Holiday Wine Pairings

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.

Gifts for Wine Lovers

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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.

Wine Cocktails

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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.

Centerpiece Roasts

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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.

Modern and Classic Holiday Desserts

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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.

Beef Recipes

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Cheddar Gougères

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Pairing: Cava

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

Holiday Appetizers

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Mini Blini Napoleons

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Pairing: Prosecco

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

Fast Holiday Appetizers

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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.

Thanksgiving Centerpiece Roasts

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Dulce de Leche Crispies

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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.

Top Thanksgiving Desserts

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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.

Holiday Entertaining Shortcuts

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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.

Holiday Drinks

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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.

Best $15-and-Under Wines

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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.

Beautiful Desserts

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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.

Easy Holiday Hors D'Oeuvres

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Holiday Wine Pairings

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Smoky Glazed Ham with Red Pepper Jelly

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Best-Ever Cheese Soufflé

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Herbed Pork Rib Roast

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Nutty Toffee-Date Cake

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Rosemary-Pepper Beef Rib Roast with Porcini Jus

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Cheddar Gougères

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Mini Blini Napoleons

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Spiced Coriander and Mustard-Crusted Rib Roast of Beef

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Dulce de Leche Crispies

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Maple Sugar-Ginger Roast Pork

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Seven-Layer Dobos Torte

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Spiced Leg of Lamb with Olives, Apricots and Lemons

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Poached Pears with Prunes

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Buckwheat-Potato Knishes with Caviar

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