As we head into December and all the holiday parties, I am often asked about wines to present as gifts, bring to parties or serve with the holiday dinner. I thought I would share some of my tips to help take some of the stress out of your wine shopping.
When in doubt – bubbles! You really can’t go wrong with bringing a bottle of sparkling wine to a party or dinner, or as a host gift. Of course, Champagne is always a great choice, but remember there are other sparkling wines made using the traditional Champagne method that are more affordable. Think Cremant d’ Alsace and Cremant de Loire from France; Franciacorta from Italy; Cava from Spain; and bubbles from Tasmania.
When shopping for Champagne, I look for a tiny “RM” on the label, which designates it’s a “grower champagne.” Grower champagnes are made and bottled by the same people who grow the grapes, so they will likely offer a bit more nuance and reflect the place where the grapes are grown.
Life is too short to gift bad wine. Your host has gone to a lot of work to put on a fab party, so this is your time to impress. Head to your local wine shop and ask the staff what they would bring to a party (within your price range, of course.) Or pick a bottle from a wine region you recently visited or that has another connection to you. Give your host a great story.
Pair wines with similar weight to foods. If bringing a wine to a dinner party, ask the host what they will serve. If lighter fare such as shrimp or fish dishes, consider a lighter style white like Muscadet or red like Pinot Noir or Gamay. If steak and creamy mashed potatoes, bring a heavier white like a Chardonnay or bigger red like Cabernet, Merlot, or a Grenache-Syrah-Mourvèdre blend.
Bring a Texas wine! Eat local, drink local. The beauty about Texas wines is that there is literally something for everyone. Unlike Napa where you’re mostly going to find Cabernet and Chardonnay, or Oregon where you’ll drink a lot of Pinot Noir, Texas offers a variety of wines that you would find in Spain, Italy, southern France and Portugal. So be adventurous and uncork a Texas wine.
Here are some wines that I would be happy to bring to a party!
Claude Genet Blanc de Blancs – this grower champagne has rich notes of ripe yellow apple, lemon and toasty brioche.
Bella Vista Alma Brut – made in the traditional Champagne method, this bubbly from the Franciacorta, Italy wine region has tiny bubbles and notes of lemon meringue pie.
Weingut Knoll Loibner Gruner Veltliner – easily recognizable by its distinctive label with an image of St. Urban, the patron saint of winemakers and vineyards, this classic Gruner Veltliner has notes of apples and citrus with a spicy undertone. The bottle is beautiful – your host will love it!
Donnachadh Pinot Noir, Gamay or Rosé of Syrah – these lighter-style wines are inspired by the wines of Burgundy and Northern Rhone offering complex flavors while retaining acidity. The Gamay is one of my favorites with notes of raspberry and black cherry candy and a hint of earth – it would pair well with so many dishes. It’s also another beautiful bottle that your host will love.
Texas Fine Wine Holiday Bundle – this holiday pack includes four exceptional Texas red wines, perfect pairings for a holiday dinner. It includes the Pedernales Cellars Texas High Plains Graciano; Duchman Family Winery Tempranillo, Salt Lick Vineyards; Spicewood Vineyards Independence (a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot); and Bending Branch Winery Texas Cabernet Sauvignon.
Denise Clarke is an avid wine enthusiast who loves sharing and teaching people about wine. She is a Certified Wine Educator, Certified Sommelier, WSET Advanced graduate and an expert on Texas wine. Owner of Denise Clarke PR, she currently represents Texas Fine Wine and the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Wine Marketing Program. She has lived in Austin for more than 30 years and when she is not swirling and sipping wine, she can be found on her bike, climbing every hill she can find.
Follow Denise on IG at @deniseclarkeTX for more wine recommendations.
