Our Favorite Holiday Wines

I'm not a person that opens a bottle of Port very often, but the best time to do so, in my opinion, is during the holidays. Whether I need something sweet to finish out an extra special meal, require something slightly stronger than the usual glass of wine to handle all the family, or desire something different to sip on the couch curled up watching holiday movies, the Quinta de la Rosa Ruby Port Lote 601 is a great choice. I'm a huge fan of the dark, red fruit notes and the smooth, luscious body that keeps me going back for another sip. It's dangerous! -Beth

When you can’t decide between a red and a rosé, look no further than the Château Carpe Diem Rosé Castille! This medium-bodied, Provençal style rosé is a delicious blend of Grenache and Syrah with lots of red fruit and a touch of zesty herbaceousness. I love this wine because it gives you the refreshing crispness you want from rosé and the body of a red. This wine is delicious on its own or with some of the lighter holiday dishes such as ham or lamb. Yum! -Charlotte

Nothing puts me into the holiday spirit like festive decor! The Broadbent Dao White is adorned with a gorgeous gold label with pops of red and green. I mean, the bottle practically screams “'Tis the Season!” But looks aside, it's what's on the inside that counts. The Dao is medium bodied, floral with melon fruit, and slightly savory with a slight beeswax character (so much fun!). It's yummy, easy-drinking, great for parties, and—best of all—affordable! I'll toast to that…Saúde! -Chelle

Three of my favorite things: Christmas, Italy, and red wine. Italy is magical at Christmastime, and so is this wine, the Tenuta DeAngelis Rosso Piceno Superiore. A blend of Montepulciano and Sangiovese from the Marche region, you’ll get blackberry and cherry aromas and flavors. It’s medium-bodied and can be enjoyed with a variety of foods—like, anything you’ll find on your holiday table, hint hint—and it’s got that rustic, earthy flavor that I absolutely love. Open a bottle, take a sip, and let your taste buds take you to a quaint Italian village this holiday season. Buon Natale! -JP

Spread some holiday cheer with Champagne Laurent Bénard Perpetuelle Cuvée. A perpetual reserve (the base wine used in their Champagne) is refreshed each year with wine from the new harvest to add further complexity to the blend. Over time the blend accumulates more and more different harvests creating a very unique wine. This is a great opportunity to taste the influence that each vintage adds to the blend. It's almost like when the Ghost of Christmas Past takes Scrooge on a journey into his early years. This Champagne is sure to help warm even the biggest Scrooge's cold heart. -Matt

Pinot Noir is the perfect wine for enjoying over multiple courses, from conversation over hors d'oeuvres to the classic Christmas roast. I've enjoyed several vintages of the Salem Wine Company Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir, and it has always displayed a classic Burgundian style with abundant dark cherry and cranberry skin fruit notes. Perfect for holiday meals! -Michael

My favorite wine for the holidays is Amarone. The moment you open a bottle of Amarone, you'll smell Christmas. It's a bold, yet comforting wine with luscious berry flavors of blackberry, cherry, cinnamon, and other baking spices. Amarone is a wine from Valpolicella, Italy (near Venice) that is made with a blend of native grape varieties and created with lots of love and patience. After harvest, the grapes are left to dry on wooden racks for several months in order to concentrate the flavors. The resulting wine is a treat for the senses! This Begali Amarone della Valpolicella Classico is delicious with the traditional holiday meal, whether you're serving pork, beef, or lamb. -Michelle