The 12 Days of Wine
Illustration by Cassie Byington © 2022
The Twelve Days of Wine
BY MEGHAN FITZGERALDThe Most Wonderful Time of the Year
As Andy Williams so eloquently reminds us of each year, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, and for so many reasons. No matter how you choose to celebrate Christmas, I think most people would agree that that celebration can only be made better with a bottle of wine.
Wine is a great gift to give or to receive, so grab a bottle, pour a glass, and sing along for some ideas as you celebrate the season.
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, a crisp, unoaked bottle of Chablis…
Christmastime has arrived and you’ve been invited to your first party of the season. As a thank you gift to your host, you decide to bring a bottle of something approachable but not usual. Chablis, a French white, floral on the nose and fruity to the taste is a wine sure to impress your friends and impress upon your host your appreciation for her generous invitation. Try pairing your glass with little appetizers of shrimp cocktail and brie bites to really harness the crisp mouthfeel of the wine and the soft texture of the food.
On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, one red Mourvèdre…
A holiday barrel tasting at your favorite local winery has reacquainted you with some of your old favorites and introduced you to a few new ones. Having already stocked up on those Merlots, Cab Sauvs, and Zins you love so much, you decide to sprinkle your collection with something different. Mourvèdre, possessing similar fruit flavors to your beloved Cab, peppery flavors of your tried-and-true Merlot, and meaty aromas of the Zin that changed your life, is the wine you’ll want to take home.
On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, a white Bordeaux Blend…
It’s a silent night in the middle of December. You and your significant other are spending one of those rare holiday evenings in without guests, plans, or preparation. The only thing that can elevate this relaxing evening into the realm of complete bliss is a bottle of wine. A white Bordeaux Blend, consisting primarily of Sauv Blanc and Semillon, dominated by flavors of citrus, including grapefruit and lemon, is a complex wine fit for a simple occasion. Keep things easy with a plate of oysters or a board of Manchego cheese for a seamless pairing.
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, a sweet bottle of Port…
Christmas Eve is just a couple of weeks away, which means it’s crunch time for Christmas cookies.
After loading up a Santa Claus-shaped plate with edible snowmen, snowflakes, holly, bells, and angels, you invite the family over to partake in this sugary bounty. While the kids enjoy eggnog, apple cider, and hot chocolate, you treat the adults as well to something sweet. Port, a fortified wine characterized by notes of chocolate and dried fruit, is just the spirit to complement the Christmas spirit.
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, an off-dry Riesling…
Thanksgiving is over and the kickoff to Christmas has officially begun! You can think of no better way to celebrate than by hosting a small gathering of friends and family. Deciding to keep things light after feasting on turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie all week, you assemble the ultimate charcuterie board for guests to graze leisurely and open a couple of bottles to complement the spread. Riesling, sweet, dry, or off-dry, boasting flavors of green apple and aromas of jasmine, is flexible in terms of pairing. The smoke in candied or peppered salmon will stretch the floral flavors of the wine, simultaneously softening the notes of perfume and sharpening the notes of nectar.
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, one Sangiovese…
The city spared no expense decorating for Christmas, stringing lights down every street, adorning each door with a wreath, and topping each evergreen with a star. After attending the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, you and your companions for the evening decide to treat yourselves to dinner at one of the fine dining restaurants within walking distance. Of course, no fine dining experience is complete without a bottle of wine. Sangiovese, an Italian wine, is a common choice on the wine list, flaunting classic flavors of Italy, including balsamic, tomato, and coffee. Chances are your fancy night out will involve steak and possibly lobster, both of which flawlessly absorb striking flavors such as those found in the wine.
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, one Gewurztraminer…
Friday night movie night has arrived, which simply involves you, your best friend, and a lineup of Christmas movies from the comic to the classic. Any given evening is occasion enough for you to enjoy a glass of wine, so, of course, you bring out a bottle for movie night. Knowing your friend is as unaccustomed to the taste of wine as you are accustomed to it, you need to introduce her slowly and sweetly. Gewurztraminer, generally a wine on the sweeter side, possesses friendly flavors of tangerine and rose, and is perfectly delicious young. Bring out the popcorn to enjoy alongside the wine for the perfect balance of salty and sweet.
On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, a Sparkling Rose…
New Year’s is still weeks away, but the Christmas season is rife with parties, dinners, shindigs, get-togethers, reunions, etc., which demand tribute appropriate to the occasion. An invite to one of these festive gatherings has found its way into your hands and, never the type to show up emptyhanded to the party, you consult your wine rack for something special and spritzy. Sparkling Rose, fruity and zesty, dominated by crisp flavors of strawberry and melon, is the wine to pop at the party. Provide a plate of chocolate covered strawberries to enjoy with the wine for sweet flutters of flavor.
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, a fruity GSM Blend…
The snow is falling, Bing Crosby is singing, and your chicken breast for one is slow roasting. Anticipating a white Christmas, or at least a very snowy evening, you decide to sit by the fire, don your slippers, and drape yourself in your warmest flannel blanket. The GSM Blend, a combination of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, packs an eclectic flavor punch, consisting of spices, herbs, fruit, and even flowers. Blanket that chicken in olive oil and sprinkle with rosemary to experience each unique flavor on its own and in combination.
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, an oaked Vermentino…
Your friend has invited you over to her house for a fabulous homecooked dinner prepared entirely by her. Your ticket to dine is a bottle of wine. She lets you in on the menu and you proceed to make your way to the wine shop. You know a white would be best suited to the meal, so you peruse the old familiar favorites. However, your friend did go to all this trouble and you’re no novice when it comes to picking out a good bottle of wine. Vermentino, as fun to drink as it is to say, is bursting with nutty notes of almond and fruity flavors of apple perfect to pair with your upcoming dinner. The halibut your friend has prepared shines with flavors of lemon and thyme, flavors accentuated even further by the citrus notes of the wine.
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, a floral Nebbiolo…
You’ve spent the morning Christmas shopping with your friends, braving the traffic, the crowds, and the prospect of your weary credit card, all in pursuit of the perfect gifts for your favorite people. Noon rolls around and you realize that if you’re going to make it through the day, you need a lunch break. You and your friends assemble before your favorite bistro, stepping out of the cold and into the din of the restaurant, happy to sit for an hour or two. Nebbiolo, possessing flavors of star anise and cherry, is a wine perfectly suited to pair with the flavors of the season. Enjoy the wine’s spice flavors even further with an order of hot butternut squash soup sprinkled with sage and topped with a bay leaf or two.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, one Cabernet Franc…
There is only one more sleep until Christmas, but before those visions of sugarplums start dancing in your head, there’s Christmas Eve dinner to enjoy! After much consideration and preparation, you and yours gather around the table to eat, drink, and be merry. Nothing makes an occasion merrier than a couple of bottles of wine. Cabernet Franc, typically a blending grape, is a roaring success on its own, singing with flavors of raspberry, licorice, and tobacco. Celebrate the Yuletide festivities with a turkey dish roasted and decorated with cranberry to highlight the pepper and herb flavors of the wine.