Holiday season celebrations really give us a great reason to open a few nice bottles of wine to go with all the fantastic foods we enjoy this time of year.

When thinking of wine pairings for your holiday feast, it’s important to look at everything on the table, especially the seasonings and spices.

Jim Gerakaris, Winery Sommelier & Wine Educator for JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery, offers a couple of tips for pairing wines with your holiday dishes.

Side Dishes
While turkey may seem to cry out for a white wine like Chardonnay, consider the rich gravy, or stuffing with sage and sausage, not to mention other side dishes like those Brussel sprouts with bacon and balsamic glaze, and you are firmly moving into a more full-bodied, Paso Robles red wine territory. At the very least, we’re talking a full-bodied Viognier if it just has to be white.

Winter Flavors
Also, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah make the perfect match with many winter meal favorites based on rich savory flavors often with garlic and herbs. Syrah with its peppery, meaty elements and brambly fruit character is a perfect choice for a herbed pork roast, while beef short ribs are a perfect match to the deep flavors and youthful tannins of a current release Paso Cabernet Sauvignon.

With the holiday season fully upon us, it’s time to reach into the cellar, and share the best wines we have to offer with friends and family. It’s the perfect time of year to go with a wine from Paso