Wines for the Holidays
For most of us the holidays are a series of over eating and heavy drinking. Here is a list of some easy suggestions to follow when picking wines out to match those glutinous meals of the holidays.
Gamay
Gamay is a grape varietal that tastes like tart cherry, cranberry and raspberry along with other flavors of mushroom, bubble gum and sometimes smoke.
A huge Thanksgiving tradition is to get Beaujolais Nouveau, a fresh wine bottled and released before the same year’s harvest is over. What this means is we will be drinking a 2018 vintage in 2018! A few bottles to get the party going are…
Laurence et Rami Dufaitre Beaujolais Villages Nouveau 2018
This Nouveau is fermented in concrete tanks and bottled super fast. This wine is so young it reminds me of a Taylor swift love song, innocent and filled with nostalgia. no matter the nouveau you buy, it will feel like you’re drinking from the fountain of youth.
Whitecliff Gamay Noir Reserve 2016
This wine is from my home town and is so bad ass! The wine smells like candy and keeps you coming back for Mandy Moore. It’s a perfect local wine that will impress your hipster love interest and make you feel good about supporting a local winery. The winery is located in Gardiner, NY along the Shawangunk Ridge, it has serious wines and a gorgeous view.
Lambrusco
Lambrusco is a native grape varietal to Italy and also the name of a type of wine. It is a slightly sweet sparkling red wine. Something Rick Ross should rap about but doesn’t!
My favorite bottle to get your holiday dinner poppin’ is…
OPERA 02 Lambrusco di Modena Secco Dry
Tastes like black cherry with a fresh body, the mouth feel has slight tannin and biting acid. This Lambrusco is truly a Ruby Fruit Jungle, thank you Rita Mae Brown.
Rhône Blend/GSM
The Rhône region is located in Southern France and GSM is short for Grenache, Syrah and Mouvedre blend. Some of the best blends come from around a small village within the Rhône region called Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
A classic yet sexy Châteauneuf-du-Pape is…
Clos de l’Oratoire des Papes 2015
A spicy wine with licorice and black pepper while put up against strawberry and floral notes. It has fine tannins and a silky finish that pairs well with beef and other indulgent foods. This wine is a bit pricey (around $50) but it will make you feel Fourteenth century Pope rich.
Touraine, Sauvignon Blanc
This is a Sauvignon Blanc from the Touraine appellation in the wine region of the Loire Valley in France. This wine pairs really well with green beans, casserole and brussel sprouts. It can be used as a palate cleanser or drank with heavy meats and gravies. This region also delivers great wines that are less pricey than more famous appellations such as Sancerre and Pouilly Fume.
A true gem of a wine is…
Château de la Roche
This wine has got it going on! There is lots of ripe citrus that is beautifully balanced with distinct minerality. This wine is the sweat of a earth Goddess, one bottle isn’t enough. Drink your inner goddess out!
