Co-op Picks: The Best Wines to Serve at Your Holiday Dinner
Can you believe the holiday season is already here? That's right... and with Thanksgiving fast approaching, everyone at the co-op is getting ready to pop open that special bottle of wine for their own celebrations. Our expert wine sommeliers want you to be excited too, which is why we’re holding our big Holiday Wine Sale now through the end of November! Shop your co-op today and get 10% OFF any – yes, any bottle of wine in our Wine and Cheese Department!
With a deal this good, and with so many varieties to choose from for the special occasion, we know you might need a hand with choosing which wines to serve at your table this year. That’s why our wine staff put their heads together and hand-picked a selection of favorites to share with you. Whether you’re a seasoned enthusiast or a newcomer to the world of fine wines, this specially curated list is certain to help you pick a winner that everyone will love.
Pierrick Harang's Petit Balthazar Viognier-Sauvignon Blanc
Pays d'Oc, France • $9.99 Wine Sale Price: $8.99
A refreshing white from Pays d’Oc, south of France, featuring bright notes of citrus, tropical fruit, and hints of stone. Overall quite dry and acidic, think grapefruit! An excellent aperitif, and a good match for rich cheese, shellfish, and poultry.
Cline Cellars Farmhouse White Blend
Sonoma, California • $11.99 Wine Sale Price: $10.79
A jovial blend from sunny California, bursting with notes of stone fruit, tropical citrus and apple. An earthy minerality -- think raw honey -- ties it all together. Bold, fruity flavors and a medium body make this off-dry wine a great match for the rich, earthy flavors of a Thanksgiving feast, from stuffing, to potatoes, to roast turkey. Made from pesticide-free, sustainably grown vineyards.
Sauvion Vouvray
Loire Valley, France • $17.99 $16.19
Delicate notes of jasmine, lilac, slate, and white peach on the nose. In the sip, we discover stewed apricot, crisp apples, orange supreme drizzled with honey. Vouvray’s trademark honey-sweetness and bracing acidity make it a great pairing with the rich dishes of Thanksgiving. Excellent as a dessert wine, too!
Ravines Dry Riesling
Finger Lakes Region, New York • $20.99 Wine Sale Price: $18.89
A classic choice for a holiday meal. On the nose, Ravines shows delicate notes of green apple, honeysuckle, and wildflowers on the breeze. On the palate, this wine is notably dry and light, offering subtle flavors of stone fruit, pear, and lemon, that ring together as one. A graceful wine that is driven by a shining acidity and slatey minerality.
Moncaro Organic Sangiovese
Marche, Italy • $8.99 Wine Sale Price: $8.09
Some would argue that Sangiovese is the ultimate food wine. This wine is certainly a great choice for a big meal! Medium-bodied and dry, with bold notes of cherry, raspberry, plum, dark chocolate, cigar box, and earth. This bottle offers a surprisingly complex palette for such a great value.
Cellier des Dauphins Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône
Southern Rhone Valley, France • $10.99 Wine Sale Price: $9.89
A yummy balance of bold red fruits like cherry and cranberry, and darker, more brooding notes of boysenberry and licorice. Hints of aromatic herbs and savory spice in the background contribute another layer, making a great pairing for the rich, earthy flavors of holiday cooking.
Delas Saint-Esprit Côtes-du-Rhône
Southern Rhone Valley, France • $13.99 Wine Sale Price: $12.59
This second selection from the Rhone Valley is noticeably darker and silkier. Rich stewed plum, blackcurrant, and blackberry come forward. Cozy notes of warm baking spice follow -- sage, cinnamon, anise, and nutmeg. These rich and cozy flavors are enhanced by the particularly rich and silky texture of this wine!
Willamette Valley Vineyards Whole Cluster Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley, Oregon • $24.99 $22.49
A fun, somewhat adventurous selection. Whole cluster press and carbonic maceration are employed in the production process, just like a Beaujolais! This means enhanced notes of fresh fruit and a super-soft body. Mildly acidic, smooth, and bright! Fresh notes of strawberry juice, plum, cranberry, pomegranate molasses, and cherry cola. These are balanced by earthy notes of rich forest floor, tobacco, flint, herbs, and leather. In fact, leather features prominently on the nose, offering an interesting framing to the fresh fruit in the sip. This wine is plush and juicy; easy to enjoy while offering something to ponder. An easy match alongside the savory flavors of holiday cooking!