HOLIDAY WINE PAIRING MADE EASY
The holiday season - especially the long-awaited meal - is a great time to relax and enjoy the special moments. Having your wine selection pre-planned and ready to serve with each dish is a wonderful way to ensure your day is stress-free and that your meal is as delicious as possible. Below are some food and wine pairings that will delight your palate, excite your guests and take you on a journey through the entire holiday meal!
To get your mouth watering and prepare your taste buds for the appetizer portion of the meal, open a delicate and aromatic Sauvignon Blanc blend like our Stratos White Blend. As an aperitif wine, Stratos, with its notable fruit, floral aromas and zingy acidity notes, pairs with an abundance of light appetizers from goat cheese on endive to fresh vegetables and dip.
Moving onto one of our favorite parts of the meals, the side dishes, fruit-forward Barbera is a sure bet for many of the trimmings that accompany your holiday meal. The Barbera grape comes from the famed Piedmont region of Northern Italy where food, wine, family, and friends are central to everyday life. Our Sagemoor Barbera’s red and black-berried fruit characteristics, aromas and fine-integrated tannins will stand up to heartier appetizers such as cranberry brie bites, Brussels sprouts with stuffed mushrooms and parmesan, or hard cheeses.
As the turkey finishes roasting and you take your place at the beautifully decorated table filled with a plethora of side dishes, you have two delicious wines that will pair perfectly with your main course - our Columbia Winery Horse Heaven Hills Syrah or Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. Your choice depends on your preference for the day and the style of wine you’re in the mood for. Picture the delicious dishes in front of you - the seasoned roasted turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, classic or cranberry stuffing, green bean casserole, sweet potato fries, and any other favorite holiday dishes. Do you choose our Syrah with its dark berried fruit notes of plum and blackberry with a touch of earthiness or do you select the classic Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon with its red berried fruits, structured tannins, and lingering finish?
Know that you can alternate wines at any time since both of these reds are capable of taking you through the holiday meal in its entirety. And remember - if this is the most stressful decision of the day then you are off to an amazing holiday season!
This year, you can make your holiday planning easier and complement your entire meal with our Holiday Pairing Collection. Including our Stratos White Blend, Sagemoor Barbera, Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon and Horse Heaven Hills Syrah, this collection takes the guesswork out of pairing and lets you spend more time enjoying family and friends. Purchase this collection by November 12 for ground shipping or November 17 for 2nd Day Air and you’ll have it in time for your Thanksgiving meal!
Enjoy your holidays and cheers!
- Shelly Fitzgerald, Wine Education Specialist, CS, CSW, AWE, WSET Level 3
