Affordable Holiday Wines: Six Top Picks

Professional wine writer Carolyn Hammond has shared some of her top choices for affordable, widely available wines that will complement your holiday meals without breaking the bank.

She's chosen three reds and three whites that pair nicely with traditional holiday menus and provides the following tasting notes to help you choose your favorites.

Tasting notes and photos courtesy of Carolyn Hammond

White Wines

Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Dry Riesling 2007, Washington, USA ($12)

A rather austere, mineral style of Riesling with lean lime, green apple and cantaloupe flavors and aromas. Versatile wine for food pairing. Well-balanced and crisp. Medium-bodied. 13% alc.

Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay 2007, California, USA ($14)

Coconut and tropical fruit cocktail nose leads to fresh flavors of juicy pineapple, marzipan and toasted coconut. Seductive coconut cream finish. Long. Seamlessly integrated oak and pristine purity of fruit creates quite a stylish, refined wine. Full-bodied and beautifully balanced. 13.5% alc.

Conundrum 2007, White Table Wine, California, USA ($20)

This current cult white blend starts with fragrant honeysuckle and cut tangerine before attacking the palate with a good lick of Granny Smith apple, ripe apricot and pear. Breezy, vivacious wine with a quick dash of spice and vanilla adding interest to the blend. Full-bodied and ripe.

Red Wines

Big House Red 2006, California, USA ($7)

Subtle berry aromas lead to a riveting attack of mixed berry flavors layered with leather, chocolate, smoke, and a warm meatiness with an earthy undertow. This seriously complex and seamless blend of 10 red grape varieties tastes lifted and stylish rather than heavy and brawny, finishing with a dark chocolaty finish that feels polished to a high sheen. Full-bodied with 13.5% alc.

Mark West Pinot Noir 2007, Sonoma County, California, USA ($11)

What delicious wine! Aromatic flavors of raspberries, violets, vanilla and spice characterize this richly fruited, seductive Pinot Noir with resonating length. Along with considerable concentration, this wine is silky yet well-structured with taut acidity and soft, supple tannins. Such finesse! Full-bodied with 13.8% alc.

Beringer Third Century Pinot Noir 2007, Central Coast, California, USA ($13)

Lush nose of super-ripe raspberries leads to a ripe raspberry jam palate that evolves toward flavors of violet, beetroot, and earthy woodlands resonating on the finish. Pinot Noir lovers will appreciate the subtle nod to this noble varietal's heartland--Burgundy. Full-bodied with 13.9% alc.

More Wine Info

For more great wine reviews and information, visit Carolyn's website, Wine-Tribune.com, and be on the lookout for her upcoming book, Good, Better, Best Wines, A No-Nonsense Guide to Popular Wine, hitting store shelves in April 2010.