When does apple pie not make a holiday appearance? The taste profile of apple pie is a combination of sweet apples, warming spices, and a flaky crust, but the exact flavor can vary depending on your preferences and the ingredients used. A lot of white wines can have a similar taste profile like a lot of chardonnays typically have notes of green apple and vanilla baking spices so you don’t want to have too much of the same. To make things a little more interesting without shaking the experience up too much, try a fuller bodied white wine blend like the  Red Thread Roussanne/ Marsanne that has notes of white peach, honeysuckles, and fragrant white flowers with hints of toasted almonds. This pairing works with a la mode style too!

Not every meal needs to end on a sweet note! Check out our sommelier-approved styles to include in your cheese course, complete with their ideal wine companions.

Blue Cheese / Gorgonzola

Cheeses with a little funk to them pair beautifully with wines that have a little sweetness, such as an aged Riesling. The seamless and subtle acidity in the Alexana 2017 Estate Riesling helps refresh the palate when enjoying some more pungent style cheeses. You could also opt for a red wine that is known to pack a punch and pair a Bordeaux-style blend like the Pepper Bridge 2021 Trine or Proprietary Red Blend like the Clif Family x Reyna 2021 Red Blend.

Gruyère / Epoisses/ Délice de Bourgogne

The lighter-bodied, fruit-forward essence of Gamay complements complexities of flavor and nuttiness in Gruyère, while the racy acidity in the Ricochet Gamay also helps to balance creamy, highly aromatic, bloomy rind cheeses like Epoisses and Délice de Bourgogne.

Manchego / Pecorino Romano

Manchego is a semi-soft Spanish cheese made from sheep's milk. It has a firm but supple texture, a pale yellow color, and a fruity, nutty, tangy, and sweet flavor. Pecorino Romano is similar in texture, but tends to have a stronger flavor. The mild yet firm tannins in traditional Rhône-style blends beautifully pair with such slightly creamier/semi- firm cheeses, as their tart fruit character matches well with the tanginess of the cheese. We recommend reaching for Corazón del Sol 2020 Luminoso GSM Blend or Willow Creek Wine Co. 2022 Whole Cluster Grenache Blend for two fail-proof options.

Asiago / Pecorino / Grana Padano

Pro tip: Never let your wine or cheese overpower one another. The key? Matching the intensity of flavor of both. For example, bold and savory red wines like Syrah stand up perfectly to more potent cheeses. 2022 Amavi Syrah and 2022 brick & mortar West Blocks Syrah are great places to start.

The day-of or day-after Thanksgiving brunch is a beloved tradition for many families and friends. When starting the celebration a bit earlier than normal—or celebrating while recovering from the night before, —sparkling wine is the best, and yes, obvious choice.

With lower alcohol content compared to most still wines, coupled with bright acidity and luscious bubbles, the Marcalberto Alta Langa Nature NV is a refined and refreshing pick, and is equally versatile when it comes to food.

Another expert-approved choice for versatile food and wine pairings is rosé, as the wines offer ripe fruit flavors and light to medium bodies that work well with a range of dishes. The 2023 Estate Pinot Noir Rosé by Van Duzer Winery is a fresh and lively pick with strawberry and melon notes, ideal for daytime and lighter holiday fare.