HORSEHEADS, NY (WENY) -- This week in wine country, sponsored by Finger Lakes Wine Country, FLWC President Laury Ward offers up wine pairing recommendations for your holiday meal.

Whether it's just you and a partner, small family dinner or a virtual get together, here are some local wine recommendations to go with whatever you may be serving. 

Start with bubbles!
J.R. Dill’s Cayuga Rise or his drier Blanc de Blanc, or Sparkling Riesling from Wagner Vineyards

Make it extra special:
Add a smidgen of Finger Lakes Distilling’s Cassis Liqueur to your favorite bubbly for a Kir Royale

Appetizer Wine
Glenora Wine Cellars’ 2019 Dry Rosé
Pair with charcuterie, melon and prosciutto; semi-soft, mild cheeses like Gruyère, Havarti, and Monterey Jack; olives, hummus, mini quiches

Red Wines
Dr. Konstantin Frank’s 2018 Old Vines Pinot Noir
Pair with filet mignon, beef Wellington, roast duck, mushrooms, grilled or roasted chicken, veal chops, grilled tuna, pork tenderloin, fennel, roasted or grilled lobster

Ravines’ 2017 Maximilien
A blend of two Bordeaux varietals Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
Pair with classic robust beef, game and lamb roasts or stews, short ribs and other braised beef dishes, roasted or grilled veal, pork, or lamb; roasted chicken, turkey, or duck; portobello mushrooms, herbaceous dishes using thyme and rosemary; lasagna.

White Wines:
Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards’ 2018 Unoaked Chardonnay
Pair with Caesar salad, brie or other creamy cheeses, fresh fruit, shrimp scampi, lightly cooked shellfish like crab and prawns, steamed or grilled fish. Chardonnay is particularly good with oysters.

Riesling – JR Dill 
Dry Riesling: seafood, salads, light vegetables, simply prepared fish, sushi, goat cheese.
Semi-Dry Riesling: meat dishes that benefit from a touch of sweetness like chicken with a creamy sauce, goose and some game dishes like pheasant with apples. Mildly spiced food like stir-fry, mild curries, and south-east Asian dishes.
Sweeter Rieslings: desserts with berries and tropical fruits; mild blue cheese

Heron Hill Reserve 2017 Gewürztraminer
Pair with sage-rubbed turkey, roasted vegetables, sweet-tasting vegetables like sweet potatoes, pumpkin and squash, or pumpkin ravioli or gnocchi. 
Gewurztraminer pairs surprisingly well with apple-based desserts such as apple crumble, streusel cakes with cinnamon, and apple pie.

Finger Lakes Wine Country also has a blog post all about Thanksgiving Wine Pairing: https://www.fingerlakeswinecountry.com/blog/post/thanksgiving-wine-pairing/