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The creation of a Christmas wine list is a festive way to drive profits this holiday season. Once the holidays are upon us, there are many ways to simultaneously celebrate and boost revenue. However, no strategy is comparable to the potential of a well-thought-out beverage program.
Whether you create an easy Christmas dinner menu or host an elaborate prix fixe selection for the holiday, a fine bottle of wine can boost the customer experience. But more importantly for you, it can drive the total cost of the meal exponentially. But which types of wine should be on the menu in the first place? Read on, and you’ll discover what you need in order to create the perfect Christmas wine list.
Defining Christmas Wine
A Christmas wine refers to the types of wine that people tend to enjoy during the holiday season. This wine selection often consists of flavor profiles that pair deliciously with traditional Christmas menu items. There are also a handful of Christmas wines that incorporate spices that reflect other holiday beverages. As you can imagine, the Christmas wine definition can easily mean something different from one restaurant, wine director, or consumer to the next.
7 Best Christmas Wines to Pour This December
A Christmas wine list can consist of quite the variety. From spiced wines to bottles of bubbly, there are a number of options that can lead to festive dinners and high profits. Review the list below to discover a thorough starting point for this year’s Christmas wine selection.
1. Mulled Wine
If there’s one type of wine that is more festive than all the others, it’s mulled wine. Very few wines offer spicy flavor notes associated with the cold seasons. Plus, it’s served warm, which is perfect for this time of year. The best part? As long as you have a red blend and a few spices on hand, you can make mulled wine. Simply heat it through with the spices mixed in, and you’re all set. It’s that easy!
2. Cabernet Sauvignon
Many consumers enjoy cabernet sauvignon since it displays a balance of vibrant and earthy flavor notes. As a result, it pairs well with various dishes, making it a perfect Christmas wine. A bottle of Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon can sell for upward of $150. Therefore, it’s a suitable Christmas wine for restaurants with moderate and high prices.
3. Pinot Noir
Selling bottles of classic pinot noir from the Burgundy region of France is a foolproof way to upsell each party. With a rich and complex flavor profile, pairing a glass of pinot noir with dinner is ideal for many people during the holidays. There’s a delicious balance between fruity, spicy, and earthy notes, allowing it to complement various types of food. Keeping expensive bottles of pinot noir, such as Henri Gouges Nuits-Saint-Georges from the Burgundy region of France is a must!
4. Zinfandel
Many Christmas dinner menus consist of savory dishes like steaks, ribs, and beyond. And nothing pairs with a high-end cut of meat better than a rich and luxurious red wine. So, not only can a high-quality bottle of Zinfandel result in a top-selling wine pairing, but it can raise each bill by roughly $80. A bottle of red like Ridge Vineyards Lytton Springs Zinfandel from California can do the trick!
5. Chardonnay
A white wine is the perfect beverage for seafood dishes and certain types of meat. The oaky flavor of chardonnay goes well with popular dishes served on Christmas. Plus, it’s not so sweet that it will spoil one’s appetite half way through the meal. Something like a Far Niente Chardonnay from Napa Valley is a delicious option and rarely exceeds $70 per bottle.
6. Port Wine
With the rich flavor of spices and dried fruits, port wine is a great beverage choice during the holiday season. They often have bold yet smooth flavor profiles which pair very well with rich meals. And even though port wines can be a bit sweet, they’re still acidic enough to not be considered a dessert wine. A bottle of something like Quinta do Noval Black Port from Portugal can serve as a five-star Christmas wine.
7. Prosecco Wine
Sparkling wine is festive and often associated with celebrations. The main differences between prosecco vs. champagne is the wine production process and that prosecco is a bit sweeter. With this in mind, prosecco is also ideal to pair with dessert menu items.
Wine Gifts for Christmas
While we’re on the topic of the best Christmas wines, let’s go over some related holiday gift ideas. Whether you’re shopping for a close loved one or a casual gift exchange, wine and wine-related gifts are perfect as Christmas presents. Several wine gifts for Christmas include the following ideas:
- A bottle of wine
- A wine sampler
- Wine glassware
- A wine stopper
- A wine aerator
- An electric wine opener
- A book about wine tasting
- A book about wine pairings
- A gift card to a local winery
- A wine subscription box - the gift that’ll keep on giving!
Wine enthusiasts will enjoy any of the gift ideas on the list above. And if you can find a gift set or create a basket with several of these items, that would be even better!
Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas Wine
Once you thoughtfully craft a Christmas wine list, you can use it year after year. However, the ideation phase of creating the initial draft should be the result of time, research, and consideration. With this being said, there’s still more to learn about Christmas wine in general. Hopefully, the following FAQ section will help you out.
What Is Christmas Wine?
Christmas wine simply refers to the wine selection that most people consume during the holiday season. Some of these wines will consist of flavor notes and aromatic qualities of traditional winter spices, like clove and cinnamon. Meanwhile, you’ll also have standard red and white blends that pair well with the more popular dishes a restaurant or family might serve on Christmas.
Which Is the Most Festive Christmas Wine?
The most festive Christmas wine has to be mulled wine. For one, mulled wine is served hot, which is ideal during the cold winter months. But what makes it more festive than that is its flavor profile. When heating a red blend, you add spices like cinnamon, clove, and allspice. These additional flavors create a final result that’s very reminiscent of other seasonal beverages, like apple crisp lattes and pumpkin spice coffee. So, mulled wine is definitely the option that “tastes like Christmas” more than anything you could find already bottled in a cellar.
Is It Worth It to Create a Christmas Wine List?
Yes, it’s worth it to create a Christmas wine list. It can be challenging to establish a festive atmosphere without going all out with seasonal decor. But when you have a limited-edition dinner menu accompanied by an expert-crafted wine list, the meal can be much more formal for the holiday. Plus, creating a Christmas wine list is an easy way to encourage the sale of expensive bottles of wine. After all, if you showcase that a particular wine pairs perfectly with a classic Christmas dinner, the bottle will instantly seem more appealing than it would otherwise.
Is Mulled Wine a Type of Christmas Wine?
Yes, mulled wine is a type of Christmas wine, as it displays a variety of flavor notes that are associated with the holidays. However, it’s also common for people to consume mulled wine during the fall. Not only are the spices suitable for both seasons, but many people enjoy one of the only hot wines as soon as the weather starts to turn cold.
What Is the Best Wine to Have With Christmas Dinner?
The best wine to pair with Christmas dinner depends on the food you serve. For instance, a Christmas dinner reminiscent of a traditional Thanksgiving menu might pair well with a full-bodied red wine. Meanwhile, a 7 Fishes Christmas Eve menu will pair way better with white wine. If you’re unsure which wine types to pair with your holiday menu items, download our free wine pairings eBook!
The Most Wonderful Wine of the Year
There’s a chance that the perfect Christmas wine selection is already sitting in your restaurant’s cellar. It’s all about locating the wines that have flavor profiles and aromatic qualities that pair with your eatery’s Christmas menu. It’s that simple. But if you’re in the market for user-friendly wine list and bar inventory solutions to ease the process, schedule a demo with BinWise today!