There’s no requirement to whimper about not understanding which white wines to buy for holiday dinners and gifts this year. We connected for some suggestions from regional wine expert Mike Good, who owns an online red wine company, timelesswines.com, as well as the Classic Wines retail store in Middletown.Q.
What type of white wine would pair best with a holiday supper of roast turkey, roast beef, and roast pork?A. “Christmas dinner, I like to have huge reds on the table– Syrah from Northern Rhone Valley France, or Shiraz from Australia’s Barossa Valley. Something about a meaty wine and cold weather simply works. For those searching for something light, Prosecco and Christmas work together– light bubbles with a crisp finish.
“For roast turkey, the standard is Chardonnay or Pinot Noir, however an overlooked choice is Trocken or dry-style Riesling. Sweetness would subdue your traditional Thanksgiving foods.
“General rule: Tasty with tasty red wines, sweet red wines with sweet foods. These dry-style Riesling will complement your turkey or other white meat dishes incredibly.
“The greater acidity in these red wines brings a best balance to the palate. It will likewise make an excellent pairing with your starters and the low alcohol ABV (alcohol by volume) will keep all your visitors getting here upright for the main dish!
“Roast beef: Italian red from Tuscany. My very first option being Brunello di Montalcino. These dry-style reds made from Sangiovese are just acidic enough on the taste buds not to be beaten down by the fat in the beef, yet still hold brooding red fruit flavors on the surface. Attempt Collemattoni, one of our top manufacturers in the region.
“Roast pork: I suggest Spanish white wines from the Ribera del Duero region. First to mind is constantly Pago de Carraovejas. An exceptional tasty red wine meant to be paired with mouthwatering pork dishes.”
Q. What wine do you suggest for New Year’s Eve?A. “New Year’s isn’t New Year’s without Champagne. I constantly recommend my preferred manufacturer, Roland Champion.
“For those wanting to conserve a few bucks, want to nations like South Africa for sparkling whites such as Colmant Brut Chardonnay.”
Q: What red wines would you advise for gifts?A. “A present, if money is no item– try to find 2018 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, Continuum is one that is always on our dream list. 2018 across the board was an outstanding vintage for Cabernet Sauvignon.
“Required a bottle to have when reaching a supper celebration? Navigator California Cabernet Sauvignon– this low-cost alternative will impress the host with its smooth taste buds. Also, it consumes at a much greater rate point than it cost!”
Q. This year’s Beaujolais nouveau has been launched. Are these early white wines popular in the U.S.?
A. “The majority of Beaujolais nouveau we sell is shipped of state; we sell extremely little in your area. We do sell a good little bit of the 10 Beaujolais Cru locally and nationally. In the best vintage, these can be extraordinary cellar-worthy red wines that can preserve a productive several years after release.”