Holidays and wine, they seem to go together.  New Year’s Eve is champagne, Valentine’s Day perhaps a sparkling Rose.  Thanksgiving a good Pinot Noir (no Beaujolais Nouveau please!).  What do holidays and wine have in common?  For me, the common thread is spending time with family. And the most popular thing to do is to eat and drink!  No matter your culture, religion, age etc. we all enjoy breaking bread when we gather together for  a holiday celebration.  There is no right or wrong wine to pair with your special holiday meal.  It all depends on what you like and what you would like to share with your guests.

We spent the first part of our holiday weekend camping out with my Aunt and Uncle.  Sitting around the camp fire after dinner, we shared stories and memories of my grandparents – my uncle’s parents.  We enjoyed a bottle of Crooked Row red zinfandel and an Indaba Shiraz from South Africa.  The wines were smooth, easy drinking, and comforting reds.  The stories paired perfectly – lots of laughs as we talked about our beloved family members that are no longer with us.  I think it is wonderful to be able to keep these memories alive and share them with my husband and son.  It brings to mind a quote that a very good friend of mine shared with me, “Wine is not meant to be enjoyed for its own sake; it is the key to love and laughter with friends.  Its rewards are far beyond its cost.” (Thanks Scott!)  This quote captures the essence and spirit of wine.  As we shared the two bottles of wine, that probably cost $25 combined, we received more than our money’s worth of memories, camaraderie and laughs. 

As you celebrate this holiday weekend, what wines are you enjoying?  No matter your religious or spiritual beliefs, holidays tend to bring families together (for better or worse,  LOl!).  We are now back at home and my husband, son and I will enjoy a quiet Easter dinner together.  Steaks on the grill, baked potatoes, glazed carrots and a Caesar salad… nothing fancy. (I forgot that my usual grocery store would be closed today!)  As far as the wine, I am chilling a bottle of the Thomas Labaille ‘Le Monts Damnes’ 2009 Sancerre.  Wait a minute,  Sancerre and steak?  And I claim to be an ‘expert’ on wine????  The answer is – drink what you like; there are no rules.  I purchased this bottle of small production, single vineyard wine from France several weeks ago and have been waiting for the right occasion to open the bottle.  Dinner on our deck with my immediate family sounds just right!