Holiday Wines

Holiday Wines #1 – Riesling

As the holidays get near, let us not forget the wine. LOL. There are many good choices of holiday wines. What works well with turkey or ham? And, the sides which tend to be heavily spiced or sweet? Not much but there are many that can work for turkey and the basics. I recommend a German riesling by Gunther Schlink Haus which costs about $15. This is one of the few wines that go with literally everything from appetizer to dessert which is ideal for Thanksgiving. Rieslings tend to be loaded with fruits and acids that cut through any type of food and please your mouth. It’s also a great wine for beginners due to the perceived sweetness which is actually fruitiness.

Holiday Wine #2 – Rose

Consider for your holiday a nice bottle of Rose wine from Provence, France. The French make great roses and Provence versions are affordable. Great Roses for a fair price. To learn about Rose, click on it. I had Caves d’Esclans Sasha Lichene Whispering Angel Rose for about $20. Roses work well with a wide variety of foods for the holiday. They provide a nice flavor profile with light berries and plenty of acids. This is not a sweet Rose. However, they can work well too.

Holiday Wine #3 – Grenache

I discovered by accident years ago that grenache goes wonderfully with ham. Its berry and cherry flavors compliment the ham perfectly. Also, it goes well because it is a lighter style of red wine, so it won’t overpower the ham. Also, I noticed that New World varieties work better such as Australian grenaches. My favorite Aussie winery is Rosemount Estate. They make a grenache/shiraz blend that works perfectly with ham.

Holiday Wine #4 – Sparkling Wines

If you can afford it, vintage Champagne is the best. Also, you can by non-vintage Champagne for less. However, there are great and affordable sparkling wines from all over the world. Try Franciacorta from Italy. California has lots such as Mumm Cuvee Napa (which is owned by G. H. Mumm in France), and Domaine Carneros. If you are on a budget, I suggest Korbel Champagne from California.

If you would like to learn more about how to pick a wine, click here.