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Town & Country Magazine: The 23 Best Wines to Serve at Christmas: Featuring Schramsberg, Dal Forno Romano and Royal Tokaji

“Whether you’re planning a feast for the whole family or opting for a more low-key celebration, choosing the right bottles to pair with your Christmas meal is an important part of creating the perfect holiday experience. We surveyed master sommeliers and wine experts around the country to find the best wines to serve at your celebratory Christmas meal. Here are 23 bottles that will make your feast especially memorable.”

Sparkling: Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs 2015

“Nothing says holiday quite like sparkling wine! It makes that annoying relative so much more bearable, the fireside warmer, and the glowing lights from the tree reflecting off the glass full of bubbles really seals the deal. As it gets colder out I like to step up the body and power of my champagne with a Blanc de Noirs (made completely with red grapes—but don’t worry, it’s still clear) because the use of red grapes gives more body, power and structure to the wine,” says Alexander LaPratt, master sommelier and principal of Beast & Bottles and Atrium DUMBO in Brooklyn.

Red: Dal Forno Romano Valpolicella Superiore 2009

“The night before it was quiet in the house and we had sugar plums dancing in our heads, so why not in our glass too? This bottle from one of the top producers in the Veneto region of Italy is a very big wine filled with flavors of sugar-dusted dark plums, dark cherries, candied prunes and raisins, dark chocolate, jammy black fruit and spice,” says LaPratt. “It will accompany well all of the seasonal dishes spread lavishly across the table, and the fuller-bodied structure and alcohol will certainly keep Jack Frost from nipping at your nose!”

Dessert: Royal Tokaji Late Harvest (500ML) 2016
“I love dessert wine but I rarely pop a bottle at home because I’m not going to have more than a few ounces,” Wagner says. “The holidays are a great time to break one out because not only do you have enough people to justify opening a bottle, it can easily appeal to all kinds of guests.  The Royal Tokaji Late Harvest 2016 is a great example of a sweet wine that would pair well with Christmas cookies, pies, or even some eggnog.  This is not as sweet as some other examples of Tokaji and—even better—it is not as expensive.”
Sam Dangremond, October 2, 2019
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Town & Country Magazine: The 23 Best Wines to Serve at Christmas: Featuring Schramsberg, Dal Forno Romano and Royal Tokaji