Verve’s 12 Holiday Wines
It’s that time of year to indulge in the festive spirit. Whether that is drinking great wines, eating delicious food, playing games, or spending quality time with friends and family – we hope you have an amazing holiday!
To take the stress out of holiday decisions, we have put together a list of our current favorite holiday wine pairings.
1. Honor brut reserva
There is no better way to start off a festive night than with sparkling wine. While it is fun to pop bottles, the brilliant acidity and bubbles make this wine a great pairing for almost everything. This Cava goes with appetizers, seafood, desserts, and will lighten heavier dishes.
You can also use Honor Brut Reserva to make holiday cocktails like a Cranberry-Pomegranate spritzer or a mimosa. This is truly a must have item due to its adaptability!
2. ghiga Moscato d’asti
This sweet semi sparkling wine from Piedmont is great to drink on it’s own, add to a holiday cocktail, and pairs well with several sweet and savory dishes. Our suggestions include buffalo chicken wings, honeyed ham, fruit tarts, prosciutto wrapped melon, and cookies.
The Ghiga Moscato is also an excellent pairing for gingerbread cookies/houses.
3. Honor Red Blend
One of our newest wines from the Montsant region of Spain. This wine is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Carignan, and is a great versatile red wine to pair with ham, turkey, roasted vegetables (I recommend trying roasted brussel sprouts with crispy pancetta), and a variety of cheeses.
This red blend is fruity, full bodied, elegant, and well balanced. It is sure to be a favorite for your holiday.
4. Goretti Il Moggio
The Goretti Il Moggio from the Umbria region of Italy has notes of white peach, melon, wild flowers, strawberry, baking spices, and honey. It is fermented in small oak barrels making this wine very similar to an oaked Chardonnay. It pairs well with smoked salmon, oysters, appetizers, creamy dishes like mashed potatoes, mac-n-cheese and spinach artichoke dip, and most importantly sugar cookies!
5. ariano sogno di volpe rosso
An easy-drinking, medium bodied Montepulciano from the Puglia region of Italy with notes of berries, herbs, and baking spices. Sogno di Volpe Rosso pairs well with prime rib, mushrooms, vegetable casseroles, roasted turkey, prosciutto wrapped dates, and cheeses. It also makes for a great companion while wrapping presents or watching your favorite holiday movie.
6. talosa vino nobile riserva
Sangiovese, the red grape of Italy, is presented in one of its best examples from the Montepulciano region of Tuscany.
The Talosa Vino Nobile Riserva has notes of sour cherry, raspberry, vanilla, and tobacco, making it a great versatile red wine. It is an excellent choice for pairing with Prime Rib, beef tenderloin, roasted vegetables, appetizers, and pastas. For those who enjoy a holiday cigar, you might have to enjoy a glass of this with it.
7. ariano falanghina
Ariano Falanghina presents notes of lemon, citrus blossom, peach, honey, and almond. It is medium bodied and similar to an unoaked Chardonnay. Another food friendly wine due to its higher acidity, you can pair this wine with roasted turkey, oysters, lobster, cured meats, sautéed vegetables, and a variety of cheeses.
8. goretti montefalco rosso
A blend from Umbria, Goretti’s Montefalco Rosso is a full bodied red wine with notes of cherry, plum, dried herbs, and leather. A blend of Sangiovese, Merlot, and Sagrantino, this wine pairs well with prime rib and beef tenderloin, aged sharp cheddar, grilled vegetables, tomato based pastas, and blue cheese.
Sagrantino is a native variety to Umbria and is one of the most tannic grape varieties in the world – this also means that it has one of the highest amounts of antioxidants.
9. pietro caciorgna ‘Guardoilvento’
The Guardoilvento is from the Mount Etna area of Sicily made with the Nerello Mascalese grape variety. For those feeling adventurous wanting to try something new, this wine is similar to a Bugundian Pinot Noir. Its light bodied with red fruit, spices, and a little funk. It is a great food wine and pairs well with a large variety of dishes such as pasta, pizza, burgers, salmon, veal, and pork.
10. rascioni & Ceconello ‘rotulaia’
With a profile of cherry, cranberry, citrus, and herbs, the Rotulaia has all the aromas of the holidays. It is versatile, easy to drink, and it pairs well with roasted turkey, meatballs, pastas, cheese and charcuterie.
This wine is made from Ciliegiolo, which is a parent variety to Sangiovese and receives its name from the Italian word cherries – ciliegi.
11. Goretti Divinitus
Divinitus is a Chardonnay with notes of yellow apple, lemon, quince, and white blossom. Like its Il Moggio counterpart this wine pairs well with fish, appetizers, creamy dishes, and sugar cookies.
Chardonnay is a grape that adapts to its environment creating a variety of profiles depending on where it is grown and winemaking techniques used like barrel aging. You can expect fresher and more fruit forward notes in this unoaked frizzante version.
12. mogoro brut rosé
Mogoro Brut Rosé is a sparkling wine from Sardinia, Italy (home to some of Europe’s most beautiful beaches). It is a blend of local grape varieties that have been growing on the island for centuries. Discover notes of strawberry, cherry, orange, bread crust, and rose petal. Like other sparkling wines this is a versatile wine that pairs with almost everything.
This elegant sparkler is a great option to celebrate the New Year whether with food or a toast!
Make the Most of Your Holiday Celebrations
A few things to keep in mind to help ensure a great and smooth experience.
1. Variety is key.
It is always wise to have a variety of wines so that there is an option for everyone.
2. Chill out and breathe.
In the hustle of preparation, opening and chilling your wines may not be your top priority. I recommend placing white and sparkling wines in the fridge before cooking, wrapping, or cleaning. That way you know they are chilled and ready for serving. Same for the reds, open them up first and let them breathe in the bottle until you are ready to serve them. This will help them open up and become more characterful.