If the holidays are chaotic, make sure the wine is consistent. I realized that a lot of corks have been popped here over the past month, and I haven’t shared a whole lot with faithful readers. This post summarizes wines I really enjoy, and that I think you’d enjoy sharing with people you love.
The holidays are always heavy on wine and light on writing for me. Between family time, cooking marathons, and the occasional snow day, full blog posts can feel ambitious. But there is always time to savor great Virginia wine—and this season delivered.
Thanksgiving Table Winners
Thanksgiving kicked things off beautifully. We started with a non-Virginia orange wine—Glassmaker’s Delta Dawn—which was surprisingly well received (any wine that impresses my husband is gonna be a crowd pleaser!). From there, we moved into Virginia territory with Ankida Ridge’s 2024 Chardonnay, which garnered rave reviews.
For the main event, we poured two reds: Ankida’s 2022 Pinot Noir and 53rd’s 2021 Romulus blend. Both landed beautifully. The Pinot is showing elegance and vibrance, getting better every day, and I’d confidently give it another 4–5 years. The Romulus was the real surprise—a Governor’s Cup gold medalist I hadn’t tasted before, built mostly on Cabernet Sauvignon with a generous helping of Petit Verdot and a whisper of Cabernet Franc. Silky, unexpected, and absolutely worth the trust I place in friends’ recommendations.
Baking Days & Unexpected Pairings
After Thanksgiving comes tree trimming—and MeatCakes. My grandmother’s Lithuanian lasineciai (ham, bacon, onion, yeasty goodness) made their annual appearance and got paired twice: once with Veritas Sparkling Rosé (OMG yes) and once with Hark’s 2023 Petit Verdot.
Completely different experiences, both fantastic. The sparkling played up the richness of the dough and savory meat, while the Petit Verdot added depth and seriousness. Best baking day ever. Note to self, always bring wine to the kitchen when baking!
Cellar Crisis Averted
A 2022 Walsh What Will the Women Drink also made an appearance—dark, velvety, and as consistent as ever. I nearly committed a wine faux pas thinking I had several bottles left, only to discover I was down to one. Crisis narrowly avoided; it’s now safely tucked away for a theoretical future vertical. I’m normally good at math, but subtraction failed me here. This is one of the most consistently fantastic wines in Virginia, IMHO.
Snow Day Standouts
Snow days delivered some gems. Lightwell Survey’s Dos Idiots was perfect by the fireplace—easygoing but substantial, thanks to its co-fermented Cabernet Franc and Petit Manseng (note to self: not a blend). It’s such a cool wine.
Another snowy afternoon unearthed a 2016 Casanel Petit Verdot—a bottle that survived four moves and still delivered. Inky, structured, and alive. Petit Verdot may just be invincible. I brought this home after I interviewed her some years back.
Even cold weather didn’t stop me from opening Midland Construction Riesling. With its near-orange hue and real body, it reminded me how much I’m enjoying Shenandoah Rieslings lately.
Snow days are your permission slip to pop a cork.
Pie and Bubbles
Honey decided to make a chocolate bourbon pecan pie a few weeks ago, and we had a friend over to enjoy it with some Eastwood Blanc de Blancs. This was lovely – the sparkling accentuated the sweetness of the pie and made for an incredible pairing. This wine is also a great value sparkling here in Virginia. It brings all the fun you need for the holidays.
Holiday Errands That Turn Into Wine
A stop at Pollak for Christmas gifts turned into opening a 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon at dinner out—silky, elegant, and firmly in my top ten. I tasted the 2023 vintage as well (still young, very promising!), grabbed a 2011 Meritage for Christmas dinner, and a 2024 Rosé destined for Christmas Eve caviar. No regrets.
Solstice, Parties & Crowd Pleasers
The Mount Alto Winter Solstice Party was exactly where I wanted to be. The newly released 2023 Tributary was pouring—silky Cabernet Sauvignon, joyful Merlot from Mount Juliet, and a wine that absolutely rocks once it has time to open. I’ll be adding it to my shelves soon.
I brought Parallax’s What’s That? to the party, where it was met with enthusiasm and somm approval. Fun, approachable, and a great twist on Tannat—which I also adore.
Ending on a High Note
Last night wrapped things up perfectly with lasagna and a decanted 2020 Mount Alto Manteo-Nason. The Cabernet Sauvignon from this site continues to impress—soft tannins, pure fruit, and beautiful balance. It’s disappearing from retail, so grab it if you see it.
Looking Ahead (With Bubbles)
Christmas dinner will start with Present Company Pet-Nat (because bubbles are non-negotiable) and move into Pollak Meritage. From there, it’s on to year-end reflections blog post and straight into an exciting 2026: Arterra’s estate red release dinner, The Generous Pour benefit in April, an Out and About at Pollak in March, and a Virginia Nebbiolo session in February—plus a wave of 2023 reds getting released that I cannot wait to taste.
I’m looking forward to seeing you in one of our shirts at a winery soon, too! Occasionally, I run into folks with one on, but I have yet to have someone take me up on sharing a glass. Grab yourself a shirt (or four) and show up looking amazing in 2026!
My NoVa Wine Blog 