nother holiday season is upon us, and with it the traditional gatherings of friends and family for dinner and parties. For many of us, the hardest decision we’ll make is which wine to serve-after all, we do not want to disappoint our guests with our choice-and have them talk about it forever after! To help, here are some suggestions, to give you an idea of what to buy no matter what your budget.

First, do not judge a wine by the price; it is the pairing of quality and selection of foods that your guests will notice and appreciate. It is not necessary to buy expensive wines to impress your guests--quality is what makes the impression. Many people judge a wine on price alone, and often are disappointed by the result.

You should first determine the menu, then select the wines. For example, a lamb roast needs a much more robust wine than a turkey or chicken breast. Also you may want a variety of wines available to match your guests’ preferences. One to five wines at maximum should be available for selection. During the holiday season, turkey is perhaps the most popular meat, and since there are many suitable wines on the market it may be overwhelming to choose.

Allow me to recommend:

Coyote Creek Chardonnay 2002 from Santa Rosa (California), $8 - $10.

Chateau Ste. Michelle Horse Heaven Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2001 from the Columbia Valley (Washington), $16 - $18.

Orvieto (Trebbiano grapes) Classico Ruffino 2002 (Italy), $7 - $9.

Cartlidge & Brown Merlot 2000 from Napa County (California), $12 - $14.

Leaping Lizard Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 from Napa Valley (California), $11 - $13.

Finon St. Joseph (Cotes du Rhone) 2000 (France), $15 - $18.

All of these wines are available at ABC Fine Wine & Spirits.

A little about these wine varieties:

Chardonnay:  Look for oak, butter, and pear flavors most of the time if you are serving the wine with food.

Sauvignon Blanc:  Sometimes called Fume Blanc, this grape is used by the U.S. winemakers to produce crisp, dry "green-tasting" whites. 

Trebbiano (for Orvieto):  A dry to medium-dry, sometimes very fruit friendly wine with a touch of mature fruit flavor. A great choice for novice or light wine drinkers.

Merlot:  The merlot grape at its early maturing adds a lot of plum and lush fruitiness with a hint of flowers on the finish. You may find it an easier complement to your holiday dinners than Cabernet Sauvignon.

Cabernet Sauvignon: This is the most popular red wine grape in the United States. It adds a taste of cassis, black cherry and sometimes a pleasant "cigar box" smell.

Cotes du Rhone:  St. Joseph is an Appellation which produces mainly red wines from the syrah grape. These red wines give a lot of wild berry flavors, an almost spicy hint of cinnamon, and are extremely pleasant to drink. It is recommended they be chilled from 52F to 58F.

Wine tasting is an adventure, the more you taste and experience wines the more knowledge you gain on the types of grapes, the type of growing and the taste that should be expected.

Comparing different growths of the same grape of different regions of the world and the same price can help you refine your preference. As a sommelier I have not tasted all wines; my knowledge provides me a basis of comparison of grapes and regions, and what standards to expect with food pairing. My passion is to constantly discover new flavors with new styles of foods. 

"A day without wine is a day without sunshine"
Jean L’Hereault is a Certified Sommelier and a wine consultant for ABC Fine Wine & Spirits.

Questions on wine for Jean can be sent to
Taste Dining & Travel
or e-mailed to: finelli@tasteweb.net