Holiday Pairing Guide from the Experts at Stave

APPETIZERS & SAVORY SNACKS

WINE: Filip Pato, Brut Rosé, 3B, from Beiras, Portugal

PAIRING: Pato crafts this festive sparkler from grapes grown south of Porto. With red fruit aromas and a fresh, lively finish, this pairs well with a variety of savory snacks. Cheese and charcuterie boards are easy options, but don’t be shy about pairing with your favorite sushi platters, or game day classics like wings, nachos and jalapeño poppers.

SALADS (Green or Grain)

WINE: 2021 Les Héritiers du Comte Lafon, Mâcon-Villages, from Burgundy, France  

PAIRING: The Domaine Comte Lafon is famed for opulent Meursaults that cost hundreds of dollars, but we adore the fresh, relative bargains they craft from fruit in the Mâconnais. Green apples, honey, and white flowers are in abundance in this refreshing white, which pairs well with green salads where add-ins like toasted pumpkin seed, roasted delicata squash, or hearty farro play supporting roles.

MAINS

WINE: 2022 Trediberri, Barbera d’Alba from Piedmont, Italy 

PAIRING: Trediberri is one of the up-and-coming superstars of Piedmont and this supple, warming red from the Barbera grape is the perfect introduction to the house style. Pair this red-fruit and spice-scented wine with a brick oven pizza, or your favorite pasta in a pork ragout.

We interrupt this pairing guide for a timely update that Pebble Beach Food & Wine returns this April 4-7 and tickets are now on sale here.

DESSERTS

WINE: Rare Wine Company, Boston Bual from Madeira, Portugal 

PAIRING: Toasted nuts, salted- caramel, and green mango are just some of the exotic aromas and flavors you’ll find in this opulent sweet wine from the beautiful island of Madeira. Pair with a simple plate of nuts and dried fruit or try it with pumpkin or pecan pies for a mind-altering experience. Don’t be worried about wasting wine once you open the bottle as Madeira is the only wine that won’t oxidize once opened. Keep it cool and corked and you’ll be able to enjoy a sip at your leisure over the course of several months!

SPLURGE WORTHY BOTTLES

Choosing bottles for the wine lovers in your life can be a daunting experience, but bottles like these will elicit oohs and ahs from even the most jaded sommeliers:

• Bérêche & Fils, Champagne Brut Réserve –   Champagne, France  

The brothers Bérêche craft some of the most sought-after grower Champagne on the planet, and the Brut Réserve is their calling card. A blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier, this combines opulence and elegance. If you’re lucky enough to find this in the wild, don’t hesitate to pounce.
 

• Eyrie Vineyards, Pinot Meunier – Dundee Hills, Oregon 

Eyrie’s Dick Lett was one of the first viticulturists to plant Pinot Noir in Oregon’s Willamette Valley back in 1965. In the late-80s he was the first to plant Pinot Meunier, and today his son Jason is producing this remarkably elegant wine from those plantings. Don’t let the pale ruby hue fool you, this wine is loaded with character. 

• La Croix de Ducru-Beaucaillou – Saint-Julien, Bordeaux 

The second wine of the famed Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, La Croix is a roughly 50/50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot that punches well above its weight. Look for the friendly 2019 bottling if you can find it, a wine we’ve enjoyed with everything from simple bacon and Gruyère burgers to hearty slow-braised short ribs. Cellar tip, this wine will age effortlessly for a decade at minimum.
 

All these wines can be purchased at various wine shops throughout the U.S., as well as Pebble Beach Resorts’ Stave Wine Cellar.