Ask an Expert: Talking Holiday Wine Pairings with Chris Lobo of Native Wines

START WITH BUBBLES

Champagne and sparkling wine might be the perfect wine for the entire holiday season. When you think about celebrating what do you think of as the wine? Yup, Champagne or sparkling. You can never go wrong here. They can be enjoyed before dinner or during the main event, and they are an essential at the stroke of midnight when ringing in the new year. These wines offer a touch of elegance and are a symbolic of celebrations.

Stephanie's Local Pick: Thornton Winery’s Cuvee Rouge or NV Brut

WHEN YOU’RE ATTENDING, BRING A BLEND

In general, if you’re thinking about bringing a white and a red to cover a variety of food dishes, then I would suggest choosing something that is broad in nature, which means choosing a wine that is not over powering on either side of the flavor spectrum.

Blends are fantastic in this area as they are extremely versatile and can be very crowd pleasing.

Bringing something esoteric can be fun but don’t forget you are bringing wine for everyone. Not just the geeks in the corner. Knowing a bit about the producer and or the varietals also can enhance the wine experience for the guests.  

WHEN YOU’RE HOSTING

When you know exactly what’s going on in the kitchen, then you can select wines to enhance the offerings.  As was once explained to me, wine should enhance the meal not over or underwhelm it. Balance, weight and texture all can play in integral part.

Whites are great with light, citrusy and bright dishes. Rich, marbled meats need a tannic red. Think about pairing your wines with the accompanying sauces. And when it comes to pairing, you can either combine like flavors (bright white with a citrusy seafood), or select wines that will provide a nice counterpoint to a dish’s flavor (acidic wine to cut through heavier meats). Earthy wines paired with earthy dishes are always a slam dunk.

Lamb is a classic dish during the holidays. Pair with bigger bolder varietals like Syrah, Merlot, Malbec, and Zinfandel.

Stephanie’s Local Pick: Wyatt Oaks 2013 Zinfandel

Prime Rib has a good dose of marbling (fat) within the meat, so pair it with a wine that has a good amount of tannin structure. Cabernet Sauvignon, Mourvedre, Zinfandel or even Grenache will do the trick.

Stephanie’s Local Pick: Fallbrook 2016 33N Cabernet Sauvignon

Turkey on it’s own is extremely lean, but the gravy that can play games with you and the many other dishes on the table. Pinot Noir is a fantastic choice, as is a dry Gewürztraminer or sparkling wine.

Stephanie’s Local Pick: Carruth Cellars 2017 Pinot Noir

Tamales or Mexican food in general have become a huge holiday tradition here in San Diego. White wines work well here as a counterpoint to spicy flavors. Go for a clean, vibrant, refreshing wine like Sauvignon Blanc, Albarino, Pinot Gris or sparkling wine.

Stephanie’s Local Pick: San Pasqual Winery 2017 Seabreeze White Blend (Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc + Viognier)  

Seafood can go so many directions, from a rich textured fish or shellfish to something a little more delicate. For the former, look to light bodied wines like an Albarino, Chenin Blanc, Grenache Blanc or Rose. For fuller flavors or rich sauces, you will need something with a bit more backbone, like Viognier, Roussanne, Chardonnay, or Marsanne.

Stephanie’s Local Pick: Vesper  2016 McCormick Ranch Rose or 2016 Sunrise Ranch Grenache Blanc.

BUY YOUR WINE LIKE A LOCAL

We have some fantastic wine shops in San Diego County, and the knowledgeable folks who run them are sure to have suggestions as well.

The Rose, 2219 30th Street, South Park, San Diego

Meritage Wine Market, 6308, 162 S Rancho Santa Fe Road # A10, Encinitas

Wine Connection 2650 Via De La Valle # C130, Del Mar

Seaside Market 2087 San Elijo Ave, Cardiff

The 3rd Corner 897 S Coast Highway, Encinitas | 2265 Bacon Street, Ocean Beach