" Great Wines for the Holidays "

This is the time of the year when family and friends are popping in and festive foods are popping out of the oven. With the stress and the hustle of the holidays the last thing you want to worry about is what wine to serve with your meal. Of course finding that perfect pairing for your dinner is essential, there are some wines that match excellent with holiday cuisine. Thats why this year Westside Liquor is giving you a list of great wines for the holidays. These wines all have good acidity, great balance and the right body style to match the foods for the season. Excellent aperitif or starter wines are Champagne, Cava and Prosecco. Some of my favorite reds for the traditional ham or turkey are Pinot Noir, Beaujolais, Zinfandel or lighter bodied Spanish or Italian reds. For dry whites check out Viognier, Chardonnays with vibrant acidity and Fume Blanc or Pinot Grigio. If you like white wines with some sweetness to them a good Kabinett Riesling, Vouvray or Gewurztraminer are always great choices. If your preparing a lamb or steak dish you should look for red wines that are full-bodied and have vibrant tannins. Some choices would be Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux, Petite Sirah and Malbec. Hope your holidays are filled with joy and of course tasty wines! Heres the list and please remember to enjoy in moderation.

Rosenblum Petite Sirah Heritage Clone 2004 - Incredible structure and finish, with blackberry and blueberry aromas and flavors. Pair with steak or lamb. $21.99

Mc Manis Viognier 2005 - Heres a grape growing family that now keeps the best lots of their grapes and bottles the wine under their name. This wine has floral aromas of honeysuckle and fresh flavors of peach and apricot. Pair with turkey, chicken or lighter meat dishes in cream sauces. $12.99.

Ato Z Pinot Noir 2004 - This wine has aromas and flavors of raspberry and blueberry with asian spices and a touch of smoke on the finish. Pair with ham or traditional turkey. $22.99.

Seghesio Zinfandel Sonoma County 2005 - The Seghesio family first started working with the Zinfandel grape in 1895 and produces one of the finest examples of Zin in the country. Succulent aromas and flavors of black raspberry and spice coat the mouth with a long lasting finish. Pair with turkey, ham or steak. $22.99.

Covey Run Late Harvest Riesling 2005 - Washington State is starting to produce incredible wines and this Riesling is one of them. Aromas and flavors of citrus blossoms, green apples and peaches explode in the mouth with a nice sweetness balanced with vibrant acidity. Pair with lighter deserts or as an aperitif.

Francis Coppola Gold Label Chardonnay 2004 - Enticing aromas of golden apple and exotic fruits with flavors of pinnapple and guava on the palate. Pair with holiday fish dishes, chicken or turkey. $14.99.

Jeff Anderson
Sommelier