Winter Holiday Wine Guide

People have many choices of beverages to drink during the holidays, but one drink stands apart from the rest – Christmas wines. Not only is wine the most consumed beverage at holiday events, but it is also a common gift. Today, consumers have a huge variety of holiday wines to select from for the holidays, but the task is not easy. 

If you were to ask 10 wine experts about the best wines for the holiday season, you would probably get 50 different answers - all unique. There are many types of holiday wines available.  Some people may just pick the wine on the top shelf, believing it must have been put there because it’s the best; others choose the cheapest wine, and yet others pick wine by the shape of the bottle, or something even more obscure. If you are confused as to which type of wine to gift or consume during the holidays, here are some tips.

Your budget: During the holiday season, people tend to consume a lot of holiday wine, and, therefore, you really should have a budget so that you won’t have the blues in January. In general, you should avoid wines that cost less than $10 as they tend to be sweet and heavy in calories. 

White Wines Under $20

We have great white wines that you can purchase under $20.00, and they include the following:

• 2020 SWEET RIESLING
• 2022 J RIESLING
• 2018 DRY RIESLING
• 2018 RAMOS VINEYARD GEWURZTRAMINER

Best Christmas Wines

If you plan to have a turkey on Christmas day, stick to the classics. They are versatile and can be paired with many foods. Some great classic Christmas wines include:

• 2018 WALLULA VINEYARD RIESLING
• 2016 HAHN HILL VINEYARD ICE WINE RIESLING
• 2018 SILVER TOTEM CHARDONNAY
• 2018 RAINSTORM PINOT NOIR

Wines With Low Alcohol Content

During the holiday season, people usually drink way too much and besides developing hangovers, there is also a risk of car accidents, falls, and missing other festivities. You can select a red wine with low alcohol content.  Choices include the following:

• 2019 RAINSTORM PINOT GRIS
• 2022 SWEET RIESLING
• 2018 VIN DE GLACIÈRE RIESLING
• 2018 HAHN HILL VINEYARD CHENIN BLANC

Something Bubbly for the Holiday Season

No holiday season is complete without some bubbly. It is perhaps the first drink of choice during any festive event and the majority of people love sparkling wines. There are many affordable sparkling wines on the market, and they include the following:

• 2016 HAHN HILL VINEYARD ICE WINE RIESLING
• 2018 VIN DE GLACIÈRE RIESLING

Romance in the Air

During the holiday season, there seems to always be romance in the air. If you are planning something romantic, like an engagement, wedding, or celebrating an anniversary during the festive season, here are some special wines that you may want to consider:

• 2012 SELENIUM VINEYARD NOBLE WINE
• 2015 THICK SKINNED RED MOUNTAIN
• 2018 SILVER TOTEM CABERNET SAUVIGNON
• 2020 RAINSTORM PINOT NOIR ROSÉ

Conclusion

There is a wine for almost everyone, especially during the holiday season. Because of the vast number of wines, it can get confusing as to which ones to buy. If you want a wine that pairs with your food, first read what the experts recommend. 

The best advice is to speak to the vendor for recommendations and always buy one bottle first. If you like it, you can always purchase more later.  Pacific Rim & Company will be more than happy to assist you in winemaking decisions this holiday season.  Call them today at 1-503-863-5454.