Luxury festive wine pairings from two worlds
If there was ever a moment to grace your glasses with the very best, it’s the holiday season. To elevate your festive menu, Westgarth Wines has curated a list of the perfect holiday wine pairings with a celebratory twist: We’re featuring both an Old World and New World wine for every course! We’ve already covered seasonal desserts and cheeses in our Sweet and Fortified Wines pieces, so head over there if you’re looking for honeyed inspiration. This time, aperitifs, starters, and the main extravaganza are on the menu with outstanding wines from around the world accompanying each fabulously festive dish. From Old World Champagne to New World Chardonnay, this seasonal wine selection will add plenty of sparkle to your seasonal table.
Here’s your guide to “two-world” festive luxury wine pairings!
Aperitif – Smoked salmon blinis, oysters, and Parmesan gougères with French and English sparkling wine
You’ve just got to have Champagne for December festivities, and aperitifs are the perfect bites to go with a glass of fine fizz. Our menu is crafted to whet the appetite, featuring:
- Smoked salmon blinis with tangy crème fraîche
- Fresh, saline oysters
- Nutty, savory Parmesan gougères
Old World
Our choice is a vintage Blanc de Blancs Brut from Champagne, the 2015 Salon. This prestigious house has a reputation for crafting exceptional Blanc de Blancs from its Grand Cru vineyards in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Showcasing citrus, chamomile, and mineral notes, this wine reflects a cool vintage with pineapple, pie crust, beeswax, and some salted toffee on a richly textured, polished palate.
New World
England is an old country, but it’s categorized as a New World wine region. Its sparkling wines have been giving its French cousin a run for its money for years, as their reputation for finesse and complexity grows with the pioneering Nyetimber, a flagship producer. This 2016 Blanc de Blancs, crafted from fruit grown on ancient seabed soils, features lemon curd, sweet almond, pear, and pleasing buttery, saline notes, balanced by fresh acidity.
What nails it: The vibrant perlage of the Champagne and English sparkling refreshes the palate while the citrus hints balance the seafood’s umami density, and nutty notes complement the savory crispness of the Parmesan gougères.
Starter – Lobster, scallops, or light poultry recipes with Chablis and Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
A searingly fresh Chablis and fruity, spicy California Chardonnay are excellent holiday dinner wines for a light yet delicious starter course. The menu features:
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Succulent, delicately sweet, steamed lobster with butter
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Melt-in-the-mouth briny scallops with lemon beurre blanc
- Wild mushroom, chestnut, and truffle in crispy tart
Old World
Raveneau is renowned for terroir-expressive, mineral-rich Chablis from some of the finest Chardonnay plots in the appellation, which are treated with a minimal-interventionist approach. This old-vine Saint Aubin from Hubert Lamy displays lemon-lime, a hint of matchstick in a finessed, intense mouth shot through with rich minerality and closing in a textured, long finish.
New World
Aubert produces expressive, complex wines that speak of vineyard-specific terroirs. Its 2023 Powder House hails from powdery Goldridge soils (hence the name) and rare Chardonnay clones. This white features intense lime curd, nectarine, and tuberose in a full-bodied palate that’s rich in chalky minerality and refined texture that ends in a long, citrusy finish.
What nails it: The Chablis and Sonoma Chardonnay contrast the rich, creamy flavors of buttery lobster, flaky mushroom and chestnut tart, and scallops with their bright acidity and fresh minerality, while gentle oak complements the earthy, nutty mushroom notes.
Center piece – Turkey and trimmings with Burgundy and New Zealand Central Otago Pinot Noir
A silky, dense, mineral-rich La Tâche and a fruity, concentrated New World Pinot Noir are the perfect partners to the smorgasbord of flavors and textures in the classic holiday dinner main, which includes:
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Flavorful roast turkey or game bird
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Savory, herby buttery stuffing
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Crispy, oven-baked vegetables
Old World
The iconic Domaine de la Romanée-Conti tends its superlative monopole, La Tâche, with biodynamic methods, with very low yields, whole bunches, and extended vatting time resulting in intense, precise wines like this 2006. A rich core of fruit, hallmark spice, and florals is lifted by generous yet subtle minerality in a legendary wine on the cusp of its drinking window.
New World
Burn Cottage in New Zealand’s Central Otago is famed for its biodynamic viticulture and terroir-expressive, minimal interventionist Pinot Noir. This deep red 2013 features black raspberry, plum, spice, forest floor, and orange in a velvety mouth with firm tannins underpinned by racy acidity.
What nails it: Pinot Noir is the ideal wine for the festive season’s main dish because it enhances and never overpowers. Its dark fruit matches the rich, savory notes of the turkey or game, while its trademark acidity contrasts the crispy textures typical of the season’s table. Its gentle yet firm tannins and earthy hints match the flavors of the tasty stuffing, gravy, and delicious roasted vegetables. The fact that both of these wines are made with biodynamic methods just adds to the effortless charm of these pairings.
Meat alternative – Roast beef or venison
Not doing turkey and opting for a scrumptious roasted meat instead? A First Growth Bordeaux and California “Bordeaux” blend stand toe-to-toe with the rich flavors and juicy textures of meat dishes. On the menu is:
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Tender, delicious roast beef or venison
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Fresh green beans, Brussel sprouts, and tasty roasted root vegetables
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Creamy au Gratin potatoes
Old World
Château Margaux is a prestigious Bordeaux estate that needs little introduction, renowned for its powerful, elegant cellar-worthy Left-Bank Bordeaux blends. The 2010 displays layered blackcurrant, mint, Black Forest cake, tar, and cedar notes in a full-bodied palate with structured tannins and fresh acidity leading to an earthy, seemingly endless finish.
New World
The acclaimed Opus One in Napa Valley is celebrated for its Bordeaux-style blends that feature the timeless elegance of Old World styles with the richness, depth, and vision of New World craftsmanship. Its 2018 bursts with florals over a heart of deep, ripe blackberry and herb underlaid with slate and graphite hints in a full palate with finessed, polished tannins.
What nails it: The firm tannins of Cabernet Sauvignon roast beef or venison stand up to the textures and flavors of the meat while its signature acidity balances the dishes’ richness. The wine’s dark fruit and earthiness contrast the savory umami of the meats to perfection.
Meat alternative – Roast beef or venison
Not doing turkey and opting for a scrumptious roasted meat instead? A First Growth Bordeaux and California “Bordeaux” blend stand toe-to-toe with the rich flavors and juicy textures of meat dishes. On the menu is:
-
Tender, delicious roast beef or venison
-
Fresh green beans, Brussel sprouts, and tasty roasted root vegetables
-
Creamy au Gratin potatoes
Old World
Château Margaux is a prestigious Bordeaux estate that needs little introduction, renowned for its powerful, elegant cellar-worthy Left-Bank Bordeaux blends. The 2010 displays layered blackcurrant, mint, Black Forest cake, tar, and cedar notes in a full-bodied palate with structured tannins and fresh acidity leading to an earthy, seemingly endless finish.
New World
The acclaimed Opus One in Napa Valley is celebrated for its Bordeaux-style blends that feature the timeless elegance of Old World styles with the richness, depth, and vision of New World craftsmanship. Its 2018 bursts with florals over a heart of deep, ripe blackberry and herb underlaid with slate and graphite hints in a full palate with finessed, polished tannins.
What nails it: The firm tannins of Cabernet Sauvignon roast beef or venison stand up to the textures and flavors of the meat while its signature acidity balances the dishes’ richness. The wine’s dark fruit and earthiness contrast the savory umami of the meats to perfection.
Vegetarian choice – Truffle risotto or chestnut wellington with sides
If you’re going vegetarian for the season, a delectable risotto or Wellington are both creative festive options. A white Rhône and California Chardonnay are the perfect partners to a veggie take on a seasonal menu, which features:
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Creamy truffle risotto
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Chestnut-stuffed Wellington with crispy crust
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Steamed green vegetables and glazed carrots
Old World
M. Chapoutier is a Rhône Valley estate famed for its biodynamic vineyard practices and hands-off winemaking. This 2009 old-vine 100% Marsanne Ermitage Blanc is aged on lees for 12 months, resulting in an intense, honeyed, nutty white with ripe green fruit and bright acidity in a lush wine with a long, exotic finish.
New World
Napa producer Kongsgaard has near cult status for its layered, complex yet elegant Chardonnay. Its 2016 displays ripe nectarine, layers of citrus, spicy apple pie, pear, and marzipan in a dense, satiny mouth with vibrant freshness and a long, stone fruit finish, making it ideal for Chardonnay wine pairing.
What nails it: These two unique, terroir-expressive white wines are just the thing for our vegetarian fare because their plush textures, ripe fruit, and nutty, marzipan notes highlight the forest floor and umami of the truffle risotto and chestnut wellington. The vibrant acidity of each of these gourmet holiday wines balances the buttery Wellington pastry and the creamy hints in the risotto.
Inspired? Celebrate in style with this curated festive wine guide showcasing both Old World and New World wines for every course. Happy holidays!
Feature image: Nyetimber
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