The time for feasting is here! While most of us will enjoy our family’s traditional foods, perhaps the big meal could use a boost with a new wine or two for the holiday table to sip and savor.
Our wine expert, Adam Knoerzer, suggest wines for you to pour at the holiday dinner table, whatever your main course might be. His list includes turkey, ham or roast beef entrees, all of them available at Fine Wines, Good Spirits.
Turkey Main Course
Hamilton Russell Vineyards Chardonnay 2021 (Hemel-en-Aarde, South Africa), $45.99
You’d be forgiven for thinking this absolute gem was grown somewhere in Burgundy. But, South African soils have given us this stunner with elegant pear and lemon notes that are bundled by bright, driving acidity and an epic finish.
Tania & Vincent Carême “Terre Brûlée” Chenin Blanc 2021 (Swartland, South Africa), $9.99
Big, beautiful wines don’t always require a big price tag, and this offering proves it. Lush, unctuous textures of melon, honey, and citrus harmoniously mingle with notes of orange blossom and nuts to provide an all-around winner without breaking the bank.
Ham Main Course
Pierre Sparr Crémant d’Alsace Brut Rosé NV, $19.99
Fresh red berries burst from the glass with primarily raspberry and strawberry leading the charge, and a hint of peach and crème work their way into the palate adorned by soft, delicate bubbles. The wine finishes dry and begs for another sip.
Teliani Valley Guardians Rkatsiteli (Kahketi, Georgia), $11.99
Hard to pronounce (urr-cats-uhh-TELL-ee), sure, but absolutely perfect to accompany your holiday ham. This grape is rich in white peach, jasmine, and apricots with a honeyed lemon and lime element on the finish. Plus, the ample acid keeps things light and versatile enough for the side dishes, too.
Roast Beef Main Course
Domaine des Tourelles Vieilles Vignes Carignan (Bekaa Valley, Lebanon), $26.99
High-elevation old vine Carignan is a treat, and this example is full of ripe, dark cherries framed by a meaty, earthy undertone that makes it perfect for your roast. Notes of cranberry, licorice, and spices round things out on the finish, and you’ll be reaching back for more.
Bodega Garzón Tannat Reserva 2020 (Uruguay), $12.99
This juicy red comes to us from Uruguay and offers a clean, modern example of Tannat that’s approachable and complex. Think dark plums, dark cherries, warm baking spices from oak, and a kiss of caramel and vanilla on the finish.
Story by Adam Knoerzer
