Top Winter Wines for Holiday Dinner Parties

Serving winter wines at holiday dinner parties has been a family tradition through four generations. It began with my grandmother who consumed one glass of red wine with her Christmas meal. This tradition has now been passed along to my daughter who embarks on an annual quest to find the perfect bottle of wine as a gift for each family member.

Over the years we've narrowed down our winter wine selections to three varietals. These include Syrah/Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Zinfandel. Each pairs well with hearty comfort foods that are usually served with our holiday dinners.

Yellow Tail Syrah/Shiraz Wine from Australia

Syrah grapes are cultivated in the warm climate regions of France, Australia, Chile, Italy, Spain, and the United States. The most affordable and flavorful Syrah wines come from Australia.

Many Australian Syrah wines are labeled as Shiraz. One of the more recognized is Yellow Tail; a bold flavored Syrah wine made from cherries, strawberries, and spices with a hint of vanilla.

This robust wine pairs well with beef, pork, sausages, and strong cheese such as Sharp Cheddar, Limburger, Liederkranz, Brick, Mainz, and Harz.

Yellow Tail produces many varietals including: red, white, rose, sparkling wines, and Reserve wines for special occasions. To learn more about Yellow Tail wines and food pairings visit www.DiscoverYellowTail.com.

Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley California

I have a penchant for Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon because my husband proposed to be in Napa Valley after a day of visiting wineries aboard the renowned Wine Train. Silver Oak Winery ages their wines for 12 months in American oak barrels harvested from mature white oak trees.

Personally, I favor the 2006 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon which has a robust fruity flavor with notes of herbs and a hint of tobacco. This is a very complex wine that pairs well with strong flavored meats like salmon, venison, duck, and beef. It's a perfect companion with cheeses derived from cow or goat milk, as well as dishes that contain roasted root vegetables or mushrooms.

The Silver Oak website offers a wide range of wine pairings and exquisite recipes that will impress your guests while satisfying their palate.

Ravens Wood Zinfandel from Sonoma Valley California

Our family enjoys a variety of pasta dishes for holiday dinners and Ravens Wood Zinfandel is the perfect companion. Touting a robust flavor derived from black cherries, raspberries, and blueberries this wine has a hint of fruity tartness that makes your mouth water and leaves your taste buds wanting more.

Zinfandel is a good wine choice when serving any kind of Italian cuisine and is particularly compatible with salty cheeses like parmesan. It's also a good companion for chocolate holiday desserts.

My favorite wine from this vineyard is the 2008 Belloni Zinfandel consisting of dark fruit, plums, boysenberry, apricot, licorice, and mocha. Its flavor is comparable to freshly prepared jam, making it perfect with fruit breads and piping hot yeast rolls.

Ravens Wood offers Single Vineyard Designates, County Series, Vintners Blend, and Limited Release with prices ranging from $35 to $60 per bottle. They also produce Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot and Syrah wines which are available for purchase at www.RavenswoodWinery.com.