This season’s pick from Carmela Winery is hands down the easiest wine to pair with daunting holiday spreads. With so many foods on the table, it is difficult to find a wine that goes with everything. During the holidays, it may be tempting to reach for a white wine to serve with your holiday meal but occasionally white wines cannot tolerate the extreme tastes of holiday dinners. Therefore, may I recommend Pinot Noir? This wine makes an outstanding effort to accommodate most everything served at a holiday meal. It is also very versatile and goes well with a variety of foods. Light bodied and silky results in Pinot Noir being enjoyable on its own so stock up on it for your New Year‘s revelry also.

The fact that it was from Texas and that the flavor is excellent enticed Steve to carry a variety of the goods. New Canaan Farms comes from a town called Dripping Springs, Texas, which is outside of Austin in the Hill Country. The product started locally in 1979 and is now an internationally recognized brand offered in specialty stores. They have a reputation for creating both unique and traditional flavors making their products from scratch with basic ingredients, the kind you can recognize and pronounce.

Your guests can enjoy this varietal with many of the scrumptious foods that are traditionally prepared for the holiday gatherings. Surprisingly it goes well with many meats and breaks the standard rule of red wine pairing with white meats. Even if you have a variety of meats including salmon, chicken, lamb, turkey, baked ham and roasted duck you are safe with Pinot Noir. It also goes well with a range of vegetables and shines in the company of veggie trays, stuffed mushrooms, and even foods that are strong on the cloves and cinnamon. Brie, Swiss or goat cheese and crackers pair nicely with this versatile wine as well. However, I do not recommend pairing Pinot Noir with fruit and super sweet desserts.

Pinot Noir is one of the oldest grape varieties for wine production and is renowned internationally as an impressive wine grape. Thus, you are sure to please most anyone on your guest list. Typically, the taste has very soft tannins due to the low level of polyphenols. Most other red wine is a rich source of these biologically active phytochemicals, which give them the reputation of having anti oxidant or anti cancer properties. Keep this in mind when you toast to your health Pinot Noir may not be the optimum red wine for that! Pinot Noir possess an intricate aroma. It is not heavy but still rich and full-bodied with an ample flavor in spite of its subtle nature. This wine is high in alcohol content and due to its velvety texture it is easy to drink which could have an adverse reaction to your holiday memories so drink responsibly.

Good Pinot Noir generates an enduring impression on the palate and in the memory so make your Holiday gathering a memorable experience.

For more information about Carmela Winery, visit their website.