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The Elegant Holiday Table: Wine Pairings Beyond the Classics

Elegant holiday dishes, modern presentation, and thoughtful wine pairings beyond the classics. Designed for Christmas and New Year’s tables.

December 18, 2025

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Christmas and New Year’s are almost here, and for me, this is my favorite time of the year. It’s a season of hot chocolate, gifts for friends and loved ones, lights around the city and on the Christmas tree, and winter events like holiday markets.

There is a feeling of warmth and magic everywhere, and the air is filled with the familiar scent of cinnamon, mandarins, and apple cider.

At home, this is the time when I want to do something different with the decorations and the food. Every year, I look for new versions of classic holiday dishes or interesting ways to serve them. I want the table to look nice, but I also want to enjoy the food and feel nice.

Holiday meals are often heavy, and after them, all you want to do is lie on the couch and watch Home Alone. Sometimes that’s perfect. But other times, it’s nice to keep some energy. To go ice skating, see the city Christmas tree, take a walk with friends, create a gingerbread house, or play in the snow, if there is any.

As I’ve mentioned in previous articles, balance matters. That’s why this selection includes dishes that are not only beautiful and tasty, but also easy to enjoy, paired with wines that don’t feel heavy.

Why Sparkling Wines Feel Right During the Holidays

During the holiday season, sparkling wines naturally become more popular. They feel festive, they look beautiful in the glass, and they work well with many different dishes. One bottle can easily stay on the table from the first bite to the last.

Sparkling wines are also easy to enjoy. Their freshness and acidity help balance rich food, cleanse the palate, and keep the meal feeling lighter. That’s why Champagne, Crémant, Cava, and other sparkling wines so often appear on Christmas and New Year’s tables.

For me, sparkling wine is not only about celebration. It’s about setting the pace of the evening. It allows you to enjoy the food, take your time, and move easily from appetizers to the main dishes without feeling heavy.

Holiday Pairing

While there are some general principles to food and wine pairing, remember that taste is personal. We all experience flavors differently, and what delights one person might not work for another. So trust your own preferences, explore with curiosity, and, above all, enjoy the experience.

image by get fish Australia

Champagne + Crab Cocktail with Avocado Cream

A dry Blanc de Blancs Champagne highlights the natural sweetness of crab. The fine bubbles and bright acidity balance the creamy avocado and citrus notes without adding weight.

Pairing principle:
Delicate seafood with creamy elements needs high acidity and light texture to stay fresh.

🍷 Alternative: Crémant d’Alsace Brut or Cava Brut.

⏰ 20 min | 🦀 Crab

image by Erik Putz

Crémant + Devilled Eggs (10 Variations)

Crémant Brut works well with devilled eggs in all their variations. Whether they are classic, spicy, herby, or topped with seafood...

Pairing principle:
Creamy appetizers in different styles need acidity and bubbles to stay fresh across flavors.

🍷Alternative: Blanc de Blancs Champagne, dry Sparkling Rosé, Prosecco Brut.

⏰ 15-30 min | 🥚 Eggs

image by mmmrecipes

Sauvignon Blanc + Winter Salad Wreath

A bright Sauvignon Blanc works well with this wreath salad. The wine’s acidity highlights the citrus and cut through the richness of the nuts and cheese, keeping the salad light and refreshing.

Pairing principle:
High acidity balances citrus and tangy elements in fresh salads.

🍷Alternative: Albarino, dry Riesling, Prosecco Brut

⏰ 15 min | 🌱 Vegetarian

image by simplyscratch

Rosé + Holiday Antipasto Wreath

A Provence Rosé pairs well with this holiday antipasto wreath. The light fruit notes and crisp acidity accentuate the assortment of cheeses, cured meats, olives, and roasted vegetables, keeping each bite lively and balanced.

Pairing principle:
Mixed flavors and textures pair best with wines that have bright acidity and gentle fruit to tie the elements together.

🍷Alternative: Dry Sparkling Rosé or light Pinot Noir

⏰ 30 min | Recipe

image by olga_food_blogger

Champagne + Salmon Shuba Salad

This layered salad is rich and festive. Beetroot, carrots, and potatoes form the base, followed by salted salmon, eggs, and finished with red caviar. A Brut keeps the dish balanced, and lifts the flavors.

Pairing principle:
Rich, layered dishes with salt and fat need high acidity and bubbles to stay fresh.

🍷 Alternative: Crémant Brut or Cava Brut.

⏰ 2 hours | 🐟 Salmon

image by recipesfromeurope

Cava + Mimosa Salad

Mimosa salad is rich and layered, with eggs, potatoes, carrots, and fish creating a creamy, savory bite. A Brut sparkling wine refreshes the palate, cuts through the richness, and keeps the dish balanced.

Pairing principle:
Layered, creamy salads need high acidity and bubbles to stay fresh

🍷Alternative: Champagne Brut or Cava Brut

⏰ 60 min | 🐟 Tuna

image by foodiecrush

Riesling + Colourful Beet and Carrot Salad

A dry Riesling pairs well with this beet, carrot, and pomegranate salad. The wine’s bright acidity lifts the earthy beets, balances the sweetness of the carrots, and works well with the fresh, juicy notes of pomegranate.

Pairing principle:
Earthy and sweet vegetables need acidity to stay fresh and balanced.

🍷Alternative: Crémant Brut or Sauvignon Blanc

⏰ 40 min | 🌱 Vegetarian

image by dishingouthealth

Rosé + Avocado Toast with Pomegranate Salsa

A dry Rosé from Provence matches the creamy avocado and the bright pomegranate salsa. The wine’s light red fruit notes and gentle acidity highlight the freshness of the dish while keeping the toast feeling clean and lively.

Pairing principle:
Creamy and tangy elements pair well with wines that have bright acidity and light red fruit notes.

🍷Alternative: Dry Rosato (Italy) or a light Pinot Noir

⏰ 20 min | 🥖 Vegetarian

image by Ben Dearnley

Pinot Noir + Radicchio Salad

A light Pinot Noir works well with this radicchio salad with port figs and pickled beetroot. The wine’s red fruit and gentle acidity soften the bitterness of radicchio, echo the sweetness of the figs, and balance the earthy beetroot.

Pairing principle:
Bitter greens with sweet and earthy elements pair best with light reds that have soft tannins and fresh acidity.

🍷Alternative: Gamay or dry Sparkling Rosé

⏰ 60 min | 🌱 Vegetarian

image by James Moffatt

Vermentino + Charred Zucchini

A fresh Vermentino pairs beautifully with charred zucchini agrodolce and ricotta salata. The wine’s bright acidity and herbal notes match the sweet-and-sour glaze, while its clean profile balances the salty cheese and smoky zucchini.

Pairing principle:
Sweet-and-sour vegetables need acidity and freshness to stay balanced.

🍷Alternative: Crémant Brut or dry Sauvignon Blanc

⏰ 20 min | 🌱 Vegetarian

image by MJ Kroeger

Crémant + Mini Potatoes with Crème Fraîche & Caviar

Crémant Brut works beautifully with mini hasselback potatoes topped with crème fraîche and caviar. The fresh acidity and fine bubbles balance the creamy texture, while the clean profile keeps the caviar elegant and precise.

Pairing principle:
Salt and cream need acidity and bubbles to stay light and balanced.

🍷Alternative: Blanc de Blancs Champagne or Chardonnay (lightly oaked)

⏰ 1h 10 min | 🥔 Potato

image by realfood tesco

Chardonnay + Roasted Sweet Potato Rounds

A lightly oaked Chardonnay works well with roasted sweet potato rounds. Its soft texture and gentle warmth complement the natural sweetness of the potatoes, while balanced acidity keeps the dish from feeling heavy.

Pairing principle:
Roasted dishes with natural sweetness pair best with wines that have texture and enough acidity to stay fresh.

🍷Alternative: Blanc de Blancs Champagne or Crémant Brut.

⏰ 55 min | 🥔 Potato

image by simplyhomecooked

Prosecco + Smoked Salmon Cucumber Rolls

Prosecco Extra Dry pairs well with smoked salmon cucumber rolls. The wine’s bright acidity and fine bubbles complement the fresh cucumber and smoky salmon, keeping the bite light and refreshing without overpowering the delicate flavors.

Pairing principle:
Light, fresh bites with a touch of smoke pair best with wines that have crisp acidity and gentle bubbles.

🍷Alternative: Dry Rosé or unoaked Sauvignon Blanc.

⏰ 30 min | 🐟 Salmon

image by sidechef

Crémant + Baked Brie with Pistachios

Crémant Brut pairs very well with baked brie topped with pistachios and pomegranate. The wine’s fresh acidity and fine bubbles balance the warm, creamy cheese and lift the sweet-tart pomegranate without overpowering the dish.

Pairing principle:
Warm, creamy cheeses need acidity and bubbles to feel balanced and not heavy.

🍷Alternative: Blanc de Blancs Champagne or dry Sparkling Rosé

⏰ 15 min | 🧀 Cheese

image by 40aprons

Pinot Noir + Cranberry Rosemary One-Pan Chicken

A medium-bodied Pinot Noir pairs well with this cranberry rosemary chicken. The wine’s soft red fruit and gentle spice notes complement the tart cranberries and savory herbs, while light tannins keep the dish balanced and not heavy.

Pairing principle:
Herb-forward poultry with fruit accents needs freshness and gentle structure to stay balanced

🍷Alternative: Beaujolais Cru or Brut Rosé Champagne

⏰ 1h 30 min | 🍗 chicken

image by LIZ ANDREW

Chardonnay + White Wine Coq au Vin

A lightly oaked Chardonnay pairs well with chicken in white wine. The wine’s soft texture and balanced acidity match the creamy sauce, mushrooms, and herbs, while keeping the dish smooth and not too heavy.

Pairing principle:
Creamy poultry dishes work best with wines that have gentle texture and enough acidity to stay fresh.

🍷Alternative: Crémant Brut or dry Chenin Blanc

⏰ 55 min | 🍗 chicken

image by triedandtruerecipe

Pinot Noir + Orange Maple Roast Duck

A light to medium-bodied Pinot Noir pairs well with orange maple roast duck. The wine’s fresh red fruit and gentle acidity balance the sweetness of the maple and orange, while soft tannins complement the richness of the duck.

Pairing principle:
Rich poultry with sweet citrus notes needs acidity and soft tannins to stay balanced.

🍷 Alternative: Grenache or Brut Rosé Champagne

⏰ 3 h 30 min | 🍗 duck

image by seasonsandsuppers

Sparkling Rosé + Baked Orange Salmon

Sparkling Rosé pairs beautifully with baked Asian orange salmon. Its fresh acidity and red-berry notes balance the citrus glaze and soy-ginger flavors, while the bubbles keep the dish light and lively.

Pairing principle:
Sweet-savory glazes work best with acidity and bubbles to stay fresh and balanced.

🍷 Alternative: Off-Dry Riesling or Pinot Gris

⏰ 20 min | 🐟 Salmon

image by Brett Stevens

Moscato d’Asti + Fig-Leaf and Pistachio Cake

Moscato d’Asti pairs beautifully with this flourless fig-leaf and pistachio cake. Its light sweetness, gentle bubbles, and floral notes complement the fig and pistachio flavors while keeping the dessert fresh and easy to enjoy.

Pairing principle:
Sweet desserts with nutty and fruit elements pair best with wines that have balancing acidity and a touch of residual sugar.

🍷 Alternative: Late Harvest Riesling, Vin Santo

⏰ 1 h 15 min | Recipe

image by prettysimplesweet

Moscato d’Asti + Chocolate Panna Cotta

Moscato d’Asti pairs beautifully with this chocolate panna cotta. Its gentle sweetness and soft bubbles complement the creamy chocolate texture while keeping the dessert feeling light and easy to enjoy.

Pairing principle:
Creamy, sweet desserts work best with gently sweet wines that have freshness and low alcohol.

🍷 Alternative: Brachetto d’Acqui or demi-sec Crémant.

⏰ 15 min (4h resting) | Recipe

image by loveandoliveoil

Brachetto d’Acqui + Chocolate Chestnut Christmas Cake Roll

Brachetto d’Acqui works well with this chocolate chestnut cake roll. Its light sweetness, low alcohol, and red-berry notes soften the chocolate and chestnut flavors while keeping the dessert fresh and easy to enjoy.

Pairing principle:
Chocolate desserts with nutty notes pair best with lightly sweet wines that have freshness and low alcohol.

🍷 Alternative: Moscato d’Asti or Tawny Port

⏰ 1 h 10 min (4h resting) | Recipe

image by inspiredbycharm

Moscato d’Asti + Gingerbread Swiss Cake Roll

Moscato d’Asti pairs beautifully with this gingerbread Swiss cake roll. Its gentle sweetness and soft bubbles match the warm spice and molasses notes in the cake, keeping the dessert feeling light and festive.

Pairing principle:
Spiced and sweet desserts pair best with wines that offer softness, gentle sweetness, and freshness.

🍷 Alternative: Late Harvest Riesling or Brachetto d’Acqui.

⏰ 60 min | Recipe

Holiday drinks

Warm drinks, festive punches, and non-alcoholic options help keep the holidays evening and morning cozy, without feeling heavy.

Holiday meals don’t have to be heavy or complicated. Throughout this selection, the focus was on balance. Light textures, fresh flavors, and wines that complement the food rather than overpower it.

Because all you want is to enjoy the food and wine and still feel good enough to keep the evening going, that’s what makes a holiday table truly special.

Want more delicious discoveries?

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