Ian Cauble, MS of The Caubleist was kind enough to provide us with the following article containing his 10 holiday wine recommendations:
The holidays are a time for celebration and enjoying those closest to you. There is no way better than connecting with someone than over a glass of great wine, with great food on the table. These are some of my favorite wines and producers to drink this holiday season which, for me, in terms of price to quality, are some of the best on the market. All of these wines are available on our new online store at thecaubleist.com.
1. Rovellotti “Valplazza” Nebbiolo 2022 – Alto Piemonte, Italy ($34)
Inside the fortified medieval village of Ghemme, the Rovellotti family produces some of the most captivating Nebbiolo-based wines in Northern Italy. Alto Piemonte sits at the foothills of the Alps, giving Nebbiolo a lighter, more alpine expression than its cousins in Barolo or Barbaresco – more rose petals, red fruits, and mineral lift. The 2022 Valplazza shows alpine strawberry, dried flower, and crushed rock purity.
Holiday Why: Nebbiolo’s acidity and structure make it one of the most food-versatile red grapes on earth – roasted poultry, mushroom dishes, charcuterie, and even holiday pastas shine alongside it.
2. Gregoire Hoppenot Fleurie “Les Origines” 2023 – Beaujolais Cru, France ($25)
Fleurie is one of the ten Cru villages of Beaujolais, known for producing the most elegant and floral expressions of Gamay. The region’s pink granite soils give the grape its signature perfume and silky texture. Hoppenot, now among the top names in the region, delivers a wine filled with violets, raspberries, and rose petals.
Holiday Why: Gamay’s freshness and low tannin make it a flawless party wine – easy to drink, crowd-pleasing, and perfect with ham, turkey, cheese boards, and long afternoons of grazing.
3. Evesham Wood Pinot Noir 2023 – Willamette Valley, Oregon ($26)
The Willamette Valley is America’s answer to Burgundy, sharing latitude and a cool-climate growing season that draws out Pinot Noir’s delicacy and aromatic depth. Evesham Wood has championed low-intervention, terroir-driven Pinot since the 1980s. The 2023 delivers red cherry, cranberry, forest spice, and a soft, elegant frame.
Holiday Why: Pinot Noir is a holiday essential – universal with turkey, salmon, pork loin, and roasted vegetables, and gentle enough to sip all day.
4. Bois de Boursan Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2022 – Rhône Valley, France ($55)
Châteauneuf-du-Pape is Southern France’s most historic and influential wine region, famous for its sun-soaked vineyards, warm Mistral winds, and 13 permitted grape varieties. Grenache dominates, giving wines warmth, spice, and generosity. Bois de Boursan remains fiercely traditional, aging in large old foudres and allowing terroir – not flash – to lead.
Holiday Why: Perfect for richer holiday meals – prime rib, lamb, stews – when you want intensity, warmth, and depth.
5. Domaine de Gouye Saint-Joseph “Vieille Vigne” 2023 – Northern Rhône, France ($45)
Saint-Joseph stretches along the granite slopes of the Northern Rhône, where Syrah achieves one of its most complex expressions, shaped by altitude, mineral-rich soils, and a cool continental climate. Domaine de Gouye’s steep, horse-plowed vineyards sit near the appellation’s birthplace, producing Syrah that feels closer to Cornas or Côte-Rôtie than typical Saint-Joseph. The wine brims with dense blueberry fruit, violet notes, smoke, and deep mineral tension.
Holiday Why: A brilliant match for braised dishes, BBQ brisket, beef tenderloin, and the heartier, cozier flavors of winter cooking.
6. Señorío de Peciña Rioja Gran Reserva 2016 – Rioja Alta, Spain ($55)
Rioja Alta is home to Spain’s longest-lived and most traditional red wines. Tempranillo thrives in its high-altitude vineyards, producing reds with elegance, acidity, and longevity. Gran Reservas must spend at least five years aging before release, and Peciña takes this philosophy even further with long, slow maturation in seasoned American oak.
Holiday Why: Its warm spice, dried cherry, tobacco, and leather notes pair beautifully with holiday roasts, jamón, manchego, or a fireside gathering.
7. White Walnut Chardonnay 2023 – Dundee Hills, Oregon ($40)
The Dundee Hills AVA in Oregon’s Willamette Valley is one of America’s most prized regions for cool-climate Chardonnay. Its ancient volcanic Jory soils and fog-cooled slopes create Chardonnays with structure, minerality, and tension. White Walnut has quickly earned acclaim for producing some of the most balanced and expressive Chardonnay in the region. The 2023 vintage delivers Meyer lemon, white peach, hazelnut, and a beautifully woven line of acidity – a style that strongly resembles high-quality white Burgundy in both texture and precision.
Holiday Why: Chardonnay is a holiday staple, and this bottle shines with roasted chicken, crab, creamy pastas, gratins, and any dish requiring elegance and lift.
8. NV Champagne Franck Bonville Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut – Côte des Blancs, France ($55)
The Côte des Blancs is home to the purest Chardonnay in Champagne, grown on ancient chalk that imparts tension, minerality, and longevity. Grand Cru villages like Avize and Oger produce some of the world’s most sought-after Blanc de Blancs. Franck Bonville’s style is razor-clean, floral, citrus-driven, and deeply mineral.
Holiday Why: Nothing signals celebration like Champagne – ideal for toasts, seafood, caviar, cheese boards, or elevating the start of any evening.
9. Pott Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 – Napa Valley ($85)
Napa Valley remains one of the world’s greatest sites for Cabernet Sauvignon, thanks to its Mediterranean climate, diverse soils, and long, even growing season. Aaron Pott, a former winemaker of Château Troplong Mondot and Château La Tour Figeac, brings a Bordeaux sensibility to Napa richness. The result is polished, structured Cabernet layered with cassis, cocoa, violets, and herbs.
Holiday Why: A luxurious addition to Christmas dinner, or a perfect gift for any serious Napa collector.
10. Château des Graviers “Margaux” 2020 – Bordeaux, France ($50)
Margaux is known for producing the most aromatic and elegant red wines in Bordeaux, often leaning into florality, red fruit purity, and silky tannins. Château des Graviers, imported by Neal Rosenthal, farms biodynamically and vinifies traditionally, resulting in authentic, terroir-first Margaux. The 2020 is a Cabernet Sauvignon–dominant blend which shows cassis, plum, graphite, and violets with classic Left Bank finesse.
Holiday Why: A natural pairing for roasted duck, filet mignon, or refined holiday dinners where elegance is the theme.
Final Thought
From Grand Cru Champagne to high-elevation California Cabernet, from alpine Nebbiolo to traditional Rioja, these 10 bottles offer remarkable value and unforgettable pleasure. In a season built on connection, generosity, and sharing great meals, these wines elevate the moments that matter most.
Cheers – and Happy Holidays!
Melanie Votaw is the Publisher and Executive Travel Writer of LuxuryWeb Magazine. She has visited more than 50 countries on 6 continents and written for such magazines as Executive Travel, Just Luxe, Business Insider, South China Morning Post, Travel Mindset, and more. She is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association, New York Travel Writers Association, and International Travel Writers Alliance. Melanie's photography has won awards, and she has also written 43 nonfiction books as either the author or ghostwriter.
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