You may be looking for gifts. Or you’re looking for a really lovely selection to treat your guests. Either way, these are the five best wines to buy for the holidays!
Wine is one of those classic holiday gifts. You see it at every table, every holiday party, and there is no hostess in the world who gets upset when you bring her a bottle of wine. (Some minor exceptions may apply.)
But choosing which to bring is the key. You’ll want to consider which holiday, what food (if any), and what flavor profile. These 5 top holiday wines offer a broad selection for gifts or meals!
Because they are holiday treats, these wines do tend to be on the pricey side. But let the general flavors and styles guide you to more affordable options as well.
Looking for more holiday drinks? Try these Christmas Cocktails, 5 Best Winter Scotches, 6 Best Affordable Champagne Alternatives, or Big Batch Holiday Party Cocktails.
And learn how to display all these gorgeous winter wines in a winter bar when you Decorate for Christmas on a Budget. (Because after buying some of these, you might need a budget.)
Or, pretend it’s not snowing outside and start stocking up on the Best Wines for Summer!
Beaujolais Nouveau (Not yet released) Usually between $15- $20
This is probably on most winos’ lists. The Beaujolais region lies in Burgundy in the French Alps. Because of a clever 1950s marketing trick, the region throws a big party for Nouveau Day (the third Thursday in November) and releases a specific vintage on that day each year. It’s a young, “first harvest” wine, and retailers, restaurants, and vineyards are prohibited from selling it before then! This year it will be released on November 21, 2019.
The wine is made from strictly gamay grapes. And Beaujolais uses a specific process called carbonic maceration which causes anaerobic fermentation of the entire grape. This means the tannins from the skin don’t have the chance to seep into the wine. You end up with low-tannins and strong fruit flavors. It is meant to be consumed young, so don’t bother aging it. Enjoy the fresh flavors while they last!
Beaujolais Nouveau can be a little hard to find since it is a limited and time-sensitive release. But if you do find a bottle, grab it for the perfect holiday wine!
- Nose: Berries, Cherries, Fresh Earth, Violets
- Palate: Raspberry, Pomegranate, Minerals
2017 Domaine Ferret Pouilly-Fuissé “Les Ménétrières” Cuvée Hors-Classe $74.99
That’s alot of French. Let’s break it down. Pouilly-Fuissé is a wine appellation from the Mȃconnais region in Burgundy, France. It is made only from Chardonnay grapes, so consider it a Chardonnay wine.
Domaine Ferret is one of the oldest estates to produce pouilly-fuissé in the region. Their “Les Ménétrières” expression is from the Cuvée Hors-Classe, which is one of the top terroirs on the estate. The 2015 expression was really excellent and the 2017 continues to excel. So either is a lovely gift option!
While most people only think about reds during winter, a full-bodied, textured white will work just as well. In the winter season you do need a strong, bold white wine to stand up to heavier foods. And surprisingly, many bold whites can be as warming as a red! They also add a refresher to your palate after so many flavorful dishes.
“Les Ménétrières” is one of these. It’s strong on toasty flavors of bread and pastry. The fruit is wintry with orang and lemon, hints of pear and just a touch of quince.
- Nose: Green Apple, Orange Peels, Toasted Croissant, White Flowers
- Palate: Orange and Lemon Oils, Toasty Pastries, Pear
Word of advice, don’t bring this out on Thanksgiving. You don’t want to overcrowd your palate (or your table) with too many flavors. Save it for another winter meal! It would be exceptional at Christmas.
For those who really hate Chardonnay (or are looking specifically for Thanksgiving white wines) choose this lovely Sancerre: 2015 Pascal Jolivet Le Roc from Loire Valley, France for $54.99. Similarly luxurious but much drier and crisper. It’s warming, acidic, and strong in winter flavors like orange and gooseberry. And it’s definitely light-bodied enough to refresh your palate between all those complicated side dishes!
2016 By Farr Shiraz from Geelong, Australia $64.99
Winter is the perfect time for big bold reds! Full of rich berries and warming spices, it’s hard to imagine most of our winter dinners without them. Obviously your Pinot Noirs and Cabernet Sauvignons all have their places. But I think the holidays call for something a little different…
Shiraz is the same thing as Syrah, made from the same grape, just in different locations. They tend to be bright and red and fruity, but with enough texture and spice to stand up to cold weather and heavier foods.
It also makes a cozy base for a festive warm holiday cocktail like an easy 15 minute mulled red wine!
An extra bonus? Shiraz perfectly plays the middle ground between light enough for foods like turkey, but strong enough for heavy stuffing and cranberries. So you can drink for both overwhelming Thanksgiving and special Christmas treats!
By Farr Shiraz is a blend with Viognier so there’s a bit of additional texture and sweetness, which makes it a perfect treat for the holidays. There’s a strong fruity character with a savory aspect and obvious oak and floral notes!
- Nose: Blackberry, Blackcurrant, Violet, Sage, Pepper
- Palate: Cranberries, Sage, Pepper, Minerals, Blackcurrant, Viognier’s floral bouquet
W&J’s Graham’s Vintage Port 2011, Douro, Portugal, $84.99
Especially around Christmas it is always good to have a nice dessert wine hiding up your sleeve. Port in general is so rich and warming. And it pairs perfectly with so many winter-time desserts!
W&J’s 2011 vintage is so wonderfully balanced and the aging has created a deeply complex flavor profile. The blend of so many types of grapes from so many terroir regions could be overwhelming, but the blend is seamless in this vintage. (That’s the joy of a 2011 Port!) The tannins take a while to appear so you can enjoy with a dessert or alone.
- Nose: Blue violets, China Tea, Blackberry, Tobacco, Cloves
- Palate: Blackberry, Raspberry, Cherry, Black Currant, Chocolate, Cloves
Gonzalez Byass Viña AB Amontillado Sherry $25.99
Perfect for the lighter end of desserts like apple pies and fruit tarts, Sherry is an often forgotten part of the holiday wine world. But it shouldn’t be relegated to dessert only. Birds like turkey, pheasant, and goose can pair with lighter sherry. Even lamb, beef, and duck will pair with some sherry varieties too! And it makes for a nice change from always serving Cabernet Sauvignons or Sauvignon Blancs.
Not to mention sherry casks are often used to spice up other alcohols, so you know it will have a spicy warming effect on any party it attends!
Gonzalez Byass Sherry is an excellent variety to try with appetizers as well as poultry. It’s very young- Viña AB are always young wines. The youth means its very fresh but probably won’t stand up to lamb or heavy meat dishes. But it is elegant and delicate and a lovely addition to brighten up a holiday and get out of a typical wine rut.
- Nose: Wood, Apricots, Minerality, Yeasty Bread, Brine, Orange Oils
- Palate: Apricots, Walnuts, Almonds, Orange Peel, Cardamom, bit of a Salt finish
If you’re looking for a dessert sherry, try a cream sherry. They are very popular in the United States and easy to come by. And they pair well with fruity or creamy desserts. Another option is Pedro Ximenez which is darker and nuttier but still sweet. Pair it with pecan by or something chocolate!
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