Cab is ‘oozing with character’

The Perfect Wine For Your Holiday Feast

by Valory Reed, December 21, 2017, Orange Coast Magazine

Holiday dinners can be tricky for wine pairings since your dishes are sweet, savory, meaty, smoky, and salty. Plus there’s always that one relative or friend who “doesn’t drink red wine” or “hates Champagne” (gasp!). But just as you don’t cook to appeal to every palate, nor can your wine appeal to everyone. My mantra is to have a few quality varietals open, let them know which pairs best with the food or might satisfy a finicky palate, then let them taste through. One of the great joys of wine is how the taste changes with different foods. Cooking a memorable feast is pressure enough; you don’t have to stress over the wine.

We typically go from Christmas morning coffee and cinnamon rolls to mimosas and a hardy breakfast.  Next is sparkling rose and a Christmas movie, where my husband and I typically nod off. Once revived, the cooking begins with a glass of something white—hopefully a riesling or chenin blanc. Then the festivities really kick in as bottles of rioja, beaujolais, chardonnay, and more sparkling are opened for self-serving while cooking, watching football, and assembling toys. Set out a charcuterie tray of cheese, nuts, a sliced baguette, and little jams, and it will be quickly gobbled up by kids and wine drinkers alike while all await the big Christmas meal.

Here are a few red wines worthy of your Orange County holiday feast, and they make great wine gifts.

Smith-Madrone Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Napa Valley Spring Mountain District

You have to have a hearty cabernet on Christmas Day. This Smith-Madrone Napa cab is oozing with character since it is grown at a high elevation under the duress of dry-farming and old-school principles.  It is uniquely velvety and plush. It will showcase your grilled meats and delight any wine lover as it can be enjoyed now or cellared for 20-plus years.

http://www.orangecoast.com/booze-blog/perfect-wine-holiday-feast/

Author: corkingnapa

Julie Ann Kodmur is a second-generation Californian who was born in San Francisco and grew up in La Jolla. As an eighth grader she was the runner-up in the state spelling bee. She’s lived in Italy and New York and now lives in the Napa Valley with her family. She is a marketing and publicity consultant in the wine industry. Her business life can be seen at http://www.julieannkodmur.com. This is the home for the overflow. The ‘title’ is a reference to a sculpture honoring an Argentinean journalist who practiced his craft in the 1930s before literally dying for his words. No such drama here, just hopefully some provocative fun.

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