Easy Food and Wine Pairings for the Holidays

From Thanksgiving through New Years we are flush with feasts, parties, gatherings, and special occasions. Many of those occasions call for wine and knowing which wines to pair with which items can always feel overwhelming. Whether you are the host or looking for a great host gift, being thoughtful about the wines you choose goes a long way. 

We asked our friends at Crush Distributors to demystify holiday wine selections for us and break it down in an easy way that we can share with you so you can impress your friends and family!

Prosecco - People often think of prosecco as a stand-in for champagne and leave it for a toast or end of the meal. The ladies at Crush said Prosecco is actual an amazing meal starter. It is a great palate cleanser and pairs so well with lots of things including caviar, salty foods, meat and cheese boards etc. It also has less residual sugar than many wines (and champagne) so we could almost spin it as a healthy alternative ;)

Dry White Wines - A good dry white wine is a great pair for the salad course or with vegetables. A sauvignon blanc would be good or if you want to try something different reach for a Grüner Veltliner.

Rich Whites, Acidic Whites, and Rose - Holiday meals are filled with rich and creamy dishes so you need a wine that can cut through the fat and richness like a rich white or something with balanced acidity. And good news, rose is pretty much the easiest thing to pair so you can’t go wrong with it for any course or occasion. We would be failing you if we didn’t recommend our rhubarb wine here but you could also grab a muscadet or a pinot gris.

Medium Reds - Your medium reds are going to be your friend for roasted foods, prime rib, ham, roasted duck. You need something that will stand up to the heavy seasonings. My go-to is a french pinot noir but anything on the lighter side like that will do!

Bold reds - The main event - the roast, the rich meats, lamb, gamey foods - grab something big, bold, and hearty to stand up to the richness of the flavors. This is what your cabernets were made for!

Dessert wine - You know one easy way you can impress your friends and family? Teach them about dessert wines. I feel like this is a category people know very little about and would love to learn more about and try and that is best done in a group. Bring a bottle of port, tawny, sherry, or a light bottle of muscat to sit back and enjoy at the end of your meal.

There you have it! Simple! Head to your favorite wine shop, don’t be afraid to ask for help, and show up at your next holiday gathering with some extra wine knowledge to effortlessly pair wines with what is being served. Enjoy!

Photo: Elle Darcy and The Fashion Cookbook