Perfect Wine Pairings for Your Holiday Meals

Get the drink part of "eat, drink and be merry" right this holiday season – ease up on the eggnog and pair your favorite festive foods with the perfect wines.  Joe Farinella, owner of Wine & Liquor Outlet on Hicksville Road (formerly J & F Seaford Wines & Liquor), is here to help.  His family business moved from Seaford to Massapequa in July.  He shared some ideas with Patch about what's selling for the season and offered insight about what to sip with your holiday ham, stuffing and apple pie.

The Host Gift: Your mother always said never go to someone's house empty-handed – so bring a bottle (or two) of wine to enjoy with hors d'oeuvres. Wine & Liquor Outlet sells a selection of organically grown Luigi Bosca wines priced from $11.99 to $21.99. "These are crowd-pleasers and make great gifts for the host," says Farinella. In addition to its malbec reserva, Luigi Bosca offers a single vineyard D.O.C. (a wine designation for the connoisseur), cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir and riesling.

The Main Event: At holiday dinners, hearty red wines such as malbec pair well with roasted meats and steak, says Farinella. Meanwhile, a crisp riesling is a match for turkey, stuffing or a simple ham dish. When pairing reds with lamb, turkey and other poultry, place a pinot noir or côtes du rhône on the table. 

Enhance grilled fish and oysters with a refreshing sauvignon blanc, and serve a fuller-bodied wine, like a chardonnay, with creamy fish dishes. Just avoid anything too oaky, "so as not to overwhelm the delicate flavors," advises Farinella. For a pinot grigio that won't disappoint, he recommends Santa Margarita ($19.99) or Ca Montini (under $20), a top-seller that has the same crisp taste without the bite. The white-wine-with-fish rule, he adds, is not set in stone, and a light- to medium-bodied pinot noir compliments salmon or tuna served rare. Wine & Liquor Outlet also offers a sweeter selection for drinking with dessert. "Moscato has pleasant floral notes, vin santo is more like nectar and port is lovely if you want a warming effect. Late-harvest wines, made from a variety of red and white grapes, are also a sweet treat." 

The Splurge: Why not uncork something special (it is the holiday season, after all). "This time of year, the upscale wines seem to be popular," says Farinella, and Wine & Liquor Outlet has plenty of options to choose from.  Opus One, Silver Oak, Insignia and Cake Bread ($50 to $200) are just a few top picks. 

The Festive Toast:  If visions of tiny bubbles are dancing in your head, try a mid-priced Prosecco. This Italian sparkling wine "is not too dry or too sweet, with just the right amount of fruit notes," shares Farinella. Or celebrate in style with a bottle of Georges Vesselle, Veuve Clicquot or the infamous Don Perignon. Cheers, indeed.

The Wine & Liquor Outlet is located at 15 Hicksville Rd. in the Village Square Shopping Center. They deliver, offer a VIP Rewards Club, and hold wine tastings Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Visit the new website  or call 516 679-3030.