As your calendar starts filling up with holiday gatherings, it’s time to start thinking about what kinds of wines you plan to serve and gift.
Eric Jackson, the marketing manager of Water’n’Wine in Truro’s Fundy Trail Centre, says choosing wines for holiday entertaining is all about “going for the crowd-pleasers” and keeping the menu in mind.
RED WINES
“There are some reds that really need to be enjoyed with food, and there are also softer reds that are better for sipping on their own without food,” says Jackson. “We might suggest a drier, fruit-forward red like a Malbec or a Merlot as a good all-rounder.”
WHITE WINES
Jackson says it’s a little trickier to choose a white wine for someone else because people who drink white wine tend to be more particular about its sweetness. He says deciding between a dry white wine and a sweeter white wine depends on what you’re planning to serve.
“With a turkey dinner, you’d want a traditional, dry, acidic white wine like a Chardonnay,” says Jackson. “But if you’re having hors d’oeuvres, a sweeter option like a Riesling often works better.”
DESSERT WINES
Jackson says sweet dessert wines are perfect for sipping after dinner or with dessert, and they come in all sorts of fun holiday flavours like creme brulee, coffee and caramel.
“Wine-drinkers love the novelty of trying something new, and a lot of people will bring out a variety of flavoured dessert wines instead of trying to provide every type of sweet and square under the sun,” says Jackson. “It really takes the pressure off.”
GIVING THE GIFT OF WINE
Jackson says this is an especially fun time of year at Water’n’Wine because everyone’s coming in to bottle and label the wine they’ve made to give as gifts over the holidays. (Psssst! If you’d like to make your own wine for next Christmas, he says it’s best to get started in October.)
If you’re buying wine for a gift, he says Water’n’Wine staffers will ask you a few questions about the recipient — like what they like to drink and the types of meals they eat on a regular basis — to help pinpoint a wine they’ll love.
When gifting someone with a bottle of wine, Jackson suggests including a note that includes a pairing suggestion so there’s a better chance of the person enjoying it to the fullest.
“If you’re giving them a Pinot Noir, include a bar of milk chocolate. Even if they don’t normally drink Pinot Noir, it gives them the full experience,” says Jackson. “You could even write out a family recipe that would go well with a particular wine as a special touch.”
