edition Reserve Tawny Port (Douro, Portugal) – $69.99
Kopke 40 Year Old (Douro, Portugal) – $219.99
2011 Quinta do Vesuvio Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) – $229.99
1970 Quevedo Celebration Very Old White Port 50 Year Old (Douro, Portugal) – $429.99
1985 Fonseca Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal) – $399.99
Finally, if you are pressed for time, try out our December Mixed Case – $258.75 or our December 6-Pack – $165.60 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!