With so many flavors hitting during the holidays, how do you pull the suitable sauce out of your sweater sleeve to host guests like a pro? We reached out to local libation experts for recommendations. If these prescribed spirits and wine pairings don’t satisfy your guests, there might be a Scrooge or two in your midst.
For Holiday Parties
Michele Castellani ‘Cinque Stelle’ Amarone della Valpolicella
“To spoil guests, an amarone della valpolicella is one of my holiday favorites,” Michael Read, sommelier at The Warehouse says. You’ll find black cherry notes and aromas of clove, nutmeg and maple, and the Italian red pairs well with cream sauces, cheese and roasted nuts. “This is Christmas in a glass,” Read says.
Price range: $47-$70
Moretto Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro Frizzante Secco
“This wine is so fun and approachable,” says Sophie Yoneoka, sommelier at The Broadmoor. “It’s dry yet fruity.” A sparkling red from Italy, she says this is the ultimate pairing for charcuterie.
Price range: $20-$24
For Christmas Dinner
Vasse Felix Filius Chardonnay
Yoneoka calls Aussie chardonnay profiles generously tropical with spice, and she’s partial to the 2018 Filius. For food pairings, she says, “Think gratin, roasted chicken and creamy pasta, such as truffle agnalotti or gnocchi.”
Price range: $23-$28
Cranberry Cocktails
“Christmas is great for a cranberry cocktail,” De Los Santos, bar manager at Almagre, says. “The tart profile awakens the palette after a hearty meal.” Personal taste is the real goal when it come to mixing, but he suggests simply: “Play around with cranberry, gin, Campari, lemon and sugar.”
For the New Years Toast
Spanish Cava
“[For] a large guest list, a Spanish cava is the best value,” Read says. The affordable sparkling wine can be white or rosé, but Read recommends the white Codorniu Anna Blanc de Blancs Brut Cava for your wine pairings.
Price range: $10-$14
Peter Lauer Brut Sekt Riesling
“For a traditional sparkling that carries itself with purity and precision, this is great to start a festive night,” Yoneoka says, adding that it complements oysters, caviar and most hors d’oeuvres. Her preferred vintage is 2012.
Price range: $38-$45
Aperol Spritz
Prefer a cocktail twist to ring in the new year? De Los Santos suggests an Aperol spritz. “The cocktail offers a sweet, effervescent, slightly bitter alternative,” he says. It’s a simple build, only needing 2 ounces prosecco, 1.25 ounces Aperol and a splash of soda water.
Unique Champagnes
“For something nicer, a Franciacorta from Italy is my favorite bubbly,” says Read, recommending a Ca’ del Bosco Cuvée Prestige. Its texture is soft and silky with very fine bubbles and a crisp, dry finish. Expect a price range of $35-$50. If you’re open to spending more: Egly-Ouriet Vignes de Vrigny. “It’s unlike any other champagne and costs around $80,” Yoneoka says.
Originally published Nov. 26, 2019
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