Wine Box Experience - Dustin Mangas

Wine (B)Right Like the Holiday Lights

The December holiday season is hopefully a time of abundance with overflowing tables, aromas that feel like home, and glasses raised in celebration. With rich roasted meats, glazed poultry, and decadent side dishes taking center stage, the wines you choose should match the warmth and generosity of the season. Classic choices like Bordeaux blends, Syrah/Shiraz, and Barolo or Barbaresco bring structure, spice, and depth to hearty winter dishes, standing up beautifully to prime rib, roast chicken, honey-baked ham, or herb-stuffed turkey. On the white side, Chardonnay (especially oaked or reserve-tier) and Alsatian whites like Riesling or Pinot Gris offer richness and roundness to complement creamy sauces, gratins, and winter vegetables. These dependable favorites wrap your palate in the same cozy glow that makes this time of year so magical.

Holiday magic, though, thrives on surprises. Which is why this is the perfect season to bring a few wildcards to the feast. A Cahors Malbec offers rustic, old-world charm to pair with game birds and earthy sides. An Aglianico delivers smoky, volcanic intensity that sings alongside lamb or slow-roasted pork. For whites, try a white Rhône blend, a textured Semillon from Bordeaux or Australia, or even a sparkling Rosé, which brings bright fruit and festive bubbles to tables piled high with salty, savory dishes. These lesser-known gems embrace every pairing principle that define holiday cuisine. Most importantly, they bring a sense of discovery and a reminder that celebration with curiosity go hand in hand.

Time to see what’s waiting for us in our boxes this month, the question is whether you were naughty or nice this year to warrant sour grapes or bottled bliss.

First wine to grace the season is the Ségla Margaux. It’s the kind of show-stopping bottle that deserves its own place under the tree because it’s elegant, luxurious, and glowing with pure holiday magic. It carries all the pedigree of Margaux with an approachable, silken charm: layers of blackcurrant, plum, violet, graphite, and warm cedar spice unfurl with every sip. Its supple tannins and refined structure make it an extraordinary partner for holiday centerpieces like prime rib, duck, rack of lamb, or herbed roasts. While its aromas alone feel like a celebration. Unwrapping this bottle is like switching on the twinkle lights at the table… suddenly everything feels a little brighter, a little more elegant, and a lot more memorable.

These holidays won’t be complete without the Raats Family Wines MR De Compostella. It is the crown jewel when you want your holiday celebration to feel truly spectacular. This meticulously crafted Stellenbosch Bordeaux-style blend delivers breathtaking depth all wrapped in a velvety texture that feels downright celebratory. Its seamless balance of power and elegance makes it a knockout pairing for the season’s most luxurious dishes of prime rib, rosemary-crusted lamb, rich short ribs, or decadent mushroom pastas. This is the kind of wine that doesn’t just join a holiday table but defines it, elevating every toast and dazzling every guest with its brilliance.

So as you gather with loved ones, whether around a candlelit dinner, a sprawling family buffet, or a cozy living-room celebration, let your wines be as joyful and generous as the season itself. Pour the classics you adore, sprinkle in a few unexpected treasures, and let your holiday table become a place of exploration, conversation, and cheer. This is the time to uncork boldly, toasting to traditions old and new, and to elevate every festive moment with a glass that steals the spotlight in the very best way possible. Ovations to a luminous December!