Beyond the Bottle
Choosing Holiday Wines: The Ultimate Winemaker’s Guide to Entertaining and Gifting
Expert pairings, serving tips, and gifting ideas from Winemaker Amy LaBelle — plus a free quick-reference guide for stress-free holiday wine shopping.
The holidays are filled with joy, but also decisions, especially when it comes to choosing the right wines for gatherings, gifts, and toasts. After nearly two decades of making wine in New Hampshire and entertaining at my own table, I created this guide to make the process simple and enjoyable.
Inside, you’ll find my best advice for pairings, serving, and gifting across every holiday moment. And if you are short on time, you can download our quick-reference sheet for easy shopping at LaBelle Winery’s online store, gift shops in Amherst and Derry, or LaBelle Market in Derry.
The Science of Holiday Pairings
Before we dive into specific recommendations, it is important to understand why certain wines work beautifully with holiday foods. The key lies in balancing complementary flavors and textures.
Acidity is your friend with rich, fatty dishes. Wines with bright acidity cut through butter, cream, and oils, cleansing your palate between bites. This is why wines like our Riesling and Seyval Blanc work so beautifully with creamy casseroles and buttery sides. Even among our reds, Red Alchemy brings bright acidity that works wonderfully with fatty dishes like duck or goose.
Tannins complement protein. The tannins in red wines bind with proteins and fats, which is why our structured reds like Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Red Alchemy pair so well with turkey, beef tenderloin, or ham.
Sweetness balances spice and salt. This principle is crucial for holiday cooking, where we often encounter cranberry sauce, glazed vegetables, or spiced desserts.
Sparkling works everywhere. Sparkling wines are the most versatile of all. Their effervescence refreshes the palate, balances salty or fatty foods, and adds a celebratory note to any occasion. Whether Brut, Demi-Sec, Rosé Sparkling, Sparkling Cranberry, Shimmer, or Tempest, they fit seamlessly into every holiday table.
Holiday Wine Planning: How Much & What Types
- For a party of 8–10 people: Plan on 1 bottle per 2–3 people for a 3–4 hour celebration. Have 2 white wines, 2 red wines, and 1 sparkling wine available.
- For intimate dinners (4–6 people): Plan on 2–3 bottles total — one white, one red, and sparkling for toasts.
Temperature matters. Reds should be served at cellar temperature (60–65°F), while whites and sparkling wines are best properly chilled (45–50°F). A wine served at the wrong temperature will never show its full character.
Quick Holiday Wine Shopping Guides
Wine selection can feel overwhelming during the holidays, especially when you are juggling menus, guests, and traditions. To make things easier, I created these “speed guides” for the big four celebrations: Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.
Each guide follows a traditional New England menu, breaking down wine recommendations by course: greeting wine, appetizers, first course, entrée, and dessert (plus a midnight toast for New Year’s Eve). These lists give you quick answers when you are in a rush, while the full sections later in the blog explain why each wine works and offer even more choices.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE QUICK GUIDE
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE
From Quick Picks to Deeper Pairings
The guides above are meant to help you move quickly when planning or shopping — like a ready-made holiday shopping list. But if you’d like to know why each wine works with your holiday menus, or want more gifting inspiration, keep reading. In the next sections I’ll walk through Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day in greater detail, highlighting wine styles, food pairings, and ideas for creating memorable moments.
How to Use The Guides
While every wine mentioned here is proudly made at LaBelle Winery, the insights and pairing principles are universal. You can apply them whether you are choosing LaBelle wines or exploring others. Think of this guide as a roadmap: start with the why behind pairings, then choose wines that balance flavors, textures, and the mood you want to create.
Amy LaBelle’s Note:
“When I write about wine, I am not just thinking of the bottles we make here at LaBelle, but also about how wine itself works at the table. Acidity, tannin, sweetness, and effervescence are your tools, once you understand how they behave with food, you can make smart and confident choices. If this guide helps you reach for a wine with more intention, then it has done its job. Of course, I hope you discover new favorites among our 33+ wines, but my greater goal is to empower you to approach wine with knowledge and joy.”
Party Planning Tips from a Chef & Winemaker
Wine Service Timeline
- 1 hour before guests arrive: Chill whites and sparkling wines, open big reds to breathe.
- 30 minutes before: Open medium-bodied reds like Red Alchemy and Merlot.
- During service: Start with sparkling or crisp whites, move to medium-bodied reds, and finish with bold or dessert wines.
Practical Considerations
- Glassware: Universal glasses work beautifully for most wines.
- Leftovers: Reseal and refrigerate; most wines last 2–3 days.
- Party Insurance: Keep one extra bottle of your most popular choice.
The Beyond the Bottle Difference
As a winemaker, I believe wine should be made with care, patience, and respect for the fruit. That is why all of our wines are crafted with a Clean-Crafted, Minimal Intervention philosophy. For me, this simply means avoiding unnecessary additives and letting time and natural processes guide the wine.
I share this because I want you to feel confident when you open a bottle at your holiday table. You can trust that what you are serving to your family and friends was made thoughtfully and with integrity.
final thoughts: making memories
After years of hosting both at LaBelle Winery and in my own home, I have learned that the best wine for any occasion is the one that brings people together. Whether it is Cabernet Sauvignon with Christmas prime rib, Amherst Vineyard Red opened with close family, or Blue Alchemy savored after a special meal, the goal is always connection and celebration.
The holidays are not about perfection. They are about warmth, hospitality, and creating memories with the people who matter most. Wine, when chosen with intention, becomes one more way to enhance those moments.
I hope this guide inspires your holiday choices, whether you are pouring LaBelle wines or applying these pairing principles at your own table. If you ever have pairing questions, send me a note at amy@labellewinery.com.
From my family to yours, may your holidays be filled with joy, gratitude, and great wine.
— Amy LaBelle
About beyond the bottle:
Beyond the Bottle is about transparency, education, and a shared appreciation for thoughtful, intentional winemaking. We invite you to follow along—and discover what truly makes a wine worth drinking. NH Wine, World Class Quality.
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