Best holiday wines

This holiday season be sure to stock not only your bar but your wines! Welcoming guests with a glass as well as winding down the night with another glass are perfect ways to incorporate wine into your holidays!

“Crisp, dry and racy with grapefruit and pear scents, this riesling exhibits the ripe fruit flavors and slightly mineral qualities of its fine European relatives.” — Brotherhood, America’s Oldest Winery

Dry rieslings like this one would pair perfectly with any stone fruit recipes. Also would work served with your cheese course, but be sure to have a sharp cheese as well as a moldy blue in the mix to bring out the citrus notes of the wine.

Get the recipe: Apricot ham with cloves >>

“Aromas of rock melon, lemongrass and ripe gooseberry dominate with top notes ranging from tropical grapefruit to sweet bell pepper.” — Brancott Estate

This sauvignon blanc from New Zealand, of course, pairs well with seafood, so try your hand at making skewered scallops!

Get the recipe: Skewered scallops >>

“Forward, appealing flavors with an emphasis on tart strawberry fruit put a lively snap into the mid-palate. The tannins are present but balanced, and the wine delivers a lot of clean flavor for the price. Best Buy.” — Underwood Cellars

Serve this pinot noir with either your main dish (if it’s lamb or beef) and even go as far as serving it with your dessert if it’s pumpkin-based!

Get the recipe: No-bake pumpkin brulee >>

“Attractive, intense bouquet of raspberries and cherries with vanilla notes and a touch of spice.” — Marques de Caceres

This is thewine you want to serve with your main course! Luscious and rich, this would pair well with a heavy course like turkey, pork, lamb or beef. Rioja is the only denomination in Spain that can say it has the title of “Denominación de Origen Calificada,” making it one of the most traditional and prestigious wine regions in Spain.

Get the recipe: Rack of lamb with rosemary pesto sauce >>

• Oregon — Rainstorm Pinot Gris Oregon 2012
• Portugal — Aveleda Vinho Verde 2012
• South Africa — Boekenhoutskloof The Wolftrap Red Western Cape 2012
• Washington — The Magnificent Wine Company Cabernet Sauvignon

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