With Christmas slowly approaching, we thought we’d create a list of 12 wines for the 12 days of Christmas. And here they are!
12 Wines for the 12 Days of Christmas
Day 1: A Patridge in a Pear Tree.
Wine: Sauvignon Blanc
The Sauvignon Blanc is the perfect pairing for a pear and cheese platter. The grapefruit, honeydew, pineapple, citrus and herbal notes a wine like this gives off matches perfectly with a Brie or Camembert and pears.
Day 2: Two Turtle Doves.
Wine: Sherry
If you are a fan of turtle soup, a glass of sherry is your best bet with this exotic pairing. Now you may not be eating turtle soup this Christmas, but no one is stopping you from drinking the sherry on its own.
Day 3: Three French Hens.
Wine: Chardonnay
An oaked Chardonnay is the perfect pairing for a hen made Mediterranean style with simple herbs such as rosemary, nutmeg and black pepper.
Day 4: Four Calling Birds.
Wine: Rosso di Montalcino
Our take on calling birds is Christmas turkey because who doesn’t like to be called to the dinner table on Christmas Day? Typically, turkey is paired with white wine but go different this year and pair a quality dish with a quality wine. This Tuscany region red wine is lighter bodied red ideal for a turkey based second course.
Day 5: Five Golden Rings.
Wine: Sparkling Wine
Christmas season in Italy means fish feast. If you are celebrating Christmas Eve with fried calamari rings, a sparkling wine is the most promising pairing to cleanse your palate and prepare you for your next meal. Or your next glass of sparkling wine.
Day 6: Six Geese a-Laying.
Wine: Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is the perfect pairing for goose dishes, especially those which are accompanied by rich side dishes such as sweet potatoes or cabbage. The smoothness of this wine and fruity notes make this wine a great balance to an already rich dish.
Day 7: Seven Swans a-Swimming.
Wine: Tempranillo
We all know the famous aluminum swan wrapping placed around leftovers. This Christmas you are sure to have plenty of leftovers, especially the turkey kind so why not make a proper meal of it and pair your turkey leftovers with a Tempranillo. This is a great tannic wine which balances well with turkey fat and drippings. So, you can even pour a bit of gravy on your leftovers while you’re there.
Day 8: Eight Maids a-Milking.
Wine: Ruby Port
Our take on milk is none other than milk chocolate, and what better pairing is there for milk chocolate than a lovely port wine from Portugal. This wine will bring out the spices and berries hidden in your milk chocolate. How festive!
Day 9: Nine Ladies Dancing.
Wine: Vermentino
If you want a light, drinkable wine that you can drink at the company holiday party where you, your best best is a Vermentino. This wine offers fruit notes and is low in alcohol content so you can loosen up on the dance floor, without being the topic of conversation at the water cooler the next day.
Day 10: Ten Lords a-Leaping.
Wine: Vino Nobile di Montelpulciano Riserva DOCG
When it comes to royalty, you either go big or go home. Lords and ladies should be served a wine with an equivocal ranking such as the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva DOCG. The name says it all. This is a noble red wine from Tuscany, ideal for a special occasion such as those around the holiday season.
Day 11: Eleven Pipers Piping.
Wine: Any Deep Red Wine | Brunello di Montalcino
Tobacco and wine go hand and hand, so much so that Master Sommeliers are experts of both these products and their terroir. If you are smoking a bold tobacco and want to accompany it with wine, you will want to break out the good stuff such as a Brunello di Montalcino. This is a deep red which pairs perfectly with your pipe.
Day 12: Drummers Drumming.
Wine: Sparkling Wine
There’s always music at a holiday party, especially if it is a finger food party. What wine goes best with a casual, festive atmosphere? A sparkling wine! Yes, we know you’re also having that on the fifth day of Christmas, but who doesn’t like to drink a bit of bubbly more than once around the holidays?
Cheers, Happy Holidays & Happy 12 Days of Christmas!
