Versatile Wines for the Holidays

The holiday season is a time for gathering with loved ones, sharing festive meals, and creating memories around the table. Whether you’re hosting an intimate dinner or a grand celebration, choosing the right wines can elevate your holiday experience and complement the variety of flavors on your menu. In this guide, we’ll explore versatile wine options perfect for the season—from light, fruit-forward reds to indulgent dessert wines—ensuring there’s a pairing for every dish and every guest at your holiday table.

First, let’s look at your menu. If it’s a buffet-style meal or a table like Thanksgiving, where dishes come in all varieties of savory and sweet with complex herbs and spices, you’ll want to serve lighter-bodied reds and fuller-bodied whites.

The reds should be easy on the tannins and very fruit-forward: think Beaujolais Villages, made from Gamay; an Oregon Pinot Noir or a Burgundy from France; Merlot from Washington state; Nebbiolo from Italy’s Piedmont region; a Bonarda from Argentina; a Dornfelder from Germany.

For whites, a Kabinett Riesling (or an off-dry style). Riesling is perhaps the most versatile varietal wine out there; it has the weight and complexity to carry any meat-based or highly-flavored main dish, with the acidity to lift dishes heavy in fat, or laden with creamy, cheesy sauces. It plays beautifully with spicy dished, sweet desserts and salty snacks. A dry Gewürztraminer fits the bill beautifully, as well.  I would also reach for Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, a lilting, fresh Grüner Veltliner , and anything with bubbles, such as an elegant Lambrusco Grasparossa or a Cava from Spain, both inexpensive ways to add some “WOW” to your holiday table.

But if the meal calls for a richer, heavier wine- say a beef or lamb roast-seek out a Bordeaux or Côtes du Rhône or a Northwest blend inspired by these French classics. Bordeaux blends feature Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and sometimes Petit Verdot; Côtes du Rhône-styles are often labeled as GSM: a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre. You cannot go wrong with a Washington state Syrah, a Barolo from Piedmont, Italy, or one of my favorite powerhouses: a Priorat from Spain’s Catalonia region, made from Garnacha (Grenache) and Cariñena (Carignan) grape varieties.