Looking for the perfect wine to give as a gift this year? You’re in luck! When it comes to wine, one (bottle) size fits all, doubles of the same wine are just fine, and if it’s not the perfect fit, wine is easy for the recipient to re-gift. Read on for our essential wine gift giving guide!

The Wine Gift Giving Guide That Will Help You Win the Holidays

Ideally you know the person’s taste preferences: Full-bodied or light, dry or sweet, red or white. However, if you don’t have any of that information, it can get tricky. When in doubt we say go for something unique, or maybe just something fun that your recipient has never tried! Here are our top picks for the Holidays this year.

• Carménère (“car-men-nair”) is a medium-bodied red wine that originated in Bordeaux, France and now grows almost only in Chile. Carménère makes an excellent everyday food pairing wine for several reasons. For one, its natural higher acidity makes so it’s never lost when paired next to foods with higher acidity sauces. Another keen benefit is Carménère’s herbaceous peppercorn-like flavor that often embellishes roasted meats of all kinds.
• Cabernet Franc (“Cab-err-nay fronk”) is medium-bodied red wine whose origins likely lie in the Basque country of France. The wine is loved for its savory, bell pepper-like flavors, medium-high acidity and mouthwatering taste. It is an ideal food pairing wine. You can find single-varietal Cabernet Franc wines, but the variety is also quite popular as a blending grape in the famous Bordeaux Blend.
• Since Cabernet Sauvignon is grown in a wide range of climates and regions throughout the world, it has varied flavors. Fundamentally speaking, Cab is a full-bodied red wine with dark fruit flavors and savory tastes from black pepper to bell pepper. Our domestic section is full of fun colorful labels that make a statement under any tree.
• Grower’s Champagne is sparkling wine crafted by grape growers and their families. It embodies those who grow grapes in their own vineyards and produce cuvées (aka sparkling wine blends) that reflect their distinct vineyards and style. They are often times less expensive than their big-brand counterparts, but there will be no doubt that your wino friends will flip over them!
• Late harvest wines are made from grapes that are left on the vine even after they’ve reached their peak ripeness. When grapes are (quite literally) left hanging, they become sweeter over time as each individual grape dehydrates and the sugar content becomes more concentrated. Technically, any wine grape can be harvested late (Chardonnay, Syrah, Pinot Gris, etc.) so the options are pretty much endless. This makes a great gift for your sweet tooth friends.

Wrap It Up!

Let’s be honest, there is a wine out there for everyone. As long as you put a nice bow or ribbon it, you can’t go wrong with a bottle of wine! Now that you’ve read our wine gift giving guide, you should be a wine picking pro and find new favorites for everyone. And with a little luck, you’ll be everyone’s new favorite person this holiday season!

Christmas dinners present a prime time to try new wines with favorite recipes of old. Will it be ham, turkey, goose or prime rib? If you are looking for new holiday wine pairings to complement your holiday meal, then look no further! Check out our unique selection of versatile whites and diverse reds that are sure to enhance your holiday gatherings, varietals picked for both their presence and adaptability.

Holiday Wine Pairings That Will Wow Your Guests

Wines to Serve with Ham

Baked, smoked, or honeyed hams beg for wines with a dash of sweet. A German Riesling with a touch of residual sugar, made lighter in style and a bit lower in alcohol will hop on the ham pairing wagon with plenty of food-friendly acidity and crowd-pleasing palate appeal.

Alsatian Rieslings tend to bring more body, significantly less sugar, and a richer palate profile than their German wine cousins, and are capable of handling a wide range of pork-themed options with a focus on weight and pairing presence.

Red wines that can accommodate ham happenings tend to be lighter in body and overall style. Beaujolais, Pinot Noir (especially from Burgundy or California’s Russian River Valley), and Spain’s Tempranillo grape often exhibit subtle tannins with an easier going pairing profile.  

Wines to Serve with Turkey

Turkey on its own presents a fairly straight-forward pairing partner, but who really eats turkey solo? Herb-filled stuffing, roasted veggies, rich sauces, and an assortment of savory sides manage to make their way alongside the bird. It’s these sides and sauces that must be taken into account when working out the best wine pairings.

Sauvignon Blanc is hands-down one of the top white wine picks for turkey and savory sides, as it tends to bring its own herbal tones to the table. The all time go-to favorite is a Pinot Noir or Burgundy red wine, its high acidity and low tannins makes for the perfect pairing.

Wines to Serve with Duck

When it comes to pairing wines with duck, considerations have to be made for the unique, fatty profile along with the innate gaminess of the meat. The wines of France have a long and storied pairing partnership with a variety of duck preparations. As local foods paired with local wines make a trendy comeback, there’s an underlying synergy between “historical” regional pairings and the red wines of Burgundy and Bordeaux, as well as the reds of the Rhone Valley.

All will handle the elements of roasted, smoked, or braised duck. If the duck is served with a fruit-based sauce then the wine pairing gears will shift towards the white wine trails: Gewürztraminer, Riesling, and Sauternes, all will make their mark on the fruit-themed duck pairing profiles.

Wines to Serve with Prime Rib

Prime rib makes a serious play for a variety of red wines: A big, bold Cabernet Sauvignon from California, a playful Zinfandel, a rustic Tempranillo from Spain, a refined red from Bordeaux, a Barbaresco or Barolo from Italy – all of these varietals can mix and mingle with a slice of prime rib and bring out subtle nuances in the pairing depending on the regional roots.

White wines will have a tough time keeping up, but if you are hard pressed and must venture to the white grapes, try a full-throttle White Burgundy (Chardonnay) to keep pace with the rich textures and greater ratios of protein and fat.

Now You Know The Perfect Holiday Wine Pairings

Now that you have all of the holiday wine pairings you need for any meal this holiday season, give them a try and let us know what you think! Be sure to head into the store to browse our plethora of options, and get some expert opinions on what is the best wine to pair with all of your favorite meals and side dishes!