As the holidays are officially upon us, ’tis the season for celebrations full of rich and festive foods and wines.
Whether you serve turkey, ham, seafood or lamb at holiday family gatherings, dinners and parties, there is likely a wine that pairs well with each option. Properly pairing these foods with their wine counterparts can ensure your guests are jolly with holiday cheer.
Though it may seem like a daunting task, pairing wines with holiday foods doesn’t have to be challenging.
Always remember that very few wine and food matches go horribly. As long as there is enough wine for the event, a varied assortment of reds and whites and you stay within your budget, it is hard to go wrong.
Simply pre-plan for your holiday party by coordinating the number of guests with the number of bottles to purchase. A good rule of thumb to follow is one bottle of wine will be uncorked per two wine-drinking adults.
To start the evening off, a general guideline is to match sparkling white wines with appetizers like cured meats, salted nuts and cheeses. The bubbly will help to start off the celebration, as the crispness of champagne goes well with meal starters.
Though you should coordinate the flavors of the food with wines for your main course, always keep what your guests like in mind. Even if a dry wine pairs better with a certain dish, it won’t work well if most of your guests enjoy sweet wines more.
If your main dish will consist of seafood, look to crisp white wines with smooth textures, as they pair well with shellfish. Wines like Vouvray from France’s Loire valley or champagne compliment shellfish perfectly. Look to Mt. Nittany Vineyard & Winery’s Traminette, Seven Mountains Wine Cellars’ Dry Riesling or Happy Valley Vineyard & Winery’s Royal White for a great holiday shellfish pairing.
Turkey dishes go well with the crisp, sophisticated texture and structure of chardonnay. Each local winery offers its own version of the oaky flavored white wine.
If ham will be gracing your dining table, both red and white wines of various flavors pair just fine. Be daring and try something different. Seven Mountains Wine Cellars’ Yellow Jacket, a light seasonal apple wine, tastes great with pork. Happy Valley Vineyard & Winery’s Autumn Wood also pairs nicely with pork dishes, as does Mt. Nittany Vineyard & Winery’s Lion Country Blush.
Glasses filled with cabernet compliment holiday beef dishes. The classic dry red can vary greatly in flavor, making it one of the most popular wines in the world. A variety of these flavors can be found at local wineries and state stores.
For lamb, party hosts should purchase a syrah wine. Powerfully flavored and full-bodied, syrah offers a fool-proof match for the tender meat dish.
For holiday chocolates, cakes and cookies, sweet fruit-flavored wines couple best. At Happy Valley Vineyard & Winery, Red Raspberry pairs well with rich chocolates and cheesecake desserts. Or try Seven Mountains Wine Cellars’ Spiced Apple, a seasonal seven apple blend fermented with spices. Mt. Nittany Vineyard & Winery features Autumn Nectar, a sweet, full-flavored dessert wine that matches with most holiday treats.
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