XMAS WINES

Every year, I’m telling you pretty much the same about holiday wines and what to drink with your stuffed turkey and pumpkin soup. I think you know even better from me now. So, this year I'll be original and I will give you some great ideas for snacking and drinking fine wines without staying all day in the kitchen (yes, it is possible). So, shall we begin?

Well we'll start with some bruschettas!

1. With smoked salmon, horseradish cream, cucumber and lemon

Pick a sparkling wine or a Champagne to add some sparkle in the night. Champagne Taittinger  Prsestige Rose is the one that will amaze everyone and has a nice story to tell.

2. With tsalafouti, beef pastrami and tomato jam.

Perfect combination with Moschopolis 8 which has both spicy and tomato character. Plus, the 8-month stay in oak barrel gives it extra volume and complexity to balance with the dish.

Let's move to the tarts that everyone likes so much.

1. Quiche with leeks, mushrooms and gruyere cheese

Earthy and rich, with buttery crust it will accompany divinely my favorite Chardonnay, El Enemigo! Flor maturation gives it an earthy and mushroomy character so we are talking about a case study pairing.

2. Tart with caramelized onions, goat cheese and walnuts

We have sweet onions, salty cheese, nuts and plenty of oiliness so we will need a wine with rich body, moderate acidity and spicy aromas. I think Manousaki’s Roussanne will fit like a glove.

And off course we need some protein to accompany our red wines. Luckily, my dear friends, the butchers have made our lives so easy. You can order a super Christmasy roll with just one phone call and then, you can throw it in the oven with a few baby potatoes and you’ll have a divine meal with almost no effort. I will give you 3 ideas and you can choose according to your preferences or what you want to drink!

1. Beef roll with mushrooms, prosciutto, herbs and gruyere

We should celebrate properly with a sip of Xinomavro and this is the proper dish, with lots of mushrooms and herbs, to do it. The ideal option will be the sublime and elegant Xinomavro Old Vines from Domaine Karanika.

2. Pork roll with dried fruits, apples, whiskey and aged cheddar

Sweet aromas of ripe fruit and spicy pork demand for a wine with the same character and rich body to stand next to it. Syrah 2015- Domaine Florian you can really cut it with a knife and it cannot be missing from the Christmas table. Spicy and peppery from a single vineyard, it will pair perfectly with all the pork on the table! Can you imagine anything better ?

3. Turkey roll with pine nuts, chestnuts, raisins, brandy and bacon

Christmas without turkey? Noway! But a turkey without a juicy, fruity red wine is just sad. Aiora red 2021 from Moschopolis Winery is an enchanting red wine, with juicy red fruit, subtle earthiness and spicy character, that will win you over from the first sip!

And for closure, let's put some luxury on our nights with Dr Loosen's Riesling Beerenauslese and a bit of block foie gras with toasted brioche and dried apricots. If foie gras is against your beliefs then an assortment of spicy cheeses like Fior d'Arancio, Roquefort, Stilton or Blue d 'Auvergne will work fine with either Riesling or some other sweet wine such as Amauta Torrontes Dulce 2020-Bodega el Porvenir de Cafayate.

If salty desserts is not your favorite closure for a festive night then bet on the simple yet delicious melomakarono or a spiced pumpkin cheesecake along with our favorite Gewurztraminer Villa Wolf!

Happy Holidays!

Eva Markaki

Wine Geek