There are numerous demanding elements of the holiday, but one choice that can slip up on you is what bottle to bring to the multitude of vacation celebrations you’ll likely be attending this winter. Instead of wait till the last minute, get whatever you occur to have laying around, and hope for the best, why not take some suggestions from the pros?We asked sommeliers throughout the country what bottle they’re bringing to their own lineup of vacation celebrations; here’s what they suggested.
The Very Best Red Wines for Vacation Parties, According to Sommeliers
- Large-format champagne
- Old Rhône Valley Syrah
- Tenuta Foresto Frizzante
- Domaine Les Hautes Noëlles ‘Voulez-Vouz Gamay Avec Moi’
- Raventós i Blanc de Nit Brut Rosé
- 2010 Château Léoville Poyferré from St Julien, Bordeaux
- Il Mostro Longana Rosato Frizzante
- Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs
- Champagne
- Cru Beaujolais
- Zinfandel
- Department Gamay Lutte
“I want to bring an obnoxiously large bottle of sparkling wine to the party– a fantastic experience with a tasty wine. Champagne would be my first option, and most red wine shops have a small but consistent choice of big formats.” — Richard Hanauer, partner and white wine director, RPM Restaurants (Miami)
“Old Syrah from the Northern Rhône. The red wines of the Northern Rhône are cozy, powerful, and, with a little age, magical. The red wines are best for the roasts on a table or for an after-dinner drink around the fire. Thierry Allemand and Jamet are my go-to manufacturers from the Rhône.” — Arjav Ezekiel, co-owner & & white wine director, Birdie’s, Austin, Texas
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“I like to have bubbles around the holidays, so I’m bringing a light, fresh, enjoyable pét-nat that everyone will enjoy. Something like the Tenuta Foresto Frizzante, which is made from poppy red fruits and has a soft bubble to keep the energy alive and festive. Pét-nats are available in a big variety of designs and flavor profiles, so it’s easy to discover something everyone will love.” — Paul Lysek, service manager, Safta, Denver
“All can be summed up by what this white wine is called. Voulez-Vouz Gamay Avec Moi implies, ‘Do you want to Gamay with me?’ How great is that name? This wine is from the Tridon household who has been making wine here since the 1930s. It is a definitely scrumptious Gamay from the Loire Valley. It has a bit of something for everyone, it’s light, and when served a bit cool, it is so rejuvenating. You won’t get an extremely fruity Gamay; with this cool-climate red wine you get tons of crispy blueberries, plum skin, [and] newly turned soil. It also can be delighted in with many different meals or extremely simply by itself.” — Samantha Germani, director of food and beverage, The Rittenhouse, Philadelphia
“I’m bringing Raventós i Blanc de Nit Brut Rosé, a remarkable sparkling wine from Spain’s Penedes region. Raventós makes a few of the best sparkling wines in the world, and this is no exception. The only problem with this wine is that it tends to go quickly, so my only service is to bring 2 bottles.” — Rick Arline, director of white wine, Hotel Per La, Los Angeles
“It really depends on the type of vacation celebration. If I am going to a holiday party where I understand there will be some delicious food, I am likely going to bring a bottle with some age that I know everybody will enjoy, like 2010 Château Léoville Poyferré from Saint-Julien, Bordeaux. Timeless, delicious, and perfect for the cooler months of the year, open the bottle at the start of the meal and hope there is some by the end.” — Luke Sullivan, sommelier, Eleven Madison Park, NEW YORK CITY
“My favorite white wine to give all events is Il Mostro Longana Rosato Frizzante. It’s a super-fun pét-nat made from 100 percent Montepulciano with flower and spiced notes on the nose and big red berries coming through as you drink. The label is delightfully whimsical, featuring an illustration of an Ichthyocentaur, which is a legendary creature with a human upper body, legs of a horse, and a tail of a fish or mermaid– always an enjoyable conversation starter!” — Liz Ramirez, bar supervisor, Crossroads Hotel, Kansas City, Mo.
“As a rule, I constantly bring a minimum of one bottle of bubbles. If it’s a group that values high-end Champagne, Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs is [a] personal favorite. It’s hard to pick simply one bottle of bubbles; I like them ALL! It’s best for all celebrations and events– easy drinking, lighter alcohol content. And truthfully, it starts the night with the best atmosphere!” — Kimber Stonehouse, director of drink getting & & analytics, Prime Steak Concepts
“In Napa, you can’t go wrong with Champagne for holiday celebrations, Tuesday nights, lunch dates, and general leisure. Seriously– this town loves to hear genuine Champagne pop!” — Matt Stamp, sommelier & & creator, Compline Dining establishment and Red Wine Store, Napa, Calif.
“I’m bringing cru Beaujolais. With the chillier weather and holiday table fare, an earthy red wine that opts for a wide variety of meals is just the ticket. I prefer a good Morgon, which has outstanding depth and body without being too overpowering for the holiday table.” — Francis Kulaga, certified sommelier & & drink director, Birch & & Rye, San Francisco
“I share an allotment of Bedrock Wine Co. with a buddy, and I have problem stopping myself from purchasing red wine each and every time there’s an offer. As a result, my cellar is practically one-third Bedrock red wines. The holidays are a fantastic opportunity to break these bad kids out. Partially because they’re delicious and hearty– great for the season and the foods available– and likewise partly since I’m a Zinfandel evangelical. Anticipate me to come to your home preaching the recommendation about our lord and hero, Zin.” — Jamie Harrison Rubin, licensed sommelier & & consultant, Kid Things Hospitality, Philadelphia
“I usually follow the ABCs– Always Bring Champagne– but for holiday parties when everyone is bringing bubbles and huge reds, I choose to slow-sip and take pleasure in excellent discussion. Option? I discover myself reaching for a tart, spicy, smooth, light-bodied red. Kate Norris and Tom Monroe’s Division Gamay ‘Lutte’ from Willamette is a preferred when I’m feeling homesick– it smells and tastes like springtime New England strawberries and horse barns.” — Danya Degen, director of red wine & & operations, The Duck & & The Peach, La Collina and The Wells, Washington, D.C.