The holiday season is quickly approaching. For many busy people, the next few weeks marks crunch time, especially for those who plan on preparing one of the most memorable meals of the year. You’ve likely made a plan for preparing the turkey and sides, but drinks are often forgotten and left for the last minute. While pairing wines isn’t something everyone prioritizes, some wines are better than others to pair with a turkey dinner. While it may seem counterintuitive, the herby flavor and juicy texture of a turkey act as a great complement to a variety of wines, depending on your preferences. When you go to buy your wine this week, look for these types of wines to serve at your Christmas feast, and consider offering a variety of options for your dinner guests.
Pinot Noir is a crowd-pleasing wine option when it comes to Christmas. The high acidity and medium-bodied nature of this red wine act as a great compliment not only to the turkey but to the other sides on the plate as well, without overpowering the flavors you’ve worked so hard to cultivate. Pinot Noir is an excellent option that has been known to be a staple at Christmas meals, so your guests may be expecting to see this bottle at the table.
Chardonnay is another widely loved wine that will please your guests who want a white wine option. The crisp, oaky, fruit-forward flavor of Chardonnay brings out the juiciness of the turkey and makes each bite that much more satiating. This is also an easy choice as you don’t need to consider which region your bottle is from, as any option will serve as a great pairing for your turkey dinner.
Christmas dinners are known for being rich and heavy, so the red currant and mixed cherry flavor notes of a Merlot make a great full-bodied option for your Christmas meal. If you don’t have time to run out of the house to the liquor store this week, place an order with Wine Baskets for next day shipping. Their Kendall Jackson Grand Reserve Merlot is a classy choice to add to your Christmas spread.
Another top white wine pick for Christmas is a Riesling. Rieslings tend to range from very dry to semi-sweet, but either way, this wine will pair well with a salty, savory Christmas spread. The apple and honey-tasting notes of a Riesling fit right in with the autumnal flavors that make up a Christmas meal while offering a crisp and refreshing reprieve from the heavy textures that fill the typical holiday plate.
It’s a good idea to grab multiple bottles of wine to make sure you don’t run out on Christmas Day. These four wines offer a variety of tasting notes to satisfy picky guests while rounding out the flavors you worked so hard to cultivate in your turkey and side dishes. Christmas takes a lot of prep, but keep it simple with your wine pairings, so you don’t spend precious cooking time wandering around the liquor store.
