Choosing Holiday Wines
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Giving wine as a gift.
Wine pairings for the holiday meal.
Taking wine to a party.
At this time of year, it is no wonder that nearly every wine writer produces a few hundred words on one or more of these topics. Articles begin appearing before Thanksgiving and have just now begun to subside. As an aspiring wine writer, I have decided to approach the topic “after-the-fact.”
We hosted a large party at our house and also have taken wine to other people’s parties this month. This took a lot of red, white and sparkling. Below you will find the thought process that was used for choosing these party wines. Tasting notes on what we served this month follow.
1. Quality: It is important to choose wines that you would not mind drinking on your "own time." A big gathering means a big wine buy, so it is tempting to settle for inexpensive bulk wine – but you may not be happy with the result. Instead, start early enough so that you can watch for excellent values from reputable vendors. In general, I look for wines that “drink above their price point” – and that’s exactly what I want to find for this purpose.
2. Red, white and sparkling: I tend to drink more red wine. One year I projected that preference onto my holiday guests. At that party, the few bottles of white I had bought were soon gone and after a while, we were popping the corks on whatever white wines had come in the door as host gifts! So now I am sure to provide plenty of white and red – and also bubbles. This means you will have some left over. (But if you like the wines you chose, you don’t care - see #1)
3. Adventure: Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are the two most purchased varietals in the U.S. The further one strays from those flavor profiles, the more guests are going to find themselves outside their comfort zones. Unless the party is for wine lovers who are eager to make new discoveries, it is better to stay in the middle of the road.
4. Budget: I set a budget of $10 for a bottle of party wine. The wines I chose for this year all fell below that threshold and made my guests very happy. But whatever price point you are able to afford, do try to find good values! Watch the offerings of trusted vendors and follow online recommendations.
Veuve Du Vernay Brut NV $8.99
This is one of a widely distributed line of sparkling wines from France, but not from Champagne. An alternative at this price point would be a Prosecco, most of which would be sweeter – but I prefer dry sparkling wine. This is pale lemon in the glass with plenty of small bubbles, despite being produced using the “sealed vat” method (not “méthode traditionelle” at this price). On the palate, it is light to medium body with crisp green apple, citrus and herbal notes and zesty acidity. The wine is delicious by itself or with food.
Hess Select Chardonnay Monterey County 2015 $8.99
At $9, this middle-of-the-road Chardonnay delivers more than most at this price point. The influence of oak is apparent, bringing vanilla notes and a medium body without being buttery. There is still plenty of spice, fruit and acidity to pair with many foods and to serve as a refreshing party sipper. This appears third under “rich whites” on Wine Spectator’s list just-released list of 100 Top Values with a score of 90.
Domaine Lafage Bastide Miraflors Vieilles Vignes Cotes Catalanes, Languedoc Roussillon 2014 $9.99
My favorite of the three is this wine from the Mediterranean region that produces over a third of France’s wine and is the single largest wine producing region in the world. The fruit is a co-fermented blend of hand-harvested, organically grown Syrah and Grenache grapes aged for 12 months in concrete tanks. The resulting wine is medium garnet with a nose of red cherry, plum, herbs and a bit of black pepper. There is plenty of fruit flavor accompanied by medium body and acidity on the palate with soft tannins and a consistent finish. This is an easy-drinking and well-made wine that pairs with many kinds of food. It’s hard to imagine a better bottle at this price. 92 points – Wine Advocate.
