Perfect Wine Pairings for Your Holiday Meals

Whether you're attending an intimate holiday gathering, hosting a large bash or having the family over for dinner, you can enhance your favorite festive foods by pairing then with the right wine (the saying is "eat, drink and be merry," after all).

Here in Levittown, wine has become increasingly popular over the past few years, says Lenny Genovese, owner of six-year-old Lenny's Liquors on Gardiners Avenue.

"My customers' palates have become more exclusive," he explains, joking that doctors' reports about the health benefits of red wine have certainly helped.

Below, Genovese shares some insight about what's selling this season, and what he suggests you sip with your holiday ham, apple pie and other culinary delights.

Host Gifts: Your mother was right when she said never go to someone's house empty-handed, and one of the most common gifts to bring to holiday get-togethers is a bottle of wine. Genovese likes Line 39 Merlot, a fruity red he says is "easy to drink, doesn't have a lot of tannins, and goes well will savory dishes." It retails for $11.99, but Genovese says it stacks up well to any $30 bottle.

Other popular reds include Blackstone Merlot and a variety of Chilean wines, many of which remain relatively inexpensive without sacrificing quality. 

In white wines, riesling pairs nicely with appetizers like wine and cheese and fondue and has become quite popular in the last couple of months, adds Genovese. At just $10.99, Pölka Dot is his prime pick.

Traditional Holiday Meals: Genovese suggests pairing meats like ham and pork with a cabernet sauvignon, and choosing a syrah or pinot noir to go with lighter meats such as turkey or chicken. One bottle he's selling a lot of lately is Mark West pinot noir, which retails for $13.99.

With fish, Genovese prefers a chianti from winemakers like Ruffino, which has three labels (regular, tan and gold) that start at under $20. He's also a fan of un-oaked chardonnay, but says most customers drink oak-aged chardonnay and Cavit pinot grigio.

To Keep Warm: If you want to stay toasty as the temperature drops, forgo the hot toddy and opt for some holiday spiced wine from Brotherhood Winery, suggests Genovese. Heat it up before drinking and enjoy this sweet red wine with hints of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and all-spice.

Festive Toasts: You'll want to have a bit of the bubbly around for celebrating, and this time of year the mid-priced Korbel ($13.99) is extremely popular, notes Genovese. A safe bet for a pricier option is the Veuve Clicquot, which starts at around $45. Stock up during the December holidays and save your favorite bottle to enjoy while ringing in the New Year.

Lenny's Liquors is located at 172b Gardiners Ave. They deliver, offer customized gift baskets and hold wine tastings every other weekend. Visit the website or call 731-3436.