With the holiday entertaining season upon us, it’s likely most of us will need to purchase a bottle of wine or two in the coming weeks. Whether you’re hosting a party or want to be a good guest, a bottle of wine is the ideal way to welcome guests or help assure that you’ll be invited back. And there’s nothing like the way the right wine makes your favorite holiday foods taste.
Though a variety of wines are sipped throughout the year, the holiday season kicks off the sparkling season here in the United States. The majority of the champagne and sparkling wine enjoyed in the country each year gets opened between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day.
Of course, it might be fun to enjoy nothing but bubbly during this effervescent and festive season. But it’s wise to have a go-to list of a range of wines that will please the diverse palates of all your friends and family this holiday season. Here’s a short list of six affordable sips that will add to your own holiday cheer.
Domaine Ste. Michelle Saint M Riesling
If you haven’t made room in your wine-drinking life for Riesling, it’s definitely time to start. This aromatic varietal is one of the great wines of the world; the best Rieslings offer an ideal blend of fruity floral notes, clean acidity and mineral notes. This one comes from the Pfalz in Germany, the land of Riesling. Its flavors and aromas evoke eating a slightly underripe peach while walking through a meadow just after a rainstorm. It will shine with turkey, sweet potatoes and butternut squash soup; in fact you may want to pick up two bottles. About $12.
Wild Earth Wines Pinot Noir, 2007
New Zealand winemakers have been earning quite a reputation for producing some of the most inviting pinot noirs on the market and this beauty is no exception. Winemaker Quintin Quider -- who won the Best Red Wine in the World accolade for their 2006 pinot noir -- has crafted a wine with deep, rich flavors of plum, berry and earth and soft tannins that give it a silky feeling as you’re sipping it. That’s a good thing, since this is a potent wine with 14.5 percent alcohol. Just make sure to pair it with a rich dish like roast, prime rib, lamb or pork loin. About $25.
Pongracz Brut Cap Classique NV
Cap classique -- the name for sparkling wine made in South Africa according to the French method -- is a new one for most of us. But this South African bubbly may become a lot more popular if they’re well crafted wines like the Pongracz. This blend of 60 percent pinot noir and 40 percent chardonnay hails from the Western Cape and offers all the fresh citrusy notes and biscuit flavors and aromas expected in a methode champenoise sparkling wine. This wine is only available at Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market (www.freshandeasy.com ). About $15.
Pol Roger Brut Reserve “White Foil” Champagne NV
This is the good stuff, a classic wine that epitomizes the idea of what a true French champagne from the Champagne region is supposed to taste like. It starts out with crisp acidity tinged with creamy bubbles that gives way to subtle flavors of golden apple, finishing with a pleasant toastiness. I think the magic of the Pol Roger “White Foil” is that it’s an even-handed blend of equal parts of the three main grapes used in champagne: chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier. Delicate and delicious without being flashy, this is the kind of bubbly you’ll want to sip with oysters, caviar or nothing at all. About $39.
Mionetto Sergio Rose NV
Imagine the fresh and tantalizing aroma of the best ruby red grapefruit and you’ll have the idea of what awaits with this fun and refreshing sparkler from Italy. The Sergio Rose is named after winemaker Sergio Mionetto and is crafted from raboso and lagrein grapes, which offer hints of raspberry and roses. The softly sparkling wine has a juicy quality and bright acidity and just the barest hint of sweetness to balance everything out, making it an ideal match for smoked or roasted salmon and shellfish. About $21.
Makulu Moscato NV
Moscato is a luscious grape varietal associated with Italy, but this wine hails from South Africa. Makulu is the second oldest winery in South Africa; the name means “big” in Zulu. The winery follows sustainable practices, so the moscato, chenin blanc and colombard grapes in this wine are grown with minimal pesticides. This gently sparkling wine is sweet and laden with flavors of peaches apricots and pears so it will sing with everything from turkey-and-dressing and baked ham to zesty blue cheese and light fruity desserts. About $6.
Need more ideas for what to serve this holiday season? Check out two great cocktail recipes from Maria’s book, The Bubbly Bar, in the Chef’s Corner. CN Members can also purchase a signed copy for $15 in the CN Marketplace.
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