Christmas Wine
Christmas wine for the whole meal, from the first glass of bubbles to port with dessert.
How to pick wine for Christmas dinner
Choose the wine for the main dish. Fatty meat like prime rib needs a red with grip; ham and turkey go better with lighter reds or whites; fish wants a crisp white.
Plan about one bottle for every two guests, and open something sparkling when people arrive.
- Prime rib or roast beefCabernet, Bordeaux or Barbaresco.
- HamRiesling or Beaujolais.
- FishChablis, Muscadet or Fiano.
- DessertTawny Port or Sauternes.
The Marigny Pinot Noir 750ML$30.00
Duport "L'intact" 750ML$28.00
Red wine for Christmas dinner
Tannin is the drying feeling a red leaves in your mouth. Next to fatty meat it softens and the wine tastes smoother, so prime rib is the time for a bigger red. Open it an hour before dinner.
- ClassicChâteau Pontet Saint Brice Bordeaux, $33.
- ItalianBarbaresco from La Vedetta or Massimo Rattalino.
- Crowd pleaserOberon Napa Cabernet or Catena Malbec.
- A little lighterL'Hallali Gigondas.
Macari Cabernet Franc$44.00
Wine for Christmas ham
Ham is salty and the glaze is sweet. Riesling has the acidity and fruit to balance both. Big reds taste bitter next to the salt, so keep reds light and serve them a little cool.
- RieslingDastrocken or Zungenbrecher from Germany.
- Dry and localFox Run Dry Riesling from the Finger Lakes.
- Light redGaspard Pinot Noir or Ducroux Beaujolais.
- RoséLes Bidules or Stolpman Love You Bunches.
Dastrocken Riesling 750ML$21.00
Les Bidules Rose 750ML$24.00
Balea Txakoli Rosé 750ML$23.00
Gaspard Pinot Noir 750ML$20.00
Ameztoi Rubentis 750ML$34.00
Las Jaras Rose 750ML$25.00
Wine for the Feast of the Seven Fishes
The Feast of the Seven Fishes is the Italian-American Christmas Eve dinner: fried calamari, clams, baccalà and more. Fish needs a white with high acidity, the kind that makes your mouth water, because it cuts through fried food the way lemon does.
- Stay ItalianFiano from Ciro Picariello or Claudio Quarta, Greco di Tufo or Etna Bianco.
- Clams and raw barRomain Petiteau Muscadet, $18.
- Baked fishChablis from Louis Père & Fils or Patrick Piuze.
Balea Txakoli 2024 750ML$23.00
Ciro Picariello Fiano 750ML$30.00
Sparkling wine for Christmas
Prosecco is fruity and light. Cava and Crémant are made the same way as Champagne, with the bubbles formed in the bottle, and cost much less. Moscato d'Asti is sweet and low in alcohol, good with dessert.
- Toast for a crowdVerde Sambucese or Ombra Prosecco, under $20.
- Champagne taste for lessParés Baltà Cava, $25.
- A special bottleSchramsberg Blanc de Blancs from California.
- With dessertSan Guilano Moscato d'Asti.
Pares Balta Cava Brut 750ML$25.00
Kamara Pet Nat 750MV$33.00
Port and dessert wine for Christmas
Dessert wines are sweet and stronger than table wine, so pour small glasses. Tawny Port tastes of nuts and caramel; Sauternes and Tokaji taste of honey and apricot.
- Pecan or apple piePenfolds Tawny or Manoella 10 Year Tawny Port.
- Blue cheeseCastelnau de Suduiraut Sauternes, a half bottle.
- Fruit tartDemeter Zoltán Tokaj Late Harvest.
- How muchA half bottle serves four to six.
Hidalgo Fino Sherry$19.00
Sambucese Moscato 750ML$18.00
Penfolds Tawny Port 750ML$18.00
Sete Tropicale 750ML$30.00
Christmas wine in Greenpoint
We're at 983 Manhattan Ave in Greenpoint, open daily from 12 PM, a short walk from Williamsburg. Local delivery is free in Greenpoint (11222).
The wines below are ones we have plenty of for December, all under $25.
La Vielle Ferme Red 750ML$18.00
Chono Carménère 2022 750ML$19.00
Fuchs Sauvignon Blanc 750ML$20.00
Gulp Hablo Orange 2024 1L$22.00
