The holiday season is a priceless occasion that brings everyone together, but it can be difficult to please everyone’s unique palates, and choosing the perfect wine to serve can be a challenge. Luckily, we have some tips from the very best that Boulder has to offer. We sat down with Brett Zimmerman of Boulder Wine Merchant to learn about choosing the perfect holiday wines, and which foods they complement.
Tell us about a few wines that we must have on the menu for our guests this holiday season.
I love to serve great Chenin Blanc from Vouvray during the holidays. The wines from Domaine Huet capture the purity and essence of this high-toned grape with outstanding depth and mineral power. The Tufa soils of this special region add to the complexity and earthy character, but in top vintages these wines are defined by the richness and purity of tart apricot, red apple, and yellow plum. For a dry example I would recommend the 2015 Domaine Huet ‘Le Haut-Lieu’ Vouvray Sec $39.98, or for some added richness you could try the 2015 Domaine Huet ‘Clos du Bourg’ Vouvray Demi-Sec $50.98.
When considering red wines for the holidays I like to offer selections without too much oak, but full with fruit richness and flavor. The Southern Rhône offers brilliant wines in this category. A delicious 2013 Chateau Fortia Chateauneuf-du-Pape $36.98 would be awesome with its dense strawberry fruit flavors and dried herbs. Something from Southern Italy would be a fun alternative. Check out the 2014 Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso $27.98. This Nerello Mascalese based wine offers dried red fruit flavors that are reminiscent of great Nebbiolo from Piedmont. The structure and intensity is lighter than Nebbiolo, but there is a similar charm to the wines with floral aromatics, and pronounced mineral notes.
Are you often asked for organic varieties? If so, what are some of your top picks to meet this demand?
We do receive requests for organic and biodynamic wines. We arrange our store to have these wines strewn about the inventory with green tags for organic and blue for biodynamic to help with the guest shopping experience. That said, there are certain regions of the world that are very focused on organic production and make it easy to find something great. Look for wines produced in Austria, The Loire Valley in France, and the Northern Rhône to start. You can find great organic wines produced around the world, you just need to do a little bit of homework or ask when you come to the Boulder Wine Merchant.
What are some of your favorite food and wine combinations?
Simple is best when considering food and wine pairings. Too many bold flavors in a dish tend to muddle the purity and focus of the wine. I like serving potato chips with crème fraiche and a small dollop of caviar to pair with Champagne. It is super easy, decadent, and will dazzle your friends. A simple San Marzano tomato and butter sauce with fresh basil goes beautifully with Sangiovese based wines from Tuscany. The brightness of the 2013 Monte Bernardi Chianti Classico Riserva $36.98 will add lift and complexity to this delicious, savory dish.
What are some of the key considerations for choosing which type of wine to pair with your meal?
Don’t try to get to fancy. Keep things simple. When pairing with desserts or anything with sugar, the wine must always be sweeter than the dish to avoid having the wine taste lean and washed out. Fatty flavors like acidity in wine, and require some body to match the richness as well. Tannin likes fat and salt – think of a salty steak and a big Cabernet Sauvignon. Acidic dishes call for something rounder and lower in acid. I like pairing Rhône valley white wines with Mediterranean inspired dishes that offer tomatoes, capers, and olives.
If you had to offer one piece of advice to this year’s host/hostess in a pinch, what would it be?
Give me a call. Actually, relying on a good retail relationship is a good way to go. We are always happy to make suggestions based on your menu and can even deliver product to your home if you are short on time.
What goes into the decisions you make for your seasonal and year-round selections?
We focus on artisan crafted, small production wines from the finest regions around the world. We prefer to focus on producers who truly represent the place of their region. In doing so, we look to offer producers who make wine in a sustainable, organic, or biodynamic way. At the very least, it is important for us to represent producers with integrity and ultimately value to the customer.
We know that Boulder Wine Merchant also carries artisan spirits and craft beer. So, for the host/hostess who wants to offer something in addition to the wines you have recommended, what do you suggest?
We love offering great whiskies during the holiday season. There are plenty of delicious options from the US, Scotland, and Japan that provide any spirits drinker with something fun and unique. Check out the Laws Whiskey House Four Grain Straight Bourbon $63.98 from Denver, Colorado.
What holiday events do you have on the schedule this year?
We will have our Wine Wednesday events with some fun holiday inspired selections to taste. These tastings are every Wednesday from 5:30-7:00 and we offer 15% off bottle purchases.
Is there anything else that you have going on over the next several weeks that you would like to share with our audience?
We have started offering great new retail food products to compliment our beverage inventory. We have some great gift items that also serve as fun foods to enjoy with family and friends during the holidays. Come browse our inventory of olive oils, vinegars, chocolate, tea, pasta, pasta sauces, as well as delicious European octopus, mussels, sardines, and tuna.