What to Drink for Christmas, Part 2

In yesterday's post, we explored some wine options for those who were preparing a ham dinner. We also linked back to our What to Drink for Thanksgiving series, for those who were serving turkey at Christmas. We'll review some additional pairing options today.

Feast of the Seven Fishes

If you're not familiar with this tradition, we'll cite Wikipedia here: "The Feast of the Seven Fishes is part of the Italian-American Christmas Eve celebration.

Today, it is a feast that typically consists of seven different seafood dishes. It originates, however, from Southern Italy, where it is known as The Vigil (La Vigilia). However, some Italian-American families have been known to celebrate with nine, eleven or thirteen different seafood dishes. This celebration commemorates the wait, the Vigilia di Natale, for the midnight birth of the baby Jesus."

We're definitely recommending Italian white wines as the first choice here. You can have several bottles of the Saladini Pilastri Falerio Bianco on hand, as it's an amazing value at only $6.96 in the Bottle Club®. This full-bodied wine is producted from an ancient mixture of grapes from Trebbiano, Passerina and Pecorino. Its typical straw-yellow hue and delicate bouquet are due to the excellent position of the vineyards in the Marche, closer to the Adriatic.

Ok, it's a special holiday, and maybe you want to go a little upscale on your white wine choice. We have you covered.

We also suggest the Gavi from Marchesi di Barolo, located in the Piedmont region of Northwest Italy. It's a classic wine for seafood and fish dishes due to its structure and minerality.

The color is yellow straw with green hues. The aroma is intense and fine, fruity and floral. Enjoy golden apples and green almonds on the palate. The scent of chamomile flowers is delightfully present, completely in harmony. Priced at $17.49.

Chardonnay is still the most popular white wine varietal, so this next recommendation is for those who want a very nice selection.

Paul Hobbs is one of the world's best, and busiest winemakers. Meticulous vineyard management followed by minimally-invasive winemaking techniques allows their team to produce

wines that express their vineyard origins with finesse, complexity and authenticity. Paul Hobbs wines are fermented with native yeasts, aged in French oak, and bottled unfined and unfiltered.

The 2012 Paul Hobbs Russian River Valley Chardonnay is an amazing choice. It scored 90-93 points from the Wine Advocate: "A big-time winner. It exhibits copious aromas of tropical fruit and buttery citrus, medium to full body and a flamboyant personality. It should drink nicely for 3-4 years."

The wine offers a brilliant citrine quartz color and impresses with aromas of citrus blossom, spiced baked pears and honey?glazed brioche. Layered yet seamless, it lifts off the palate with a hint of mandarin meringue, while an enduring essence of marzipan crème lingers through the lengthy finish. $39.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Roasts, Pasta Dishes

Red meat, red sauce (red gravy, if you prefer), Santa wears red, Rudolph's nose is red...there's a definite theme to Christmas, and red wine is the perfect fit for the heartier meals.

We're not the only ones particularly captivated by the Feudo di Santa Croce Primitivo di Manduria LXXIV. Wine Spectator gave it 91 points, and ranked in as #69 on the Top 100 Wines of 2014. Their review: "A burly, brambly red, underscored by tarry smoke and underbrush notes, offering flavors of blackberry coulis, herb-marinated black olive, grilled mushroom and ground spice. This shows muscle that recommends it to short-term cellaring, made accessible by integration and balance."

The winery says "this has a ruby red color, enriched with garnet reflections. It offers a generous perfume, which recalls plums and ripe red fruits. This wine has a velvety texture, dry and spicy." And our staff said "Very enticing aromas of vanilla, stewed fruit, blackberry, cedar and prunes.  The flavors are silky and lush with bold vanilla, blackberry, licorice, blueberry and chocolate with black pepper on the finish.  A great, new find!"

Only $19.96 in the Bottle Club®.

Our dinner wine pairings are now complete. Tomorrow, among other topics, we'll discuss Champagne and sparkling wines.