If ever there was a night for a “special occassion wine,” it is tonight and tomorrow. Whether you are toasting with a feast of the seven fishes tonight, or enjoying a hearty crown roast or chateaubriand for Christmas dinner tomorrow, you will want to enjoy a wine that is just as special as the friends and family around your table. Each of these options is just that. Bright, big, bold, and, most importantly, delicious. #Cheers and Merry Christmas!

There is a wide variety of wines that I love. Pinot Noir is a wine I can drink every night. I have no bias towards one white variety or another; if the wine is well-made, it has a place in my book. Still, if you ask me what my favorite wine is, I will always say a Barolo. Crafted from the Nebbiolo fruit in the heart of Italy’s Piedmont region, the earthy, robust, and often quite tannic red wine stole my heart over 20 years ago when I was in my sommelier training. Since then, I have rarely tried a Barolo, or any Nebbiolo-based wine, that I did not like. Still, some are better than others. One that falls into that category is from the historic Pio Cesare winery.

Founded in 1881, family-owned Pio Cesare showcases the elegance of the Barolo and Barbaresco regions through its expressive wines, made from estate-grown fruit grown without chemicals. Pio Cesare Barolo Pio is one of the brand’s classic labels, a wine that celebrates its rich family heritage and offers extensive aging potential. The wine blends fruit from 9 vineyards within Barolo, allowing for a true expression of the terroir. Although the wine shows the tannic qualities of the variety, it also reveals elegance and refinement. Layers of spicy red fruits, forest-floor, and savory spices come together to create a harmonic symphony in the glass.

Merlot is a red variety that is as comfortable with a steak and potatoes as it is with grilled salmon or vegetable pasta. The wine has smooth tannins and a fruit-forward flavor profile that pairs well with a wide variety of foods without losing its character and charm. From high elevation vineyards on Napa’s Howell Mountain, La Jota Vineyard Co. Howell Mountain Merlot shines as a handsomely crafted example of premium quality mountain fruit. The wine’s character is earthy, dense, and expressive, and, without question, incredibly impressive. The wine opens with purple violets, black plum, and spice box aromas, which lead to layers of black cherry, currants, dark chocolate, and toasted spice. Beyond the flavor, the structure and rich complexity of this wine add to its appeal. The flavors engulf the palate, lingering for what feels like days, delivering much more than many typical Merlot wines.

From high elevation vineyards in the heart of California’s Santa Ynez Valley, Demetria Estate crafts expressive, Rhone-style wines from biodynamically grown fruit from its 213 acres of estate vineyards. Named for the winery’s owner, Constantine Alexis Zahoudanis, Demetria Cuvee Constantine blends Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre to create a rich and juicy wine with persistence and balance in the glass. The Grenache lends red fruits, the Syrah adds a peppery note, and sun-loving Mourvedre lends layers of blue and black fruits, with a tannic backbone.  Blackberry and red cherry linger together throughout the wine, with notes of dried tobacco, Cigar box, warm spice, and a touch of black tea and vanilla.

The white Chenin Blanc variety shines in the Russian River’s Hartford Court Jurassic Vineyard Old Vine Chenin Blanc. The fruit is from some of the oldest Chenin Blanc vines in California. The Jurassic Vineyard sits at 1000 feet above sea level within the Santa Ynez Valley. Its vines average over 40 years old, delivering a highly concentrated flavor that is both rich and unctuous as well as fresh and vibrant. The wine ferments in French oak barrels before aging for 10 months in oak. The texture of this wine is what I love the most, coating the palate with historic character. Aromas of wildflowers and wild herbs meld into citrus, quince, and herbal flavors with a mineral-focused finish. Enjoy this wine with shellfish, white fish, white meat, or creamy cheese.