The holiday season is upon us once again, and oh, what a familiar scene it is. Lots of colorful, jingly oversized Christmas sweaters and folks rushing frantically from store to store to buy gifts.
Fortunately, this is also the ideal time of year to invite all of your friends and family over to share great food, great wine, and great company. Wine plays a significant role during the holidays--it livens up any gathering, it pairs beautifully with most holiday fare, and it classes up any gift basket. Wine is the perfect gift to give to anyone who enjoys it. Think about it…you will never buy the wrong size, it always fits, it doesn’t require batteries, it’s delicious, and it will rarely be re-gifted.
I work in a wine store, so I am pretty good at navigating my way through one, but if you are less comfortable, here are a few tips to help if you are contemplating buying wine as a gift this holiday season.
• Before you venture out to your local wine shop, try to find out what style of wine your recipient enjoys, even if it is as simple as red versus white. This little piece of information can cut a large, intimidating wine store in half.
• If you are uncertain about what to purchase, ask for the assistance of a knowledgeable employee or the manager on duty. These people know the store inside and out and can be extremely helpful. They have probably also sampled several different wines in the store.
• Look for wines that are not mainstream or recognized easily by their label. It is way more interesting to give a bottle of wine that the recipients would not normally buy for themselves. For example, if they like Merlot consider purchasing a good bottle of Malbec instead, or if they like California Chardonnay, turn them on to a Meursault from Burgundy.
If you are planning a dinner or a cocktail party, trying to find the right wine for each occasion can be a daunting task. Here are a few more helpful hints.
• If you’re throwing a cocktail party with hors d’oeuvres or a small buffet, keep the wine light. Here is a situation where you have lots of people wandering around your house, drinking, holding wobbly plates of food while peeking into your medicine cabinets. Consider serving a lighter style like a sparkling wine. One great choice would be Bailly-Lapierre Saint Meyland Brut at $15.99, a Chenin Blanc from South Africa, Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, Gamay from Beaujolais, or Pinot Noir from Oregon.
• If you are entertaining large groups of people, do not shy away from large format bottles of wine, like the 1.5 liters. They are definitely cost effective, and there are some good values to be had, like Concha y Toro Frontera 1.5 liters, all flavors $9.99, and Redwood Creek 1.5 liters, all flavors $11.99.
• When pairing wine with typical holiday fare like turkey or ham and all the trimmings, you should avoid wines that are very dry with big body and tannins. Lean toward softer wines that show more elegance and fruit. Consult the list of classic wine suggestions that will pair remarkably well with your meal.
Throughout the holiday season and the year to come, always remember to drink what you like and like what you drink.