Photography by Isabelle Clendenen.
Holiday tables look different all over the world, and that’s what makes them so delicious. For this guide, Isabelle set out to celebrate the flavors and traditions of holidays like Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. She paired each dish with a bottle that makes it sing, because a great wine belongs at every table, wherever your traditions come from.
Here’s our guide. Make one pairing, or pour all six as a walk-around tasting with friends. We’ve listed them from the lightest pour to the boldest, which is the order we’d taste them in.
How to host a pairing night
- Go light to bold. Start with the crisp whites and finish with the Pinot Noir.
- Mind the temperature. Pour the whites lightly chilled, the G-15 slightly chilled, and the Pinot Noir at cool room temperature.
- Small plates, small pours. A two-ounce pour and a few bites per pairing keeps the evening going all night.
- Taste twice. Sip the wine, take a bite, then sip again. Notice what changes; that’s the pairing at work.
1. Chenin Blanc & Latkes
Crispy, salty, fried in plenty of oil: latkes need a wine with acidity to cut right through them. Chenin Blanc is a classic match, with bright orchard fruit and a clean, mouthwatering finish that resets your palate after every bite. It’s just as good with a spoonful of applesauce as with sour cream.
SOLD OUT! Next vintage coming soon, try it with the Pinot Gris instead!
2. Grenache Gris & Poblano, Corn and Cheese Tamales
Tamales are a Christmas Eve tradition for so many families here on the Central Coast. Our 2024 Grenache Gris opens with apple blossom, honeydew and white peach, then turns bright with lime leaf and yuzu, a perfect match for roasted poblano heat and sweet corn. Its rich texture holds up to melted cheese without feeling heavy. (94 points, Vinous)
3. Riesling “Dr. Gonzalez” & Honey-Roasted Ham
Sweet and salty ham calls for a wine with a touch of sweetness of its own. Our off-dry 2024 Riesling “Dr. Gonzalez” shows strawberry lemonade, Honeycrisp apple and flint, with tart acidity and chalky minerality to balance the honey glaze. It’s the most versatile bottle on the table, so keep one open for the leftovers too.
4. Bien Nacido Chardonnay & Potato and Cheese Pierogi
Buttery, pillowy pierogi want a Chardonnay with richness and freshness in equal measure. The 2023 Bien Nacido Vineyard Chardonnay layers white cherry, vanilla bean and toasted macadamia over Meyer lemon and limestone minerality. Pan-fry the pierogi in butter with caramelized onions and this pairing becomes pure comfort.
5. G-15 (Valdiguié) & Jollof Rice
Smoky, tomato-rich and warmly spiced, jollof rice needs a red that’s juicy rather than heavy. Our G-15, from old vines at Shell Creek Vineyards in the Paso Robles Highlands, is fined to soften the tannins so its bright fruit can shine. Serve it with a light chill to meet the spice head-on.
6. Knox Alexander Pinot Noir & Turkey
The main event deserves our flagship. Knox Alexander is an exquisitely layered Pinot Noir with Bing cherry, cranberry and red currant, a hint of forest floor, and dark cocoa on the finish. It’s everything you want alongside turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce. For a big holiday table, the magnum makes the moment. This pairing is extra special to Isabelle, she brings a bottle of Knox to every Thanksgiving feast.
Shopping for someone else this season? See our Holiday Wine Buying Guide!
Cheers to a delicious season from all of us at Au Bon Climat!
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