Holiday Food and Wine Pairing
When I was thinking of Holiday Food and Wine Pairing there is always the first big Question of How. How do you pair food and wine properly. After all, there is something magical about pairing the right food with the right wine… and the opposite is true. Opening a great bottle of wine and pairing it with the wrong food can ruin the wine and experience.
I have made some of my favorite dishes for family and friends multiple times. As I experimented and found the right pairings I would be asked what I did to my dish to make it so much better. They would laugh and think I was not sharing my recipe change when I would tell them “it was the exact same recipe”. I just paired it with the right wine and it made the meal better. It made the meal an event.
There Are Two Basic Rules When Pairing Food and Wine
- You can buy a wine that compliments the food.
- Or a wine that enhances the flavor of the food.
Compliment or Enhance, those are the real choices. Do you want to just compliment the food with the right tastes ? Or do you want to enhance or enhance a specific flavor or ingredient ? Showcase or balance.
What Wines Go With What Foods?
Complimenting the food goes like this: Red wines pair best with bold flavored meats or Red Meats. White wines pair best with light-intensity meats Like Fish or Chicken. Bitter wines (red wines) are best balanced with fat. It is better to match the wine with the sauce than with the meat.
Enhancing the food is accomplished this way: The alcohol helps release flavor molecules in foods and assists in dissolving fats, allowing ingredients to reveal their own unique flavors in ways that other liquids like water or broth or fats like butter and olive oil cannot.
My Favorite list for the best Holiday Food and Wine Pairing
Here are my Favorite pairings and the foods they go with. Understanding the Flavors in both the food and the wine and the basics of why they pair is Key. With that being said, we should always keep experimenting. Once we understand the basics, we will learn that there are many different combinations. Everyones taste is slightly different. Chances are, if you love so will your guests. Too many to list here. But with the basic knowledge and understanding, you will have all the information you need to be confidently the family expert.
Sparkling Whites
When you think of Sparkling Whites, you probably think of Champagne. But there is more. A sparkling White is just as good many times, just not from France. You probably don’t think of pairing it with food because it’s more of a celebratory wine. However, this bubbly wine pairs well with a few items that you’d be surprised by.
- brie, parmesan, gouda, Macaroni & cheese, almonds, popcorn, potato chips
- shrimp, shellfish, smoked salmon, lobster, egg dishes, like may favorite eggs benedict
- stuffed mushrooms, potato skins, risotto,
- cream sauces, mushrooms sauces
- berries, pound cake,
Pinot Grigio
At one point in my life all I wanted. Still one of my favorites, Pinot grigio is a dry, light-bodied wine with aromas of lemon-lime, pear, and stone fruit like peach and apricot. You may also notice scents of almond, baking spices, or honeysuckle. Flavors can range from melon to green apple, and some even offer a subtle tropical or citrus fruit.This wine goes well with salads, pastas, fish tacos, and the packing of your picnic basket. This wine is clean, pretty and vibrant. It shimmers and refreshes through to the finish.
- almonds, pecans, gouda
- oysters, scallops, sea bass, trout, duck
- chili peppers, pears, thai or indians flavors, ginger, BBQ Sauce,
- pumpkin pie, caramel sauce, apple pie
Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is a light, crisp and acidic wine that pairs well with lighter foods – yet also still has a lot of flavor. I belong to a Wine Club that has a delicious label called “More Than Muse”. If you are looking for a great source of Fines Wines, check out my Fine Wines Delivered to your Door page where you can join the same club. This flavor filled wine will pair well with things like:
- goat cheese, smoked gouda, brie, feta cheese
- chicken, turkey, scallops, sushi, lobster, white fish, light pasta dishes
- fresh herbs like chives, light cream sauces
- key lime pie
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a full bodied white wine that has a lot of oak and buttery notes. This wine can usually stand up against bolder flavored food when other white wines might not meet the mark. Some Great things to pair with Chardonnay are:
- almonds, creamy cheeses, even a Blue Cheese
- chicken, pork, sea bass, halibut, shrimp or lobster
- potato, herbs, cream sauces
- banana pudding, creme brûlée, cheesecake
Pinot Noir
My Absolute Favorite is Pinot Noir. This is a lighter red wine that is more fruit forward in flavor than other red wines. It’s a light bodied red but also has some weight behind it and can stand up to some meat dishes. So don’t be afraid to pair it with meats and even some fishes. My Favorite Pinot Noir has a Fruit Forward start with a nice Spicey finish to it. This is one wine I love with my Stuffed Turkey
- asiago, brie, havarti,
- duck, lamb, sea bass, salmon
- mushrooms, strawberries, dried fruits, truffle, cinnamon, orange
- cream sauce or lighter red sauce
- chocolate dishes, creme brûlée, white chocolate
Shiraz/Syrah
Shiraz/Sryah is starting to become a more popular wine throughout the globe. This wine is made in a lot of different countries, therefore creating a lot of different varietals. The best I have tried is a Syrah out of Napa Valley, California. This wine has notes of fruit but also a lingering pepper taste. It pairs well with spicy foods or international foods (like Indian, Ssian, or Thai foods).
- cheddar, hazelnuts, walnuts, pepper jack cheese
- spicy sausage, chorizo, gamey meats, salmon
- stewed tomatoes, shishito peppers,
- sriracha sauce, spicy sauces, BBQ sauce, red sauces
- chocolate cake, espresso based desserts, nutella
Merlot
Merlot is a wine that not many people dont fully understand. It has hints of fruit, a bit herbaceous in flavor and not as much tannin as a Cabernet Sauvignon. It will pair well with a dish of Prime Rib and Brussel sprouts as well as it pairs with a piece of Dark Chocolate. Here are a few foods that would pair well with this wine:
- parmesan, asiago, pecorino-romano
- roasted turkey, steak, venison, “meatier” fish like salmon or halibut
- caramelized onions, tomatoes, plums, roasted vegetables, stuffed mushrooms, potato skins
- bolognese sauce, red wine sauce, bearnaise sauce,
- berries, dark chocolate
Cabernet Sauvignon
A full bodied red wine that is probably the most popular of red wines. It has bold tannins and subtle notes of fruit. It pairs great with beef dishes and the perfect wine to serve at a nice dinner. Foods that Cabernet Sauvignon pairs well with are:
- cheddar cheese, pecans, gorgonzola cheese
- lamb, beef, venison, elk, ahi tuna
- potatoes, cherries, tomatoes (think pasta sauce or pizza), broccoli
- rosemary, brown sauces, red demi-glaze
- chocolate cake, bittersweet chocolate
Malbec
Deanna Young
Ok folks. I hope that this full comprehensive guide to wine pairings truly helps you out this holiday season and helps you create the most epic pairings that people will be talking about for years! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to give me a shout!
What finger foods go well with wine?
No-Fuss, Easy Summer Appetizers for Your Wine Party
- Charcuterie. You can’t throw a party without wine’s best friend! …
- Bruschetta. This easy, minimal-bake bruschetta is the perfect summertime snack. …
- Crudité platter. …
- Chips and Salsa/Pico de Gallo/Guacamole. …
- Hummus. …
- Spinach and Artichoke Dip. …
- Caprese Salad. …
- Roll Ups.
Be sure to check out some of my favorite wine accessories: Corkspin manufactures everything you need to enjoy every event you plan. If you want to read more about Pairing. I have written some pages that are all about Red, All about White, and even All About Blended wines.
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