{"id":864,"date":"2017-08-07T11:12:13","date_gmt":"2017-08-07T15:12:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marketviewliquor.com\/blog\/?p=864"},"modified":"2023-10-06T16:22:38","modified_gmt":"2023-10-06T20:22:38","slug":"ultimate-guide-seasonal-wine-pairing-chapter-7","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marketviewliquor.com\/blog\/ultimate-guide-seasonal-wine-pairing-chapter-7\/","title":{"rendered":"Ultimate Pairing Guide: Chapter 7"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Chapter 7: Birthdays and Special Occasion Wines\/Conclusion<\/h2>\n

\"Birthdays<\/p>\n

There’s never a wrong occasion to drink wine. Celebrating life’s fullest moments, though, is almost always made better with a glass of wine uncorked for the occasion.<\/p>\n

Perhaps it’s a surprise birthday bash, an anniversary, a dinner party or a hard-earned promotion. It could be a housewarming or retirement gift. Maybe you’re just looking to toast the end of a pretty great week. Whatever the reason, a good wine commemorates the occasion and brings loved ones closer together. Raise your glass to these great wine choices for your next special celebration \u2014 and make sure to provide plenty of glasses.<\/p>\n

Best Types of Wine for Every Special Occasion<\/h2>\n

The best celebratory wines match the atmosphere, represent its honoree and \u2014 of course \u2014 taste delicious.<\/p>\n

Need a little help pairing occasions with wine? We’ve got your back. Below, you’ll find a list of life’s most savorable moments, complete with what wine to pick for nearly any celebratory occasion, plus how to go about best serving it. Happy celebrating!<\/p>\n

1. Graduations<\/strong><\/h3>\n

You may have just spent a small fortune nabbing that degree. But you don’t have to spend a fortune for delicious, high-quality wines everyone at the party will enjoy.<\/p>\n

Opt for white or ros\u00e9 wines at this kind of celebration. Graduation season nearly always occurs during late spring and early summer. That means warmer weather and the likelihood of an outdoor graduation party, complete with an array of food options to satisfy any guest.<\/p>\n

\"Graduations:<\/a><\/p>\n

A\u00a0Chilean Sauvignon Blanc<\/a>\u00a0is a great bang for your buck and will play nice with almost any kind of party fare. Go the extra mile by finding a good dessert wine to go with the graduation cake, like this deep,\u00a0chocolatey port from Montevina Terra D’oro<\/a>.<\/p>\n

2. Mother’s Day<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Show your mom how much she’s loved\u00a0with a bottle of wine<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you’re having a celebratory brunch, find a wine meant for easy sipping. You can’t go wrong with\u00a0sparkling wine<\/a>, which you can use to mix mimosas, bellinis and many other brunch-friendly cocktails.<\/p>\n

If your mom is the adventurous type, wow her with a bottle of vintage Spanish cava. This cousin to champagne comes in three varieties, with Reserva and Grand Reserva Cava the most complex and inspired.<\/p>\n

3. Father’s Day<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Sure, beer may be the proverbial drink associated with dads. Yet one\u00a0out of every 10 men actually prefers wine<\/a>\u00a0over beer, creating the perfect opportunity for you to impress and delight your old man.<\/p>\n

Aged cabernet francs<\/a>\u00a0dance deliciously between sweet vanilla and malty tobacco notes. Their rich palate also holds up well to many charred and grilled meats for your celebratory Father’s day barbecue \u2014 or whatever meal dad picks for his special day.<\/p>\n

4. Picnics<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Outdoor picnics mean cold-cut sandwiches, veggie platters, salty chips and potato salads \u2014 approachable foods that hold up well in the outdoor heat. The relaxed nature of a picnic calls for an equally unpretentious wine that can be sipped between frisbee tosses or while lounging in the grass.<\/p>\n

Bright, refreshing\u00a0gamay<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Beaujolais<\/a>\u00a0work great here. These lighter red wines are fruit-forward and ultra-refreshing, perfect when you next picnic fancy strikes, celebrating good weather, good friends or just an open afternoon at your favorite park.<\/p>\n

5. Barbecues or Cookouts<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Bigger and redder is better when it comes to barbecue feasts \u2014 with a few exceptions.<\/p>\n

\"Barbecues<\/a><\/p>\n

Californian Cabernet Sauvignon<\/a>\u00a0brings bold tannins and punctuating acidity that is the go-to for fattier barbecue meats, like pork ribs drizzled in tangy red sauce. For lighter barbecue fare, such grilled chicken breasts or meat-and-veggie skewers, look for a medium-bodied but high acidity wine, like\u00a0Sangiovese<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Each of these wine selections elevates your backyard cookout celebration, plus are great ways to expand your friends and family’s palates beyond usual backyard drinks. They’ll help make your next cookout a memorable one.<\/p>\n

6. Engagement<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Nothing provides a better toast at an engagement party than Champagne. This drink’s bright, fragrant bubbles are crowd and palate-pleasers, plus the go-to beverage to signify a momentous occasion.<\/p>\n

Many people are surprised by the sheer\u00a0diversity of Champagne<\/a>\u00a0on today’s market. You will often see words like “brut,” “cuvee” and “gran reserva” stamped onto Champagne labels. But what do these words really mean \u2014 and are they important when picking a celebratory bottle?<\/p>\n