Contributed by: Joe Roberts
Your best bet in picking a wine for holiday dinner pairings? Going with high-acid grapes, like Riesling, that can cut through the density of fattier dishes, balance the sugar of sweeter meals, and refresh the palate between bites. Weingut St. Urbans-Hof Nik Weis Wiltinger Alte Reben Riesling from Germany's Mosel fits that bill nicely - its abundant in apple, citrus, and quince fruit flavors and aromas, along with hints of mineral and spice. Its very slight sweetness is more than matched by its zesty, lemon-like acidity, too.
Contributed by: Joe Roberts
Ready for a holiday indulgence? Then W & J Graham's Six Grapes Special Edition River Quintas Port is just your ticket. This blend of grapes from two of Graham’s more famous riverside quintas - Quinta do Tua, and Quinta dos Malvedos - offers a level of quality normally associated with more expensive LBV and vintage Ports. Fresh and dried blueberry and blackberry fruits, expressive spice aromas, and a luxurious mouthfeel all combine to make this a great choice to pair with dark chocolate desserts.
Contributed by: Joe Roberts
Arroyo Seco might just be home to your next rich, robust Merlot. Specifically, McIntyre Vineyards Kimberly Vineyards Merlot, which consistently over-performs its relatively modest price tag. Dense and plummy, this is the kind of mouth-coating, plummy, opulent Merlot that can stand up to lamb or steak meat dishes, or can be enjoyed on its own as a more contemplative sipper.
Contributed by: Joe Roberts
Beaujolais Nouveau gets a bum ramp. Yes, many rendintions of this simply, fruity, ebullient red released to celebrate the first wine of the harvest are cheaply made and rushed to market. But others - like Georges Duboeuf's - manage to be well-crafted, easy to drink, and even easier to pair with Thanksgiving leftovers (due to its slight sweetness being tempered by vibrant acidity). Georges Duboeuf's Beaujolais Nouveau is perennially worth a look, with sweet strawberry, roses, and pepper aromas to match its just-picked ripe red fruit palate.
Contributed by: Joe Roberts
Well, now, this is fun! A partnership between Master Sommelier Sara Floyd and the Pisoni winemaking family of Santa Lucia Highlands, Luli wines marries a sense of friendliness with serious quality. Their Chardonnay is sourced from 20 year old vines grown on limestone soils, bringing a sense of elegant balance to balance this white's assertive, ripe tropical fruitiness.
Contributed by: Joe Roberts
Seemingly, there are almost no grape varieties that cannot do well in California's Edna Valley, as Claiborne & Churchill's lovely Edna Valley Dry Riesling demonstrates. This pale gold delight has spicy, fruity aromas of ginger, blossom, and citrus, paired with flavors of quince and pears, all delivered on a backbone of perky acidity. It's a Riesling that doesn't hold back, while still holding on to its elegance.
Contributed by: Joe Roberts
Sangiovese was once deemed the Next Big Thing in Napa Valley, a prognostication that more or less died on the vine after that early 2000s. Some Napa producers never gave up on the Sangiovese dream - thankfully, one of them was Luna. They've been producing Sangiovese grown on shallow, rocky soils for 25 years, and their experience has created a red that embodies Napa's legendary ripeness (enhancing the grape's depth of cherry flavors) with Sangiovese's legendary zesty acidity.
Contributed by: Joe Roberts
Valdo is the oldest Prosecco winery in Valdobbiadene, having been founded in 1926. Their Prosecco game is on-point, as this elegant, fun, expressive bubbly shows. Made from a blend of Glera and Chardonnay, there are flavors and aromas of apples, pear, white peach and banana, all accented by white flower notes and a crowd-pleasing, energetic mouthfeel.
Contributed by: Joe Roberts
Never count Pinot Grigio out when it hails from its spiritual home in northeastern Italy. Diurnal temperature shifts help Bollini's hand-picked Pinot Grigio grapes retain buoyant natural acidity while also keeping ripe fruit flavors. With aromas of acacia flowers, minerals and white pear, and zesty palate with melon and lemon flavors, this is a crowd-pleaser that showcases why this region does this grape so well.
Contributed by: Joe Roberts
Here's a sustainably-grown, vegan-friendly Pinot option that will make you feel just as good about buying it as you will drinking it. Sourced from Loveblock's family estate on Bendigo Loop Road in Central Otago, this red shows just how far New Zealand Pinot Noir has come. It's full of fleshy, juicy black plum flavors, ripe black cherry aromas, and alluring hints of earth, mushroom, meat and cigar.
