The most memorable holiday lunch or dinner has been enjoyed by all, no matter the number of guests. So why stop the accolades for your entertaining expertise now? Save the coffee! Pull out the stops (I mean, corks) and serve your favorite desserts paired with exceptional wines. For research purposes, I’ve been making a few of my best loved sweet treats and sipping a few wine selections received as samples that will be the ultimate grand finale to any upcoming, albeit small, gatherings.
The trick to matching wine and dessert is to remember that sweetness in food prompts a dry style of wine taste bitter and sour, with an unappealing astringency. That wedding cake with dry Champagne that was served at your best friend’s wedding? Celebratory of course, but not the best food and wine pairing. The key then, is to find a wine that’s sweeter than the dish. Following are five wines coupled with mouthwatering dessert suggestions that will make this year’s holiday season that much better. Cheers!
Bottega Gianduia Liqueur ($25) and Classic Tiramisu
In the glass, this looks like the creamiest chocolate milk, but this extravagant dessert-centric liqueur exudes aromas of Gianduia chocolate and flavors of hazelnuts and cocoa as it coats the mouth with a velvet-like texture. A touch of grappa lends a unique profile to this lusciousness and with a moderate amount of alcohol and just the right amount of sweet, chocolate lovers will be in heaven. Pour Bottega Gianduia Liqueur over scoops of ice cream or pair with Classic Tiramisu.
Badia a Coltibuono Vin Santo Chianti Classico 2011 ($46) and Italian Pear and Almond Cake
Vin Santo is a style of Italian dessert wine that’s a long-held tradition in Tuscany. This beautiful example is of Trebbiano and Malvasia grapes that were harvested, then dried while hanging on racks in a well-ventilated space. Enticing aromas of caramel, nuts, honey, toasted almond, vanilla and herbs led to flavors of almonds, golden raisins and butterscotch candies. On the drier side of the sweetness spectrum, this Vin Santo was just as delicious with slices of Italian Pear and Almond Cake as it with freshly baked biscotti.
Quinta de la Rosa Tawny Porto ($18) and Southern Pecan Pie
Save the coffee for later and pour a chilled glass of Quinta de la Rosa Tawny Porto! This wine of traditional port varieties (Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa, Tinta Barroc and Tinta Roriz) is unique because all A graded grapes are grown on the Quinta instead of further down the river near Regua. With nutty, caramel and honey notes, this complex Tawny Port is a touch dry and a brilliant match to generous slices of my mother’s Southern Pecan Pie.
Merry Edwards Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc 2018 ($48) and Lemon Chess Bars
We’ve relished in sips of Pinot Noir from Merry Edwards, but how about the Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc? Find this now! From estate grown grapes picked at optimal sweetness levels, the wine has notes of honeysuckle, sweet ginger, lemon meringue, honey-pouched pears, apricot, orange peel and baking spice – all lifted with brilliant acidity. With each bite of the tart, textured, fruit-centric Lemon Chess Bars, a favorite dessert from my childhood, and sips of the Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc, my palate was on a heavenly cloud!
Chateau Loupiac Gaudiet 2016 ($17) and Banana Pudding Cheesecake
Why we aren’t sipping more sweet Bordeaux wines is an enigma. The selections from this iconic wine region are exceptional with any item on the menu from the first appetizer to the last dessert. Chateau Loupiac Gaudiet 2016 is an affordable, fresh and rich dessert wine of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc. Aromas of dried apples and apricots, honeysuckle and orange jam were a mesmerizing entry to flavors of spice, dried fruit and honey. On a foundation of vibrant acidity and creamy texture, its pairing with a simple Banana Pudding Cheesecake recipe, a riff on my grandmother’s classic banana pudding (vanilla wafers included!), brought all the love… and celebration home.
Happy Holidays to you and yours.
Cheers! ~ Cindy
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