Best wine for your Christmas dinner

It’s almost time. Another year has come to an end, and holidays are just around the corner - just as Christmas dinner. With that, comes all the frenesi, the shopping spree, the willing to celebrate, the time spent with our loved ones. It’s all decorated, all pretty, and colorful.

In order not to ruin the moment, it’s quite smart to be able to pick the right wine for the festivities. That’s why we prepared this article, so you won’t make mistakes when it comes to choosing the best drink for the party.

Without a doubt, this is the best time of the year for reuniting family and friends around the dinner table. Of course, each region has its particular culture when it comes to celebrating Christmas. And we thought of that while writing. So we won’t give you a list of dos-and-don'ts, nor specific combos of dishes and wine.

Instead, we’ll be listing the reasons why some things happen and why they are considered better than others. After all, once you get that, you’ll be able to compose your own combo.

Wine harmonization: how does it work?

Harmonizing wine and food requires that we study dishes and labels to optimize the experience of all those involved. In several cultures, winemaking is a tradition, and gastronomy must evolve along with it under this scenario. With that, instead of what we usually see, cuisine adapts to the local wine.

Harmonization is a modern art, which currently fosters the media industry in order to improve the experience through guidelines about how to combine foods and drinks. In the gastronomic industry, sommeliers are frequently updated so they are able to offer the best recommendations.

What are the best wine to serve at Christmas?

1. Dry reds of medium body

Dry wine have as characteristic the low level of sugar in their composition, and are usually produced with noble grapes - Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, among others. Therefore, not all labels produced from such grapes are good to be served with Christmas dishes.

The best options are the ones that are not fully bodied so they can balance perfectly with the feast. Try one with soft, silky tannins. That’ll make harmonization easier when there’s more than one main dish at the table.

2. Whites and rosés

Since pork meat is, technically, white with medium and low fat percentages, it has a more delicate taste. In this case, it is necessary to choose a special drink to balance pork’s lipid content. Go for a white wine with medium body and good acidity.

Another good match for such cases is the rosé. Generally, the option harmonize well with risottos and white meat. Pick one that’s slightly sparkling and somewhat sweet, made with Moscato, Malvasia and/or Merlot, with sharp notes of fresh fruit.

3. Sparkling wine

A toast is always welcome before or after Christmas dinner - especially if you follow a tradition that involves gift exchange at the same evening. For obvious reasons, the most appropriate drink for such moments is the sparkling wine or champagne.

And, since celebrating is the main reason we’re here, pick a label that exalts the occasion. A good idea is to invest in an elaborate version, created from the assemblage of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, which offers a sophisticated bouquet, such as almonds and nuts.

The sparkling go well with seafood, but remember the main goal is to celebrate the festivities. Taste loads, and enjoy the special moment with your loved ones!

Oh, and no matter where you live or which traditions you follow, we hope you and your family have an amazing Christmas, and that your New Year’s filled with peace - and lots of wine!

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