What Wine to Drink at Christmas Meals

Choice by Wine Type

It's a common saying: red wine for red meats and game, and white wine for fish and white meats. However, red wine, being fuller-bodied, should accompany dishes with more flavor and spices, such as red meats, while white wine, being lighter, can pair well with similar dishes. If you're preparing a turkey with a rich sauce for Christmas dinner, it's best to pair it with a full-bodied red wine, as the white might overpower it. In other words, there are exceptions to the rule.

Choice by Grape Variety

Merlot and Malbec wines are known for being a bit lighter, making them good companions for an evening of conversation.

When it comes to dishes with intense flavors that stimulate the palate, Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz wines are recommended. Of course, this isn't a hard and fast rule, just a key point to consider.

If you want to bring a bottle of wine as a gift to Christmas dinner, but your guests or host aren't exactly wine drinkers, you can start by offering a Pinot Noir, which is less astringent. This way, they might enjoy it more and even begin to appreciate it.

A young wine isn't necessarily bad or poor quality. Nowadays, there are young wines of great quality. They're generally less intense than reserve wines, and for many who aren't drawn to strong flavors, they're the best option.

You won't necessarily like a reserve wine, just as you would with young wines. The key is personal taste. Reserve wines tend to be more intense, and if you don't enjoy these flavors, or think they don't go well with the Christmas dinner dishes, it's better to choose a young but good-quality wine.