Best Christmas Wines Revealed - Red or White ?

Nothing enhances a great Christmas dinner like serving the right wine. Just as you have many options when putting together your Christmas feast, you also have an abundance of delectable wines from which to choose. Serve your family and friends the right wines to complement the food you serve for a tasteful and satisfying Christmas dinner experience.

Christmas dinner is almost ready for serving, and you can bet your guests will want a glass of wine to pair with their dinner. Serving wine with your Christmas meal is more than a suggestion. This is the best way to cleanse the palate and complement other flavors throughout the evening.

How will you decide which wines to serve? Marketview Liquor is here to recommend the top must-have Christmas wines for the holiday season

Prosecco

Think about what time your guests plan to arrive. If there's a Christmas brunch on the agenda, you can never go wrong with a Prosecco Italian Sparkling Wine. Prosecco leaves you open with plenty of options, as guests can enjoy sweet tastes of white grape unmixed or as a base for cocktails.

Easily kick off your holiday season with a blend of green apples, honeydew and creamy mineral textures. Prosecco pairs well with fruits and baked goods covered in powdered sugar during brunch.

Sauvignon Blanc

It's a wise practice to start your Christmas festivities with lighter wines and slowly transition to heavier choices as guests go for their second plate. Incorporate a serving of Sauvignon Blanc for appetizers prior to the main meal. Sauvignon Blanc provides a bright taste with refreshing dryness that's unmatched by other wines. Your guests will experience tastes of minerals and herbs that reset the palate between different appetizers.

Whether you have crab, chicken or shrimp recipes, the Sauvignon Blanc will prepare your taste buds accordingly.

Pinot Noir

If your main meal involves serving turkey, you should plan on placing an order for a Pinot Noir. Pinot Noir wines have a natural taste of cranberries and cherries that will make for a well-rounded Christmas dinner. Friends and family can drink it by itself or complement the neutral flavor of a cooked or smoked bird.

The holiday season is not complete without a glass of red wine, and Pinot Noir is a versatile selection.

Malbec

Depending on your family's tradition, you might have a selection of beef or baked ham at the holiday table. If that's the case, try ordering a bottle of Malbec from our online store. You won't believe how the fruity and smokey taste pairs with lean meats and proteins.

This red wine enhances the rich taste of prime rib or salty ham, creating a mouthwatering sensation.

Merlot

What is a Christmas dinner without mashed potatoes? If a number of starches are on the menu, consider pairing dishes with Merlot. This red wine is full of earthy and fruit flavors that help to smooth out thick and buttery sides.

Merlot is a classic choice for the holiday season, as the wine also pairs well with beef and other proteins.

Moscato

The holiday season just wouldn't be the same if your guests didn't enjoy some cookies, pastries and desserts. A bottle of Moscato is a great wine pairing for Christmas dessert and will surely be a hit alongside pies, cobblers, fresh fruits and other treats. Moscatos are sweet and light-bodied for a full dinner plate.

With a choice of Moscato, the fun can continue long after dinner!

Red or White?

The first question that comes to mind when deciding on wine options is whether you should serve a red or white wine. The answer to this question rests on these two variables:

What are you serving at dinner that would pair well with wine?

What would your guests want the most?

It is a common belief that red wines are best served with beef and white wines are best served with poultry, but that is not always the case. The real question you should ask yourself is which varieties of red or white wines will go well with the meal you are serving.

Even though popular opinion claims that poultry is best served with white wines, consider serving a red wine to complement the rich, roasted flavor of a Christmas turkey or duck. If you are serving the roasted bird with rich and savory sides, consider pairing it with a Zinfandel, Pinot Noir or even Red Burgundy wines. If you prefer white wines, Sauvignon Blanc is excellent with a roasted bird and savory sides. If you are serving a fruit-flavored garnish with roasted duck, lighter white wines are always the best choice. Sauternes and Riesling wines complement roasted duck with fruit excellently.

It is more difficult to find a white wine to go with roast beef or ribs, so keep it simple with the right red wine. Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Malbec wines all work well with red meat. Serving ham gives you a few more options. Serve a honeyed ham with Alsatian Riesling white wine to contrast the sweetness of the ham. Lighter red wines such as Zinfandel, Pinot Noir and Beaujolais also work well with ham.

Of course, none of this really matters if you know your guests prefer a particular kind of wine. While that specific wine may not pair the best with the meats or veggies you're serving, it's still best to give your guests what you know they'll want.

Christmas Dinner Wine

Choosing the Brand and Retailer

Since it is a special occasion, you want to choose the best wine to serve your guests without breaking your budget. You do not have to purchase an expensive wine for your Christmas dinner, just one that is sure to please your guests. Only serve a fine wine if you have the equipment to store it properly until it is time for the feast. If you purchase a fine wine ahead of time and just pop it in the fridge with the rest of your food, you might as well have just gone with a mid-range brand.

In general, it may be wise to avoid buying your Christmas wines at the grocery store. Go to a wine store to speak with a knowledgeable sales person. A sales person is able to assist you with finding the right wines for your Christmas dinner if you have not decided before you go to the store. Make sure that the store you choose is clean and stores its wines properly to ensure the best quality for your guests.

Dessert and After-Dinner Wines

As a rule, purchase a sweet wine to serve with your dessert. Muscat and Sauternes go well with Christmas pudding, pumpkin pie and other seasonal desserts. Serve chocolate desserts with Madeira or a Port wine. Make sure you serve the dessert wine in the right type of glass, otherwise your dessert may take a backseat to the wine. A dessert wine glass are typically smaller to help accentuate the rich aromas and flavors without overwhelming your palate.

To keep your guests happy after both dinner and dessert, try serving wine after dinner as well. Choose a tawny or Late Bottle Vintage port to serve after the meal. These wines provide rich flavors that work great with a variety of cheeses for an after-dinner wine and snack. If you want your Christmas feast to end with a late-night party, provide some champagne for the guests. Enjoy the Party!

By following the general guidelines above, you are guaranteed to host the best Christmas dinner in town. By providing your guests with a variety of wines that pair well with the meal and desserts you are serving, you give them an opportunity to fully appreciate both the meal and the wine. Serving more than one main course is a great way to provide a number of dinner and wine options for your guests.