2017 BC Holiday Wine Guide: What to serve

Be your own sommelier this holiday season. (Photo: Shutterstock)

This piece was written for Daily Hive by DJ Kearney, Director of Wine at newdistrict.ca and our resident wine expert.

The giving season is here – the time for a whirlwind of parties, dinners, office gift exchanges, and overall (delicious) indulgence!

You’ll probably have many occasions to bestow a bottle of vino, and receive the added dividend of making yourself look like a savvy genius, with superb taste, sophistication, and high wine IQ.

Whether you are tasked with bringing a bottle to dinner, or you want to show off your wine pairing chops, or choose a fitting bottle to give, you might find some of these tips handy.

Serve

Ask in the wine shop for whacko red grapes to spice up your holiday dinner. (Photo: Shutterstock)

If you’re the one hosting the party, flip the original question – what are you going to serve?

You’ve scrubbed the bathroom, fussed over the food, and now you need wine. How about the esoteric approach?

Opt for intriguing or uncommon wines

Be your own sommelier and dazzle your guests with wines that are ultra-geeky, off-the-beaten-path, and drop-dead delicious.

Greece was the epicentre of the wine world for centuries, and Katogi & Strofilia’s White Dot is a thoroughly modern white that will handle the appetizers and salads. So will Reserva Albariño, a stunner from Uruguay – yes Uruguay.

It’s shapely and rich, with the right weight to pair with roast bird or baked salmon. And aren’t you clever, choosing a wine from one of the hippest new wine regions?

Look for the unicorn

How about a streamlined and crunchy red from Northern Italy made from the Vernatsch grape to pair with a charcuterie platter?

Wilhelm Walch’s St. Magdalener has a festive gold label, and a lofty reputation. Brimming with cherries and spice, it’s a unicorn of a wine from alpine vineyards. You could also show off some wine knowledge: Vernatsch is also known as Schiava (Ski-ah-vah), and Trollinger.

Step it up a notch with the full-bodied, robust and excellently named Kit and Kaboodle red from Australia. Gaining cult status, the winery Alpha Box and Dice makes killer wines that sommeliers around the world are snapping up. This triple-grape blend features voluptuous dark fruit that you could serve with braised beef, leg of lamb, or even mushroom pizza.

Check out what wines to bring and gift for the holiday season.

2017 BC Holiday Wine Guide: What to serve

See also

Serve

Opt for intriguing or uncommon wines

Look for the unicorn

See also