Enjoy Great LOCAL Wines: Recommendations for Christmas Dinner!

Christmas dinner in our family consists of Prime Rib with horseradish sauce and Au jus, potatoes, mixed vegetables and Yorkshire pudding with gravy… YUM. If you’ve never tried Yorkshire pudding, it’s not an actual pudding, it’s a savory soft bread kind of a roll made from batter consisting of eggs, flour and milk…it’s hard to describe, but is absolutely delicious and one of my favorites. In this issue, I have recommendations for some excellent local wines, one red and one white from each winery, to pair with this special once-a-year holiday dinner.

When Daisy Creek Vineyard was asked what wines to pair with Christmas dinner, they chose their 2010 Triple Play and 2009 Lyon Red. The Triple Play is an exceptional blend of 56% Roussanne, 17% Marsanne and 27% Viognier, a light, crisp wine with hints of apricots and peaches. The Lyon Red is a blend of 45% Syrah, 44% Merlot, and 11% Verdot and has aromas of berries, sage and spices and won a Gold Medal at the 2013 Sunriver Sunfest competition and will complement the holiday dinner flavors well. This time of year, the winery is closed, but you can buy their wine at the Jacksonville Inn Wine Shop.

A 2011 Cabernet Franc and 2013 Rose’ were chosen by Serra Vineyards. The Cabernet Franc has berry notes, is fruit-forward and has a nice warm mouth feel. The Rose’ is made from Malbec and Tempranillo grapes harvested by their wine club family and friends and has nice fruit flavors and slightly acidic which helps to lighten this holiday meal and pair well with all the different seasonings.

Quady North chose their first release of a “Rhone style” red blend 2011 GSM– Grenache 35%, Syrah 31%, and Mourvedre 34% which brings together fruit and dark berry flavors, some tannins, slight peppery notes and herbal qualities that round-out this wine. The white, their 2013 Pistoleta, their “little gun” consisting of 33% Roussanne, 31% Marsanne, 24% Viognier and 11% Grenache Blanc is a must-serve wine. I’m starting to see a trend of blends to have with Christmas dinner; I’m making a mental note of that!

I spoke too soon; Ledger David picked their 2013 Primoris Chenin Blanc and 2011 Sangiovese, neither a blend but loaded with flavor. The Chenin Blanc is their signature wine with hints of peach, vanilla and citrus. The Sangiovese has hints of caramel and some tannins with berry notes and spices that took a Silver Medal at the 2012 World of Wine competition…definitely a food-friendly wine.

2011 Anna Maria Applegate Valley Tempranillo and Anna Maria Riesling were chosen by Valley View Winery. The Tempranillo is made from 100% estate-grown grapes consisting of flavors of cherry, plum and a little vanilla. It also is a winner of two Gold Medals, one from Greatest of the Grape and one from the Oregon Wine Awards. The Riesling has flavors of apricot with mild scents of herbs.

Roxy Ann Winery chose their 2010 Claret and their 2013 Sauvignon Blanc. The Claret is a blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot, 5% Malbec, and 2% Petit Verdot/Carmenere that was aged 18 months in New French and American Oak barrels. This wine has abundant flavors of dark berry, ripe cherry, vanilla oak with slight tannins, coffee and leather notes. The Sauvignon Blanc is made of 96% Sauvignon Blanc and 4% Viognier aged four months in 100% stainless steel tanks. It is a very refreshing wine that exhibits flavors and aromas of grapefruit, melon and very subtle hints of chili pepper.

Make sure you visit these local wineries and pick-up their wonderful wines to help make your Christmas dinner memorable and special this year!

Click on the wine bottles below for vineyard websites!

Wine bottle photos: © David Gibb Photography www.dgibbphoto.com