Holiday Wine Pairings

By Food & Wine
Updated January 11, 2017
To make your holiday meal even more spectacular you need the perfect wine. Here, F&W's guide to holiday wine pairings.
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Smoky Glazed Ham with Red Pepper Jelly

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Pairing: Oregon Pinot Noir

Oregon Pinots tend to be spicy and berry-rich—great with this flavorful ham.

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2 of 14

Best-Ever Cheese Soufflé

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Pairing: Pinot Grigio

Fresh, white peach-inflected Pinot Grigio is delicious with this old-school cheese soufflé.

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Herbed Pork Rib Roast

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Pairing: Chardonnay

Pair this juicy pork roast with a creamy Chardonnay with hints of fruit and oak.

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Nutty Toffee-Date Cake

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Pairing: Tokaji

A honeyed dessert wine from Tokaj, Hungary is the perfect way to end a decadent meal.

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Rosemary-Pepper Beef Rib Roast with Porcini Jus

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Pairing: California Cabernet Sauvignon

Peppery California Cabernet Sauvignon will compliment this hearty, pepper-crusted roast.

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Cheddar Gougères

Credit: © Quentin Bacon
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Pairing: Cava

Cabot Clothbound Cheddar gougères are perfect with light and citrusy cava.

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7 of 14

Mini Blini Napoleons

Credit: © Lucy Schaeffer
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Pairing: Prosecco

Caviar and sparkling wine is a foolproof pairing. Light and lemony Prosecco is a terrific, budget-friendly option.

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Spiced Coriander and Mustard-Crusted Rib Roast of Beef

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Pairing: Syrah

Bright, red cherry–inflected Syrah can stand up to this fragrant, meaty rib roast.

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Dulce de Leche Crispies

Credit: © Lucy Schaeffer
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Pairing: NV The Rare Wine Co. Charleston Sercial Madeira

US importer Mannie Berk, together with the Madeira house Barbeito, focuses on the brisk Sercial grape variety for this vibrant, maple-inflected wine.

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10 of 14

Maple Sugar-Ginger Roast Pork

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Pairing: 2009 Delas Frères Haute Pierre Châteauneuf du Pape

Châteauneuf-du-Pape's rich, dark fruit character has a peppery edge that's particularly appealing with warm spices like the ginger flavoring this roast.

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Seven-Layer Dobos Torte

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Pairing: Passito di Pantelleria

Passito, an Italian dessert wine made by drying the grapes to concentrate the sugar before pressing the juice, is rich and honeyed, brilliant with creamy desserts like this torte.

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Spiced Leg of Lamb with Olives, Apricots and Lemons

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Pairing: Northern Italian Merlot

This substantial leg of lamb calls for a decadent, berry-rich Merlot from Alto Adige in northern Italy.

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13 of 14

Poached Pears with Prunes

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Pairing: Moscato d’Asti

Sweet Moscato d'Asti from Piedmont, Italy, pairs nicely with these fragrant pears.

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Buckwheat-Potato Knishes with Caviar

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Pairing: Vintage Brut

Indulgent fried dishes like these knishes call for a lively sparkling wine. Look for a rich and toasty bottle from California or Oregon.

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