I am extremely fortunate that I don’t need to be in an alcohol induced haze when I spend time with my family.  The one I was born into, the one I married or the one I choose.  This does not mean we don’t drink when we are together.  It just means it isn’t a necessity.  Wine adds more silliness and laughter, of which we have more than our fair share of when we are completely sober, so imagine the fun when we all get a little buzzed.

Other families are not so lucky.  They do require alcohol to even consider spending the holidays together.  I honestly do not have the credentials to deal with other peoples familial  issues.  I do, however, have the credentials to suggest some awesome wines to pair with a terrible turkey, glorious prime rib, awe inspiring turducken, or whatever your odd group enjoys when you are all together.

I like to begin with a glass of bubbles.  Try a Cava from Spain.  Made in the same way Champagne is made in France.  Cava is generally more reasonably priced.  Cava is a balanced, fruity sparkling wine that is less sweet than Prosecco and less biscuity than Champagne.   If you like to start your celebration with a mimosa, I love to add a little amaretto to my mine.  I got that tip from an extremely friendly flight attendant on a very early morning flight to Miami.

Because I am who I am, I always serve both a white and a red wine.  Gewurztraminer (traditionally grown in Alsace, France and Germany) entices people who generally drink red to take a walk on the white side.  Gewurztraminer is an aromatic wine with flavors of lychee, pineapple, apricot and cantaloupe.  I have heard it referred to as a grown ups Moscato, with higher alcohol, more complexity and lower acidity.

This year we are going to enjoy a Tempranillo, from Spain, but also grown in Portugal, Australia and the US.  Tempranillo is a a medium to full bodied red wine, similar in style to a Cabernet Sauvignon or Sangiovese.  In traditional Tempranillo I taste cherries and leather along with tobacco and clove.  It has medium acid and tannin.  The Spanish wine laws require that the winery list the aging terms on the label.  The first, Vin Joven, we don’t usually see in the US, the other three are what you will most likely find in your local store.  Crianza, aged 6 months in oak, Reserva, aged 3 years with 1 year in oak, and Gran Reserva (only made in great vintages) is aged 5 years, 18 months in oak.  You will find a noticeable difference between the quality of Crianza and Reserva due to the length of barrel aging so it’s worth it to buy a Reserva Tempranillo.

Good luck this holiday season.  Whether you love this time of year or hate it, at least now you have a few wines to bring with you to your family gathering.

Cheers!

J Mac