Bold Bottles for Your Holiday Table

With the holidays fast approaching, many of us will be grabbing for our favorite comfort foods when we get together with family and friends. Whether that’s turkey, green bean casserole and mashed potatoes for the Thanksgiving table, or perhaps a whole roasted pig on Noche Buena, every family has their go-to dish. But what about the wine?

Sure, there are wines from around the world that will work just fine alongside the ham and even the cornbread stuffing (though maybe not the aspic), but there’s just something special about having a bottle of premium Napa cab on the table. As local wine professional Sarah Phillips says, Napa cab is a comfort wine, and there’s a familiar warmth around enjoying it with loved ones at a holiday celebration. Even if we’re still not quite experiencing crisp fall weather here in South Florida, let’s pretend anyway!

Napa Valley Wine Region

California’s Napa Valley is considered the premier wine-producing region in the United States by many folks. Though it is not the only U.S. wine tourism destination, Napa still holds the gold standard for a large segment of American wine drinkers.

It was the Judgement of Paris in 1976 that put Napa on the map for the global wine industry. French wine has always been a marker of excellence, but it was at this particular competition organized by Steven Spurrier, a British wine expert, that American wine finally got the attention of the international market, thanks to wines from Napa Valley.

The Judgement of Paris put French Bordeaux reds and Burgundy whites (chardonnay) against American cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay in a blind tasting competition judged by a panel of French wine experts.

The result? Napa Valley beat out every French wine in both categories. Chateau Montelena (Napa) chardonnay took No. 1 for the whites, and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars (Napa) cabernet sauvignon beat out all the other reds, even the famed Château Mouton-Rothschild. It was a huge win for American wines, and solidified Napa Valley’s place as the epicenter of premium wine in the U.S.

When it comes to comforting Napa cabs for the holidays, here are a few suggestions.

Bella Union

Bella Union is part of the acclaimed Far Niente and Nickel & Nickel family of wines. The winery was founded in 2012 along Bella Oaks Lane in Rutherford, Calif., with the winery name being attributed to the Bella Union Roadway, what the road was called in the 1880s. Though the specialty of this winery truly is cabernet, they also produce a sauvignon blanc.

The Bella Union Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 ($80) is a full-bodied and rich expression of the grape. Raspberry, blackberry, cocoa and baking spices greet on the nose. In the mouth, succulent red fruits dominate, while integrated tannins support a smooth, round feeling. With 88% cabernet sauvignon, this wine also includes 8% merlot, 2% cabernet franc, 1% malbec and 1% petit verdot. (Seventy-five percent is the minimum percentage of a grape in the bottle needed to be labeled a single varietal.)

Grande Sonnerie

Grande Sonnerie is a project between winemaker Luc Morlet and Vanessa Conlin MW (Master of Wine), featuring 100% cabernet sauvignon from premier hillside vineyards in northern St. Helena, Calif. This is a small-production wine, only about 85 cases – meaning it’s a unique bottle you won’t see on every holiday table.

Smooth and brooding, Grande Sonnerie Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 ($100) is a “sultry” wine. There is a smokiness to the nose, with blackberries and licorice. Lush black fruits and chocolate on the palate lead to a long finish. Serve this wine to your serious Napa cab aficionados.

Crossbarn

Crossbarn is a wine by celebrated vintner Paul Hobbs, created as a nod to his family’s farming heritage. Hobbs has been involved with labels all around the world, but it is this one that brings him back to his family roots.

The Crossbarn Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 ($60) is an excellent value for the price point. It is classic and refined with black cherries, juicy blueberries, toasted herbs and a serious richness to the palate. Firm but integrated tannins support a smooth, supple full-bodied wine with a powerful but fresh lengthy, black fruit finish.

Frank Family Vineyards

Rich Frank founded Frank Family Vineyards in 1992, and the winery has become a favorite among cab lovers across the country for 30 years. This year, the Frank Family Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 ($60) is part of the seventh annual “Frank for a Cause” campaign. During the month of November, 20% of proceeds from every bottle purchased directly from the winery will be donated to support K9s for Warriors, the nation’s largest provider of service dogs for veterans.

The 2019 cab is a blend of 95% cabernet sauvignon, 4% petit verdot and 1% merlot. It has aromas and flavors of mulberry, raspberry, baking spices and a touch of black pepper. This bottle is an elegant representation of a quintessential Napa cabernet. Bringing a bottle of Frank Family to your family’s holiday meal is a great way to enjoy a comforting Napa cab with loved ones this season.

If any of these are outside of your price range, look for more affordable options at your local wine store, but know that anything labeled Napa Valley Cabernet below about $40 is probably mass produced and can’t be compared to those wines featured here.