There are few better ways to make the holiday season more festive and memorable than finding the perfect vintage to welcome guests or pair with a lovingly prepared meal. But with so many regions and so many wine styles to choose from, a little guidance goes a long way. We turned to a few of my wine expert insiders for their best tips and secrets for pairing the perfect wines with your holiday festivities.
NV PUNKT Genau Sparkling Grüner Veltliner
The holiday season seems practically created for drinking Champagne, but it's always fun to try something with a different kind of sparkle. Carri Wroblewski, co-owner of
Brix Wine Shop, a boutique in Boston, and one of
Suzanne's Insiders, tipped us off to Punkt Genau. Translation? "On the dot," and true to its name, it's certainly on the mark. This is a particularly attention-grabbing Grüner, as it's what Carri calls "delicately effervescent." Made exclusively from grapes grown in the heart of Austria, it hits the nose with a big rush of freshly peeled apples then hints at exotic tropical fruits in the finish. It's a great way to raise eyebrows among your guests this holiday season, but one warning: it's so easy drinking, you may find yourself craving this on any old weekday in the spring. It retails for $16.99.
Weinviertel Austria
2005 Domaines Schlumberger Pinot Blanc
Many connoisseurs tell me that the Alsacian wines have always had something of a romantic pull and it's easy to fall in love with the Domaines Schlumberger Pinot Blanc Les Princes Abbés. "The 2005 vintage is exemplary due to its high-quality composition, fine balance, and dry, fresh taste," says Carri. Domaines Schlumberger, near the German border, is the biggest producer of Grand Crus in Alsace, but everything about this vintage's nuances, ample structure and expressive nose suggests a boutique sensibility. Distinctive as this Pinot Blanc is, it pairs well with all the dishes you'd typically match with a white, such as pates, salads and white meats.
Alsace France
2006 Delas Freres Côtes du Rhône
Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre harmonize gorgeously in Delas Freres the Côtes du Rhône Saint Esprit. All the grapes come from a small village in France's Ardech region. "A full-bodied wine with fine tannins, it shows the strength and pepper notes typical of the Syrah grape," says Carri. "You'll find the color in the glass deep garnet red with intense red berry aromas." A perfect complement to the bold colors and fragrances of the holiday season.
Côtes du Rhône France
2006 Querciabella Mongrana
Looking for something a bit bolder? Carri recommends the 2006 Querciabella Mongrana. Given that she takes a keen interest in small vineyards when making her selections for Brix, we weren't surprised to learn that Querciabella in Tuscany's Maremma region is an 86-acre estate which, as she describes it, "enjoys an ideal setting close to the sea, but with the protection of the Uccellina Natural Park highlands." The Querciabella is a robust blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese. "It's a bit rustic at first, with notes of cherry, plum, and licorice. Drying tannins give it gusto and make it a fabulous cold weather red." It retails for a cool $19.99.
2006 Winderlea Goldschmidt Vineyard Pinot Noir
When it comes to getting my daily helping of fruit during the holidays, I'm not particularly inclined to reach for the fruitcake. I'd opt for the 2006 Winderlea Goldschmidt Vineyard Pinot Noir (Aren't we allowed to stretch the rules this time of year?) Grapes for this new American classic are sourced from the renowned Goldschmidt vineyard, which is one of the most highly regarded vineyards in Oregon. "It has a nose of violets, cherries, and a hint of cranberry. On the palate the wine accentuates femininity with balanced fruit, acid and silky finish," says Carri. Sounds like a great way to brighten up some winter stews.
McPrice Myers Beautiful Earth
Sometimes there's something so comforting in Rhone varietals, and after the glitz and glamour of the holiday festivities have faded a bit, there's nothing better than cuddling up to a glass of liquid comfort. Fred Price, senior vice president of Noble House Wines in New York City, recommends McPrice Myers's Beautiful Earth, produced by some of the industry's most notable young turks in Santa Barbara using Rhone varietals, like Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre. "It's a beatiful blend, fruity and full-bodied," said Fred. "It works great with lamb for Christmas."
Bogle Petite Sirah
When it comes to Petite Sirahs, California has been attracting more and more attention lately. But if there's been one stalwart that set the standard, it's the long-time family-run Bogle Vineyard in the Delta Region.
Jay Althoff, an avid wine enthusiast says this is one of his never-fail favorites. "Every year, it never fails. I love it all winter long with steak, pork, chicken, bread, cheese, air, dirt....you get the point!" What's even more head-turning than the wine itself is the price. For $12 a bottle, there's no reason not to pair it with absolutely everything.
Flowers Pinot Noir
Despite how tired you may be of all the hype that's been swirling around Pinot Noirs, there's still a good deal to be discovered about them. Suzanne's insider Eric Cohen, a partner in Waugh Cellars and Six Degrees, told us about Flowers Winery, a small vineyard on the Sonoma coast, that produces Pinos that are sure to stun, not to mention liven up any holiday get-together."They're very fruit-forward, not austere or mysterious, a great example of the varietal," he says. He also tells us that Flowers is on the forefront of one of the latest wine-making trends: producing styles with a lower alcohol content. "It's warm and toasty and I find it pairs well with food, but it can really stand on its own and doesn't need the big flavor of food," Eric says. "You can drink it sitting at dinner or hanging out around the fireplace. It serves both purposes."
pinotnoir on Nov. 19, 2008
jjg on Dec. 23, 2008
Having met the producer in Lyon this fall (and tasted and purchased some of his champagne) I'd highly recommend some bubbles from Pierre Moncuit. Easy to drink and wonderfully complex flavors. He has a distributor in New Jersey, meaning you can find his wine online and in quite a few NJ stores (but only 4 NY stores and 0 CT stores). I love discovering and supporting independent producers as they are the ones making the most interesting wines out there. Sante!