– By #Powder House Lodge
Christmas dinners bring with them the age old dilemma of what to serve. Will it be ham, turkey, duck or prime rib? And what’s more, what wine will you serve with it? At the Powder House we love playing with wine and food pairings! Here are few of our favorites for your holiday meal. Our list of versatile whites and delicious reds are sure to enhance your Christmas gathering.
Wines to Serve with Prime Rib - Prime rib is our specialty at the Powder House. It’s not hard to find a red that will compliment a prime rib. Big bold cabernets as well as Spanish Tempranillos compliment a prime rib cut and it’s savory baked in flavors. White wines can be tricky to pair with red meat, but a full bodied Chardonnay can do the trick, if you are not a red wine drinker.
- Red Wines to Pair with Prime Rib: Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Shiraz, Tempranillo, Malbec, Merlot, Bordeaux blends,
- Whites for Prime Rib: It can be challenging to find a white wine that can hold its own against the strong flavors of red meat. But what is most important is that you like the wine you are drinking, there is no right or wrong!
Wines to Serve with Duck - Duck is one of wild game specialties at the Powder House. This delicious game option serves well roasted on its own or with a nice fruit based sauce. When it comes to pairing wines with duck, there are certain things to consider when pairing for this fatty fare. Traditionally, French wines pair well with duck, Burgundy, Bordeaux, and the reds of the Rhone Valley complements roasted or braised duck nicely. Duck has a kind of smokey flavor, so a rich red will compliment the complexity of its profile. However, if you are serving your duck with a fruit based sauce, such as orange, consider a sweeter white wine that will compliment the fruit and balance the smokiness
- Reds to Pair with Duck: Zinfandel , Red Burgundy, Tempranillo
- Whites to Try with Duck: Gewurztraminer, Sauternes
Wines to Serve with Ham - Baked, smoked, or honeyed hams need a wine that carries some sweetness. A Riesling or Gewurztraminer packs plenty of taste with food-friendly acidity.. Red wines that compliment ham are usually lighter in body. ‘Tis the season for Beaujolais! This festive red is seen mostly around the holidays. Not only is it light and easy to drink, it carries a touch of sweetness with a medium body. Pinot Noir and Tempranillo also offer a suitable red option. The tannins in these full bodied reds compliment the smoky flavors in ham.
- Red Wines for Ham: Beajolais Nouveau , Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Tempranillo
- White Wines for Ham: Riesling and Gewurztraminer
Wines to Serve with Turkey - Turkey on its own provides a fairly straight-forward pairing partner, white wine! But turkey has a lot of savory friends that accompany them on the dinner table. Herb-filled stuffing, roasted veggies, sage, garlic, and a myrid of other seasonings find their way into the dinner. These full flavors need to be taken in to account when considering a suitable pairing. Sauvignon Blanc is by far one of the most popular white wine picks for turkey and savory sides. Sauvignon Blanc tends to compliment herbal flavors and brings and does not overpower the meal with heavy flavor or too much sweetness. But just because you’re eating turkey doesn’t mean you can’t have red. The richness of the sides will compliment a nice medium to full bodied red.
- Red Wines for Turkey: Pinot Noir , Zinfandel , Syrah/Shiraz, Beajolais Nouveau
- White Wines for Turkey: Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Gewurztraminer
No matter what you serve this holiday season, be sure gather around the table with the ones you love most. May your meals be merry and your pairings be right! From all of us at the Powder House, we wish you a safe and happy holiday season!
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