Living Room Wines

Pass the Grenache. Holiday dinners are a lot. There’s turkey and ham, stuffing and three kinds of potatoes, a cranberry sauce debate, and a table full of people who all like different things. You need wines that can keep up, and the Rhône and southern France have been making exactly that for centuries. In the northern Rhône, Syrah comes out peppery and savory, and it’s basically made for anything roasted. Viognier is a rich, perfumed white that can stand up to turkey and all the buttery sides. Down south, Grenache-based blends are warm, juicy, and easy for a whole table to love, and Châteauneuf-du-Pape lets winemakers use more than a dozen grapes in a single bottle (yes, really). Then there are Languedoc and Provence, where you’ll find some of France’s best-value bottles. Those are exactly what you want when you’re buying for twelve. These are wines made for a cold November night: rich, savory, a little wild, and happiest next to a braise and a table full of friends. And no, you don’t have to pronounce “Châteauneuf-du-Pape” correctly to enjoy it. Our BFF Diana Schultz of Augustina Cellars is back to lead the class in the same easygoing format as always: lots of pouring, lots of questions, and real advice for your holiday table. Diana’s classes have a habit of selling out, and with the holidays coming fast, this one won’t be an exception, so grab your seat early.