The holidays are fast approaching, and we're all looking forward to (finally) sharing convivial moments with our loved ones. However, let's be sensible and moderate our alcohol consumption. But let's not compromise on enjoyment. Even without alcohol, the drinks that accompany your meals should follow a certain order. Always start your aperitif with something sparkling, just to awaken your taste buds! Then, move on to a chilled dry white wine for the starter, followed by red wine for the main course, and finish with a sweeter, more mellow wine for dessert. These timeless rules also apply to the non-alcoholic wines we suggest you discover during a festive meal.
“It is possible to have a different drinking experience that does not oppose alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks but takes the best of both so that you do not have to choose.”
What wine should I serve as an aperitif?
With or without alcohol, sparkling wines are a must to start a festive meal. The aperitif, a special and convivial moment, often precedes a hearty dinner and should ideally remain light. Its role is to whet the appetite. Sparkling wines are therefore particularly well-suited.
Alcohol-free sparkling wines allow everyone to rediscover the joy of sharing a glass. They offer fine, delicate bubbles, and you'll appreciate their freshness and notes of flowers and fruit.
For their liveliness, opt for a Blanc de Blancs or one predominantly made from Chardonnay, which will delight your taste buds without weighing them down.
Sparkling rosé wines can also be enjoyed as an aperitif. Their subtle, fresh aromas and smooth, silky texture make them a perfect accompaniment to Serrano ham, appetizer breads, Comté cheese cubes, or Parmesan cheese, for example.
You can also indulge in the spicy and fruity aromas of a sparkling, alcohol-free Muscat. This sweet, effervescent wine pairs perfectly with dishes that play on the contrast of sweet and savory flavors, such as brioche toasts with raisins, foie gras toasts, or goat cheese gougères .
What wine goes well with oysters?
A Christmas dinner without oysters is very rare. So, if we want a flawless starter, we'll pair our oysters with a non-alcoholic wine that complements their briny flavor, but not only that…
The classic choice is undoubtedly a dry white wine. Sauvignon d'Appalina or l'Équilibre zéro Viognier Sauvignon du Domaine de l'Arjolle will do the job perfectly, and we enjoy our oysters with just a little pepper, a squeeze of lemon or a shallot vinaigrette.
If you want to change things up a bit and offer your guests warm oysters, La Côte de Vincent Effervescent , for example, will add some pep and acidity to your starter!
And for beer lovers, a good dark Stout or Bock will be a perfect match for plump oysters. It's not widely known, but the briny flavors of the oyster blend beautifully with the slightly bitter, roasted/chocolatey notes of these beer styles. A true classic not to be missed.
Red or white wine with seafood?
White wine is particularly popular during Christmas meals, where seafood is often served as a starter. But what if you're not a big fan of white wine?
Although it is true that the tannins in red wine are not really recommended with the iodine flavor of seafood, we can still try to enjoy our shrimp and periwinkles with a light and fruity non-alcoholic red wine, such as the non-alcoholic Pinot Noir from Petit Bérêt or the Cabernet Sauvignon from Petit Etoilé for example.
What wine goes with turkey?
At Christmas, white-fleshed poultry is often the preferred choice for Christmas Eve dinner: whether it's turkey with chestnuts or stuffed capon, it's always a treat! But which wine should you choose to perfectly complement your poultry?
For red wine lovers, opt for alcohol-free wines that are rather delicate, crisp, and stripped of tannins so that the wine doesn't clash with the poultry. Fortunately, without alcohol, the organoleptic qualities are concentrated on the roundness of the fruit and will pair perfectly with white meat. For example, let yourself be surprised by the alcohol-free Merlot Grenache from Domaine de l'Arjolle . A clean, aromatic, and inviting nose. A round, flavorful palate with a gentle structure. A delightful surprise.
Appalina Cabernet Sauvignon And Pierre Zero Prestig Red will also be suitable.
For white wine lovers, opt for a grape variety that isn't too sweet and offers a minimum of richness and depth, such as the Chardonnay from Petit Bérêt. made from grape varieties from the south of France.
What wine goes with cheese?
It's practically part of the French culinary tradition to eat cheese with a good red wine. Yes, but… in reality, a good, slightly fruity white wine will work wonders with a cheese platter at the end of a meal!
- Pierre Zero Chardonnay
- Petit Etoile Chardonnay
Okay, so if you're a red wine lover and can't imagine pairing cheese with white wine, fine. Alcohol-free red wine is rather mild and will enhance the cheese instead of clashing with it. Pierre 0% Rouge would be a great choice. It boasts an intense ruby color with brilliant highlights and a nose with intense aromas of red fruit. Its freshness, youthfulness, and balance will delight you.
What wine goes well with foie gras?
This classic holiday dish pairs wonderfully with a sweet and fruity wine. But contrary to popular belief, to truly appreciate this pairing, we recommend enjoying it at the end of the meal, before dessert. Simply because if you start with a sweet wine right from the start, your taste buds will be overwhelmed.
To accompany this moment, we offer a sweet, alcohol-free wine made from late-harvest Chardonnay grapes. It boasts a golden-yellow color with brilliant highlights, Pierre 0% Prestige Blanc reveals a nose with aromas of peach and white flowers. Its palate, generously rich, offers flavors of apricot, vanilla and honey enhanced by an infinite sweetness.
The pairing with foie gras will be remarkable. And if the bottle isn't finished, you can certainly extend your meal with this wine at dessert time.
What wine goes with a Christmas log with red berries?
To pair the red fruit yule log with a non-alcoholic wine, we recommend the Pierre 0% Rosé sparkling wine , which you may have already opened as an aperitif. This alcohol-free sparkling wine boasts a pale pink color with bright, salmon-pink highlights. With its lovely, fine, and delicate bubbles, its nose releases muscatel, floral, and fruity aromas of redcurrant and raspberry. On the palate, the rosy mousse is full of sweetness, freshness, and persistence, providing a sparkling finish to your meal. If you'd like to try another pairing, the Appalinat Pinot Noir Sparkling wine would also be a good choice. You'll appreciate its pleasant bouquet of small red fruits and its beautiful color revealing fine, delicate bubbles. On the palate, it offers a beautifully harmonious blend of fruit, freshness, and balance.
As you've probably gathered, alcohol-free wines have a role to play in ensuring a successful festive meal. Their fruity, tangy, or sweet notes pair perfectly with a wide variety of dishes, much to your delight. And the advantage of alcohol-free wines is that you can still maintain social distancing and hygiene measures for your well-being and that of your loved ones during the Covid-19 pandemic.
We hope you have a pleasant time.
