The happiest time of the year might be a little less happy if your guests can’t get past their lack of wine knowledge. But don’t worry! World Wine got your back, and here’s what you need to know when choosing wines for your holiday gatherings:
Zinfandel
Zinfandel is a red wine grape found in California, Italy, and the US. It’s one of the most popular wines in America, with more than 1 billion cases produced annually. Zinfandel pairs well with red meat like steak or lamb chops because it has a meaty taste that goes well with these dishes.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is a red wine grape variety, used to make both red and white wines. It’s typically full-bodied with high tannins but can vary in style from light and fruity to dark and brooding. Cabernet Sauvignon wines are often oak aged for at least one year before bottling.
Merlot
Merlot is a red wine grape variety, which originated in the Bordeaux region of France. It is also known as “Ugni blanc” in France, where it was the predominant grape of the Sauternes region.
Merlot’s flavor profile can range from fruity and sweet to spicy and dry depending on the terroir (soil). The best Merlots are made from grapes grown on sandy soils with warm temperatures that allow for good development of acidity and acid blend characters such as tannins or fruit flavors.
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is a red wine grape variety that originated in the Burgundy region of France. It’s grown throughout the world, but it’s particularly popular in California and Oregon. Pinot Noir has a light color, delicate flavor, and aroma with hints of strawberry when young. This makes it ideal for serving during the holidays because you’ll get all these great qualities without having to worry about overpowering your guests with alcohol content or too much sugar!
Pinot Noir wines also tend to be more elegant than some other types such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot; they’re often made from grapes harvested early on so they don’t have much time to ferment before being bottled—which means they don’t need as much aging time before drinking them on their own (or mixing them with other types).
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a white grape that has been grown in France since the 12th century. It has become one of the most popular wines in the world and can be found on every continent except Antarctica.
Chardonnay is best served at about 55 degrees Fahrenheit (13 Celsius), which means it’s best to pair this with seafood dishes like fish or shrimp.
Sparkling wine
For the holidays, there’s no better wine than Champagne. The sparkling wine is made from the same grapes as Champagne but is filtered and slightly less sweet than its cousin. It’s ideal for pairing with foie gras or other off-pump foods that require a little extra sweetness in their taste profile.
Prosecco is a light-bodied Italian sparkling wine that can be enjoyed on its own or paired with spicy dishes like cumin-rubbed chicken wings it also works well as an alternative to Spanish rioja when you’re looking for something lighter and drier. Cava is another Spanish option worth trying; this inexpensive sparkling grape has won awards for being one of Spain’s most popular wines!
Conclusion
There you have it. We hope this article has given you some great wine ideas which you can get from World Wine for the holidays. Remember that wine is a great way to celebrate and enjoy time with friends and family, so go ahead and bring out all the bottles!