Whether you're hosting Thanksgiving dinner, serving a holiday feast to family and friends, or bringing a bottle to a party, these suggestions will help you zero in on the right wine for any occasion. Leslie Sbrocco, author of The Simple & Savvy Wine Guide (William Morrow, 2006) and Eric Arnold, author of First Big Crush (Scribner, 2007) recommend their favorites for this time of year.
The trick to choosing great wines for the holiday, says Arnold, is to find something you liked in the past. “Have three or four different bottles on the table — two reds and two whites — with a variety in terms of tastes and grape varieties," he advises. "Find a bunch of [wines] that fit that middle range, crowd pleasers.”
Main meal reds and whites
A fragrant and fruity white wine will work well with a Thanksgiving meal. Sbrocco's picks are Gewürztraminer and Riesling. She suggests wine from two Washington state vineyards, Gewürztraminer Chateau Ste. Michelle and Riesling from Columbia Crest, as well as Riesling from Chateau St. Jean in California. "I like to recommend American wineries for an American holiday," says Sbrocco.
Arnold favors Rieslings that aren’t too sweet and recommends ones from Marlborough, New Zealand, like Spy Valley, Allan Scott and Forrest Estate. He says Peter Lehmann and Penfolds are also nice Rieslings from Australia for under $20 that over deliver on quality.
Red wines with a lot of fruit and balanced tannins will complement the varied flavors of turkey with many side dishes. Sbrocco recommends Pinot Noir and Zinfandel, especially the vibrant Pinot Noirs from Oregon, such as Sokol Blosser, and from California, including Meridian Vineyards. California Zinfandel producers that are widely available include Rancho Zabaco, Ravenswood Vintner's Blend, Rabbit Ridge and Cline Cellars. Arnold also likes Ridge Vineyards from the Santa Cruz Mountains, south of San Francisco, for Zinfandel-dominant blends in the $20 to $25 range.
Sbrocco and Arnold recommend staying away from oaky white wines and complex red wines with too many tannins. "Avoid big Chardonnays and big Cabernet Sauvignons because they'll compete with all the flavors going on during the Thanksgiving meal," Sbrocco says.
And with your pie…
Wine can make dessert extra-special. Lightly sweet, white dessert wines pair well with pumpkin pie. "Because pumpkin tends to have a savory edge, and is not overly sweet, it goes well with a white dessert wine," says Sbrocco. She recommends Pinot Gris Vin Glacé from Oregon vintner King Estate.
Complement a slice of warm apple pie with an extra-dry sparkling wine or demi-sec. Extra dry actually means the wine is a little sweet while the demi-sec is even sweeter. Sbrocco likes Schramsberg Crémant Demi-Sec sparkling wine from California.
“If you want to geek out, you can get white port," says Arnold. "These are tougher to find and really not for everyone. Remember, port, whether red or white, is fortified, it's got high sugar and high alcohol, so a little goes a long way. But if you can find it, Churchill and Sandeman both make nice white ports. Serve these ones cold.”
Arnold also likes tawny ports because you can still enjoy them for a few weeks after they’ve been opened. He recommends red or tawny port from Dow’s, Sandeman, Churchill and Ramos Pinto.
December holidays
In December, holiday tables often feature red meats, such as filet mignon or roast beef. If that's true for you, reach for full-flavored red wines. Sbrocco recommends Cabernet Sauvignon, great with meat and cheese because of its complex flavor. Try a Cabernet from Chile or a Bordeaux-style blend from California. Lamb lovers might try a glass of a smooth, earthy Cabernet Shiraz blend. The Penfolds Bin 389 from Australia is one of Sbrocco's favorites. Arnold recommends a New Zealand Pinot Noir.
Sbrocco likes fruitier wines, including Beajoulais from France and American Pinot Noirs to complement ham while Arnold suggests dry Rieslings to pair with a salty slice.
How much to buy?
A bottle of wine typically contains five 5-ounce glasses. You'll get four to six glasses of wine from a bottle, depending on how you pour. When entertaining, Sbrocco says a conservative estimate is about half a bottle per person for a three-hour party. "Some people drink more, some less, but generally you can't go wrong with a half bottle per person," says Sbrocco.
'Tis the season to stock up
If you've been thinking about laying down a selection of wine to have on hand, now's a good time to do it. Many wine shops and liquor stores offer discounts on 12-bottle cases of wine. With extra on hand, you'll be prepared for last-minute guests, have a few bottles to give as gifts, and enjoy the rest for yourself on the cold January evenings.