Main Event Dishes With Perfect Pairings

Each of these dishes gives main-character energy. Match their show stealing vibes with specially selected sippers that complement and hold their own. These perfectly paired meals are designed to command attention, bringing just the right amount of drama to your holiday table.

Olive-stuffed Major Meatballs with Fennel & Eggplant Pasta

Pair It With a Rhône Red

The great-hearted reds of the southern Rhône Valley are blends that usually star Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, each bringing its own qualities to make wines that are rich, fruity and great with food. If the recipe includes red meat and garlic, tomatoes, olives and fresh herbs—those staples of southern French cooking—so much the better. Whether intended for everyday drinking or special occasions, Rhône reds welcome you with a warm embrace.

Antonin Rodet Côtes du Rhône AOC

E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône

Famille Perrin Les Sinards Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Barbaresco-Braised Beef  with Cacio e Pepe Polenta

Pair It With a Nebbiolo

Whether made into Barbaresco or Barolo in its Italian home of Piemonte, Nebbiolo produces elegant, age-worthy reds with powerful acid and tannic structures. These are just the qualities needed for braising short ribs; they also make these wines delicious accompaniments to the dish, with added notes of tar, rose petals and herbs behind the black fruit.

Castello di Neive Barbaresco VINTAGES ESSENTIALS

Marchesi di Barolo La Tradizione Barolo VINTAGES ESSENTIALS

Lemon-Miso-Labneh-Baked Fish with Turmeric-Parsley Vinaigrette

Pair It With a Grüner Veltliner

Grüner Veltliners at the LCBO right now—great news for fans of this supremely versatile, food-friendly wine. Grüner has the acid structure to cope with the lemon, labneh and turmeric-spiked vinaigrette in our recipe, while bringing its own notes of citrus, stone fruit and white pepper. Some versions have the added bonus of an almost salty minerality—the ideal “seasoning” for a rich baked fish.

Weingut Hirsch Grüner Veltliner Hirschvergnug VINTAGES

Laurenz V L5 Grüner Veltliner VINTAGES

Vom Haus Grüner Veltliner VINTAGES

Dry-Brined Roast Chicken with Peanut Sambal Chalet Sauce

Pair It With a Riesling

Chardonnay is the obvious complement to roast chicken, but Riesling takes a different approach, its bright acidity (subtly balanced by a trace of sweetness) providing a delightful contrast to the rich bird. Riesling’s famous affinity with Southeast Asian food comes into play with the piquant sauce; the wine’s intense fruit flavours and minerality are a good match for spicy sambal oelek, lemon juice and toasty peanuts. Ontario makes world-class Riesling at a variety of prices.

Thirty Bench Winemaker’s Blend Riesling VQA

Tawse Quarry Road Organic Riesling VQA

Cave Spring Riesling Dry VQA