There are a lot of potential stressors during the holidays: rowdy relatives, long shopping lines, new-to-you recipe. We can’t help with it all, be we can relieve angst regarding holiday food and wine pairings.
As in, you can peruse our advice on holiday prep, our pointers for entertaining, and our tried and true appetizers, and read on for our top tips for holiday food and wine pairings.
14 Holiday Food And Wine Pairing Tips
The good news about holiday food and wine pairings is that there are some overarching concepts and rules you can abide by.
If you followed along with the “What Grows Together Goes Together” Instagram Live series with Aida and California wine expert and sommelier Amanda McCrossin on California Grown and California Wines, then you likely already have a few pointers when it comes to food and wine pairings.
Here are all 14 holiday food and wine pairings tips in one place for your convenience!
Serve A Statement Ingredient
We’re primarily about low-stress, high-reward entertaining with make-ahead menus and relaxed decor. But the holidays are a time to up the ante with something a little special.
This year, many of us won’t be able to attend a big holiday gathering but trust that there is a silver lining. Specifically, you can take that budget and splurge on your small group if you have the means.
Do something decadent, like serving caviar and bubbles, in-season seafood like Dungeness crab, or even this Oysters With Pomegranate Mignonette Granita (aka our current obsession).
3 Holiday Food And Wine Pairings Best Practices
We could write a book about best practices for holiday food and wine pairings, but here is what to keep in mind. Oh, and before we go any further, if you’re looking for wines to pair with cheese, you’ll want to head here.
Up The Ante With Intensity
Think of flavors of wines like you do salt in a recipe; you can add more but not less. You can go forward–bigger in taste or texture–with the wines, but you don’t want to go more subtle.
If you start with a Sauvignon Blanc or Dry Riesling, don’t serve a lighter wine like a Pinot Grigio or Pinot Gris, as the flavor would be lost. Instead, turn to a white wine with texture – an oaked Chardonnay or a Viognier– or open a medium-bodied red wine.
Opt For Lower Alcohol Wines
You want to opt for lower-alcohol wines during the holidays for many reasons. First, high-alcohol wines will more quickly lead to palate fatigue (yes, that’s real).
Also, holiday meals tend to be multi-hour affairs, so lower alcohol means people can drink for a long time without getting tipsy. Finally, there can be a lot of simmering family drama at a holiday affair, and having extra alcohol will only add fuel to the emotional fire.
Don’t Decant Or Get Too Chi-chi
Regarding wine, McCrossin says, “I don’t love anything too precious during the holidays, and that includes wines and glassware.” She urges you to save the unique wines for a less hectic occasion and instead opt for quality wines that are crowd-pleasers. That way, you won’t need to pull out the decanter or valuable glassware but will still be able to keep everyone happy.
Stemware To Serve At The Holidays
Amanda’s mentality of eschewing all things precious also extends to stemware, and, as such, she advises you to use stemless glassware.
Side note: stems are great for a cocktail party because they make it easier to hold a plate of food and a wine glass while standing. These Schott Zwiesel Tritan Crystal wine glasses are our go-to’s for entertaining because they are highly durable and machine washable.
But stemmed wine glasses are not ideal for a buffet or family-style meal as they crowd the table and block people’s line of sight.
Instead, opt for short-quality tumblers — they’re less likely to break, and so long as they have thicker glass, your hand won’t heat the wine while you hold them. These are our picks for durable, quality stemless glassware worthy of quality wine:
Three Wines To Serve At To Your Holiday Gathering
California is the nation’s top wine producer and the world’s fourth-largest wine producer, so there are many wines to choose from for pairing.
The Golden State’s varied terroir means more than 100 grape varieties can be grown across the state, leading to diverse styles. So, no matter your preference, there is most likely an excellent wine for you to sip.
When it comes to wine at holiday gatherings, choose a crowd-pleaser that is food-friendly and is across-the-board delicious. Here are a few specific holiday food and wine pairings McCrossin recommends:
Dry Rosé Sparkling Wine
Rosé is highly overlooked as a food pairing option, but many foods go well with dry rosé sparkling. It gives more of an impression of texture and will stand up to dishes better than white sparkling.
Translation: You can drink it throughout the meal, from appetizers to the main course and even dessert. Also, it gives you something special to toast the holiday.
Our Picks: Domaine Carneros Cuvée de la Pompadour Brut Rosé or Caraccioli Cellars Brut Rosé
Clean And Easy White
If you want to serve a white, go for something with a flavor profile that’s clean, lower alcohol, lower in sweetness (i.e., dry), and ideally screw top (to keep things even easier) like a Sauvignon Blanc.
So resist the urge to pull out a white wine with a lot of oak as it may overwhelm the lighter dishes like soups and salads.
Our Picks: Cadre Beautiful Strangers or Dragonette Happy Canyon Sauvignon Blanc
A Versatile Light Bodied Red
A lighter-bodied, versatile red is the best bet with roast turkey, root vegetables, side dishes, and all the fixings. Think of a high-quality Grenache, Gamay, or Pinot Noir from Sonoma or Santa Barbara.
Our Picks: Stolpman GDG Gamay or Emeritus Vineyards Hallberg Ranch Pinot Noir or Westwood Annadel Gap Pinot Noir
6 California-Inspired Holiday Food And Wine Pairings
Now that you have a starting point, here are some holiday-worthy recipes (many of which we’ve shared in our Instagram Live series!) that use the top of seasonal flavors and are fabulous paired with wine!
- Pair these Oysters With Pomegranate Mignonette Granita with Domaine Carneros Brut Rose
- Serve Smashed Potatoes With Creme Fraiche And Caviar or Scallop Crudo With Jalapeno Citrus Sauce with Desperada Sauvignon Blanc or Caraccioli Brut Cuvee
- Match this California-inspired Fall Cheese Board With Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc or Caladan Cabernet Franc
- Serve this Roasted Butternut Squash Dip With Pepita Pesto with Terminim Cepage D’Or
- Go with Meyer Lemon Herbed Dungeness Crab Bites along with 2019 Dragonette Cellars Sauvignon Blanc
- And pair these Spiced Cheddar Apple Hand Pies with the Kendall Jackson Avant Chardonnay.
Follow these tips, and your bases will be covered for holiday food and wine pairings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pairing food with the proper California wine can enhance the meal and the wine experience. Here are a few classic pairings:
- Roast Turkey: Pair with a California Chardonnay or Pinot Noir. The turkey's rich flavors are complemented by the buttery notes of a Chardonnay or the fruitiness of a Pinot Noir.
- Honey-Baked Ham: Opt for a California Riesling or Zinfandel. The ham's sweetness pairs well with the slight sweetness of Riesling or the bold, fruity notes of a Zinfandel.
- Prime Rib: A robust Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley or a Syrah is ideal, as these wines stand up well to the rich flavors and fat content of the meat.
Choosing the right wine involves considering the flavors of the meal and the characteristics of the wine:
- Consider the dominant flavors: Salty, sweet, bitter, and acidic foods can each balance differently with wine attributes like sweetness, acidity, tannin, and alcohol.
- Match intensity: The wine should match the weight and intensity of the food. Heavier, richer meals pair well with more robust wines.
- Think about the sauce: Often, the sauce is the dominant flavor in a dish, so consider what wine pairs well with it rather than the main component.
- Experiment: Don't be afraid to try unconventional pairings, especially with the diverse range of California wines.
Certain California wines have flavor profiles that make them particularly suitable for holiday spices and flavors like nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger:
- Gewürztraminer and Riesling: Both wines, with their aromatic floral and spice notes, pair wonderfully with dishes that feature ginger, allspice, and clove.
- Merlot and Sangiovese: These wines, with their softer tannins and fruity characteristics, complement well with nutmeg and cinnamon in dishes like pumpkin pie or spiced roast meats.
- Sparkling Wines: California sparkling wines made from Chardonnay or Pinot Noir grapes go well with a wide range of holiday dishes, especially appetizers, and can bring a festive touch.
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Seven Tips for Holiday Prep
As you plan your holiday food and wine pairings—from selecting the right reds for rich roasts to sparkling wines for festive appetizers—consider how a little advance prep can make your holiday entertaining seamless.
Check out our holiday entertaining prep tips guide for essential tips on setting the scene, organizing your menu, and perfecting your table settings. Elevate your holiday celebrations by combining expertly paired food and wine with a perfectly prepared hosting experience.
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Sponsored Post: This article was brought to you by Discover California Wines. Thanks for supporting these sponsors who help us keep Salt & Wind Travel up and running!
Photo Credit: Opening photo, turkey photo, and group toasting by Cara Dolan; wine pour by Cameron Whitman; other photos by Team Salt & Wind Travel
