‘Wine’-d up for the Holidays – Grgich Hills’ Holiday Hosting Guide
Arranging a holiday get-together, and want to impress your friends and family with your epicurean know-how? Here are some holiday hosting tidbits to ensure yours is the place to be each and every holiday!
Serving Temperatures
Here’s a handy tip for chilling your wines – just remember 20/20! Put your white wine in the fridge to chill for an hour or more and remove them 20 minutes before they’re served. For reds, allow them to chill in your fridge for only 20 minutes, and they’ll be at an optimum temperature for service!
For those who crave a bit more precision, here are the serving temps we recommend:
Versatile Varietals
Flavor perception is highly variable, as are the dishes that have become uniquely integrated in each person’s holiday traditions! No matter if you’re a holiday dining traditionalist or you like to order out from your favorite Indian place for festive get-togethers, these versatile varietals are always handy to have around, as they’ll find a place alongside all manner of cuisine!
Chardonnay (But not all Chardonnays)
While the oaky, buttery Chardonnays that your mother loved might not play nice with all different foods, the style that we’ve been producing for decades, with balanced acidity and a refreshing mouthfeel, works well with all sorts!
Cabernet Franc (Cab Sauv’s more chill parent)
While Cabernet Sauvignon reigns supreme as the king of red wine, we’ve found its relative Cabernet Franc to be more amenable to a variety of dishes. This is because Cabernet Franc tends to be lighter-bodied with fewer tannins and with herbal and fruity flavors that complement a wide variety of food.
Zinfandel (Because we Croatians get along with anyone!)
Our beloved Croatian varietal Zinfandel isn’t a one-hit-wonder, relegated to pairing only with lamb dishes (that are undoubtedly a great duo). Though jammy Zinfandels are common and difficult to pair well with a diverse array of food, an herbaceous, peppery Zin acts as a flavor-enhancer for just about any hearty dish!
Party-Starters
People are arriving, and dinner won’t be ready for another hour – what better way to get some conversations going than by offering some wines that don’t need any help to be stars of flavor? Here are some wines that we recommend as scene-setters for a remarkable evening.
Rosé
The adage ‘Rosé all day’ has become popular for a reason – you can really enjoy ‘Rosé at any and all times, making it the perfect amuse-bouche of the wine world. It’s fun, easy-going, and doesn’t require pairing with food to really shine, making it a solid choice when you’re looking to enjoy a wine on its own.
Sauvignon Blanc
Our tasting room staff has affectionately given our Napa Valley Essence Sauvignon Blanc the nickname ‘breakfast wine,’ as its bracing acidity and refreshing flavor profile serves to scintillate and awaken the taste buds – making it sort of a ‘breakfast’ for the palate!
Sparkling Wines
Could we really have a list of party-starting wines without including some bubblies? While Grgich Hills Estate doesn’t currently make any sparkling wines (yet…) there’s nothing quite like enjoying a glass of your favorite champagne or prosecco, while you reconnect with friends and family you haven’t seen in ages.
Most Importantly – Have Fun with it!
While our suggestions are based on conventions, this is not to say we know everything – as mentioned before, everyone’s tastes are different! So, don’t feel restrained to convention, and dare to explore what works best for you – unless of course you come from a family of passionate sommeliers, then you might want to brush up on your wines, pairings, and keep that pinky up!