Christmas Countdown 2020
It is once again one of the most magical times of the year and we have put together a list of 12 fabulous Italian wines to pair with your Christmas dishes and activities!
12. Ariano Sogno di Volpe x Online Christmas Shopping
This soft and smooth red wine from the Montepulciano (‘monta-pull-chee-anno’) grape variety is easy to drink on it’s own as well as a great pairing for a variety of dishes. Notes of cherry, red plum, blackberry, and baking spices make this a perfect pairing for your online shopping.
11. Ghiga Moscato d’Asti x Christmas Ham
Red wines like Zinfandel and Grenache make excellent wine pairings for ham, but you may not think of moscato as another great option. The saltiness from the ham combined with the sweetness of a glaze pair well with wines that have bold fruit, crisp acidity, and a touch of sweetness. This sweet and luscious moscato boasts lovely aromas of peaches, fresh grapes, orange blossom, and meyer lemons. On the palate you experience a slight tingle from the bubbles and acidity.
10. Goretti Sagrantino di Montefalco x Prime Rib Pairing
When it comes to steak a good rule to follow is the fattier the cut the more tannin and body you want to pair with it. Prime Rib having a fairly high fat content pairs extremely well with the full bodied and highly tannic Sagrantino. This wine is dark ruby red in color with complex and rich notes of blackberry, raspberry, and plum. It is fermented and aged in barrels for 14-18 months for a smooth texture and well integrated spice notes.
Fun Fact: Polyphenols are a type of antioxidant found in red wines. Sagrantino has some of the highest concentrations making it’s polyphenol count 2-4 times more than Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon respectively.
9. Mogoro Le Giare x Gingerbread House Decorating
This crisp white wine makes for a lovely pairing with gingerbread and frosting for the next time you’re decorating. This label is also very festive with its silver metallic swirls over a blue background. Le Giare (‘lay gee-are-rae) is made from 100% Vermentino (‘vur-men-tino’) with notes of of citrus fruits and aromatic herbs of rosemary and thyme.
8. Talosa Alboreto x Lamb Pairing
The fresh acidity from this Sangiovese wine offsets lamb or filet’s slight fattiness perfectly. This is one of those matches that make both the food and wine better and harmonious. Vino Nobile was once one of Tuscany’s most highly acclaimed wines and in 1549 was regarded as a perfect wine by the cellarmaster of Pop Paul III, the name after all translates to ‘noble wine’. Alboreto is an electric wine for every occasion with aromas of black cherries, black currants, and hints of dark chocolate. It is full bodied with soft and velvety tannins. It is aged in oak barrels for 2 years before bottling.
7. Goretti Gentleman x Baking Sugar Cookies
Whether you are wanting something to sip on while you or your children bake sugar cookies or you are looking for a wine to enjoy with sugar cookies, Gentleman Sparkling wine is our recommendation! This wine will bring out the light, fruity flavors of your cookie and provides more than enough acidity to cut through it. This wine is made from a blend of Grechetto (‘greh-ketto’) and Glera grapes, and is made in the tank method like all Proseccos are required to be. Aromas consist of lemon, apple, melon, and cream. The palate provides a delicate sensation where fine bubbles are flavors dance around. This is a pairing not to skip!
6. Talosa Chianti x Watching the Grinch
We can’t think of a wine more fitting for watching this classic Christmas movie. The label is green, the wine is acidic and complex – just like the Grinch! Chianti (‘key-ahn-tee’), considered the original expression of Sangiovese, is a region outside Florence and a wine can only be labeled Chianti if it is made there. This wine displays notes of cherry, plum, tomato leaf, leather, tobacco, and balsamic vinegar. It is medium bodied with high acidity that make for a tart and crisp finish.
5. Goretti Divinitus x Seafood Pairing
This 100% unoaked Chardonnay has a beautiful and complex bouquet full of fruity notes like melon, mango, and pineapple. It is made in the ‘frizzante’ or semi-sparkling style. The bubbles are lively on the palate and make this a truly unique and delicious wine! Chardonnay is a classic pairing for seafood and fish such as crab, lobster, shrimp, and salmon.
4. Rascioni & Cecconello Rotulaia x Wrapping Presents
We know it can be stressful to get everything wrapped in time so why not enjoy this easy drinking red wine from Tuscany to help destress and make your evening a little bit more enjoyable! Rotulaia (‘row-too-lie-ya’) is made from the Ciliegiolo (‘chee-lee-eh-joh-loh’) grape and is a parent variety of Sangiovese (the other more famous red grape of Tuscany). Rotulaia is medium bodied soft red wine with notes of fresh and mature red fruits.
Fun fact: Ciliegiolo is named after the Italian word for cherry (ciliegi) due to its berry shape on the vine and aromas.
3. Ghiga Barbera d’Asti x Family Game Night and Snacks
Medium bodied, easy to drink, pairs well with most everything makes this wine perfect for playing games and snacking! Barbera is a classic grape variety of Piedmont and can be found on almost every table in the region. This is the Italian’s every day drinking wine. Ruby red in color with notes of tart cherry, licorice, blackberry, dried herbs, and black pepper. Dry on the palate with low tannins and high acidity.
Fun fact: Barbera dates back to the 7th century making it over 1,000 years older than Cabernet Sauvignon.
2. Pietro Caciorgna Guardoilvento x Cozy up to a Fire
One of our favorite things to do during the holiday season is to cozy up to a nice fire and why not do it with Guardoilvento! It is a light bodied red wine made from grapes grown on the slopes of Europe’s highest active volcano – Mount Etna. The wine itself expresses the black volcanic soil with earthy and smoky aromas along with notes of red fruit and spice. How does that Nat King Cole song go again?… *cue music – ‘chestnuts roasting on an open fire….”
1. Villa Parens Gran Cuvée x Toasting to the Spirit of Christmas!
Finally on Christmas Eve enjoy this elegant traditional method sparkling wine made in the Blanc de Blancs style (translating to white wine from white grapes). A blend between Chardonnay and Ribolla Gialla (a native Italian white grape) this wine is full bodied, rich and almost creamy on the palate. Aged for 18 months on lees before release. Toast your loved ones in person or virtually to all the elements that make Christmas the most wonderful time of the year!