Christmas dinner wine helps to create holiday magic and lasting memories for wine lovers everywhere. Christmas is a wonderful time of the year for family, friends, food, and fun. It is also the perfect occasion for wine lovers to enjoy their favorite blend. Keep in mind, there are certain wines that compliment the seasonal festivities exquisitely. This especially rings true for Christmas dinner. If you’re like me, after celebrating the real “reason for the season,” the food is hands down one of my favorite things about this time of year. Having a good wine to pair with it, is just icing on the cake.
Keep reading to discover how to pair wines with specific meats and dishes for your holiday parties and gatherings!
Wines to Pair with Christmas Dinner Meats
A traditional American Christmas dinner typically consists of meats like turkey, ham, and roast beef. For others, it may be duck, goose, roasted chicken, or even deer being served up. This is all to say, that the wine you select should be based on the meat being served.
Most wines that are paired with birds like turkey and duck are white and light. This includes Reisling, Sauvignon Blanc, Grenache Blanc, and Pinot Blanc. Notice I said most, this is because there are a few options for red wine lovers as well. Pinot Noir and Zinfandel are lovely red wines that also pair well with turkey and duck. These wines have a bold enough flavor to satisfy your pallet without overpowering your meal.
Meats such as roast, ham, and pork are best served with red wines. Zinfandel and Shiraz are both popular choices during the holidays. Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Bordeaux wines are also in the running for best holiday wine pairings.
Vegan and Vegetarian Christmas Dinner Wine Pairings
We can’t leave out our furiends who eat more compassionately at the dinner table. Since many vegetarian and vegan dishes can also double as side dishes, these wine pairings can work for both! Delicious dishes incorporating potatoes, squash, spinach, and Brussel sprouts are full of savory flavor. A white wine such as Chardonnay or a dry Reisling will pair well with these types of dishes.
Appetizer and Dessert Wine Pairings
When it comes to appetizers, a great rule of thumb is to “lighten up!” Appetizers are meant to offer your hungry dinner guests a few bites to hold them until the main course. You certainly don’t want to ruin their appetite or make them full. A heavy wine will do just that if you’re not careful. Sparkling wines are a safe bet to pair with your Christmas dinner appetizers but pink and even yellow wine varieties stand out as well.
And then there’s dessert, my favorite part of Christmas dinner! Whether you’ll be indulging in pecan pie, croquembouche, chocolate mousse, or gingerbread cookies, we’ve got you covered. Try opting for ice wine, port wine, or other dessert wines like Moscato, Chardonnay, or Reisling.
Choosing a Christmas dinner wine for your yuletide meal will surely make a festive and tasty addition. While there are plenty of options to help bring your meal to life, I tried to offer those that are easily available and won’t break the bank…especially after all that Christmas shopping!
Wishing you and yours a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!
