The holiday season is rife with occasions that call for wine to pair! Whether you are hosting family, or taking a bottle to a gathering of friends, make sure to have these Walla Walla Valley wines on hand for all your holiday pairing needs.
Here are a few of our favorite wine varieties to have on hand for holiday occasions – click on the wine varieties below to browse Walla Walla Valley wineries who offer them:
Thanksgiving Dinner
Grab a couple of bottles for your Thanksgiving feast! Viognier and Grenache both pair beautifully with roasted Turkey. In addition to complimenting the main course, both of these wines will work well with mouthwatering side dishes as well. Viognier will compliment squash, stuffing, sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce, while Grenache will shine with sides like mashed potatoes and mac & cheese.
Holiday Parties
Take a bottle of Cabernet Franc along to your holiday parties! Whether it is your office dinner or a potluck with friends, Cabernet Franc will impress. This wine will pair with a variety of charcuterie boards, dips and even mains like steak or roasted chicken. Cabernet Franc is widely grown in the Walla Walla Valley, and these wines balance richness and delicate herbal and fruit notes – making it a crowd pleaser!
Hanukkah Dinners
Stock your table with Malbec and Chardonnay for Hanukkah. Chardonnay’s acidity makes it a great compliment to buttery potato dishes like latkes and kugel. A bold Malbec with notes of plum and cocoa is a great pairing with beef brisket and other hearty mains.
Christmas Eve
Merlot is a red wine sure to please – it’s medium body makes it a great pair for a variety of foods. Merlot is one of the most popular wine varietals in the Walla Walla Valley, and is known for both its fruity and savory notes. Whether you are serving up comfort food like lasagna or something a bit fancier, like roast duck, Merlot will shine.
Christmas Morning
If you want to sip wine in your pajamas alongside breakfast on Christmas morning, open some Sauvignon Blanc. With notes of apple, lime and herbaceous flavors, it’s a refreshing compliment to quiche, cheesy sausage biscuits, parfaits and more!
Christmas Dinner
Christmas dinner usually features a delicious main course! If you are making prime rib, reach for a bold Cabernet Sauvignon – the high tannins in this wine will cut through the juiciness of the meat. For roasted turkey or smoked meats, try a full-bodied Syrah from the Walla Walla Valley.
Holiday Sweets
One of the best parts of the holiday season is enjoying the sweets and baked goods that come with it. Riesling has flavors of green apple and herbal notes, and serves as a great compliment to desserts like pumpkin pie, gingerbread, sugar cookies, snickerdoodles and apple tart.
New Year’s Eve
Skip the champagne and reach for a Pét-Nat or a Walla Walla Valley Sparkling Wine when the clock strikes midnight. Pét-Nat is a method of making sparkling wine, and these bubbly wines tend to be light and refreshing – perfect for celebrating! In addition, Walla Walla Valley wineries are making sparkling wines in the traditional method as well. Either way, you’ll have the bubbles needed for a midnight celebration.
Cheers to a holiday season paired with Walla Walla Valley Wine!
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