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The Best Wines for Holiday Hosting: A Guide by JUSTIN

The Art of Warm, Festive Gatherings

November 20, 2025

Here’s the truth: You don’t need a wine encyclopedia to host brilliantly. You need confidence in a few stellar bottles. You need to know when each one shines.

 

There’s a moment when the first guest arrives, coat dusted with December’s chill, and you pour that inaugural glass. The wine catches the light from your garlands. Its color runs deep as winter berries. Suddenly your home transforms into something more: a sanctuary for celebration. 


This is holiday hosting at its finest. The right wines don’t just complement your party – they become the thread weaving through every toast, every story, every memory in the making. 


Ready to impress your guests? Shop JUSTIN’s curated holiday collection, featuring our award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon and ISOSCELES – perfect luxury wine gifts that ship directly to your door. 


This guide cuts through the confusion. We’ll explore wines that welcome guests, wines that pair perfectly, and wines worth remembering. From JUSTIN’s library collection to smart alternatives, you’ll discover how the right bottles turn good parties into legendary ones. 


Essential Holiday Wine Selections for Every Course

Welcome & Appetizer Wines

Dinner Wines that Impress

The Showstopper

Alternative Selections for Variety

While JUSTIN wines anchor your celebration, consider these additions: Magnum bottles for larger groups, Pinot Noir for lighter palates, and our signature OBTUSE wine for dessert service. The key is offering options while ensuring quality.

Why Holiday Wine Selection Is Different

Holiday wines work harder than any others in your collection. Think about it. A typical dinner party might need one wine for one dish. But holiday gatherings? They sprawl across hours. They jump from rich appetizers to experimental side dishes to decadent desserts. 


The wines that succeed here are special. They’re bold enough for winter’s hearty fare. Yet refined enough to sip while mingling by the fire. Sommeliers call this “versatility with character.” 


Your holiday wines face a flavor obstacle course: 

  • Cranberry’s tart punch 
  • Sage’s earthy depth 
  • Sweet potato’s caramelized edges 
  • Turkey’s mild canvas 
  • Butter. So much butter. 


Traditional wine rules suggest specific pairings for each dish. But holiday tables laugh at such order. Smart hosts choose differently. They pick wines with structure to handle richness. Fruit to complement sweetness, acid to cut through all that butter. 


Temperature matters more than you think. That chilled Chardonnay warms fast in a packed house. Red wines can taste heavy in overheated dining rooms. The fix is simple. Serve reds slightly cool. Keep whites properly iced. Choose wines that taste great across temperature ranges.

 

The result: bottles that become holiday heroes. They bridge generational tastes. They handle dietary restrictions. They balance tradition with modern style. 


Holiday Wines vs. Everyday Wines

Chart showing the traits of what makes a good holiday wine
Chart showing the traits of what makes a good everyday wine


How Many Bottles of Wine Should I Get for a Holiday Party?

Small (4–8 guests) 

  • Plan ~½ bottle per person (~3 hours) 
  • Flow: Rosé/Sauvignon Blanc → Chardonnay → two reds (Cabernet + JUSTIFICATION or SAVANT) → OBTUSE or Sunny’s Block 


Medium (10–20 guests) 

  • Plan 1 bottle per 2 guests + ~20% buffer 
  • Flow: Rosé and Sauvignon Blanc → Chardonnay → three reds (Cabernet, JUSTIFICATION, SAVANT) → dessert pour; add ISOSCELES for the big toast 


Large (20+ guests) 

  • Keep it simple; set up multiple pour stations. 
  • Flow: Rosé + Sauvignon Blanc → Chardonnay → two core reds (Cabernet + JUSTIFICATION or SAVANT) → signature ISOSCELES toast → OBTUSE by the ounce and chilled Sunny’s Block to close 


Service tips (mobile-quick): Serve reds slightly cool; keep whites well chilled; pour smaller glasses and refresh bottles every 20–30 minutes. 


Why a Pre-Party Visit to JUSTIN Makes Your Dinner Unforgettable

Planning a holiday menu? Turn a winter visit into your playbook: reserve a tasting at the JUSTIN Estate or the Downtown Tasting Room and walk out knowing exactly what to pour – and when. 


  • Design your menu in the glass – Test-drive your holiday pairings before guests arrive: compare JUSTIN Sauvignon Blanc with salty starters, JUSTIN Chardonnay with cream sauces, JUSTIN Cabernet Sauvignon with roasts, and ISOSCELES for the big toast – all guided by our wine specialists. Learn more: Plan Your Visit 
  • Taste, learn, and tune the details – Dial in serving temperature, decanting time, pour order, and how much to buy. Leave with a host’s playbook – not just bottles. Get pairing basics: Food & Wine Pairing 
  • See pairings in motion – Take the playbook further at The Restaurant at JUSTIN – a MICHELIN-Starred experience where texture, acidity, and tannin meet each course in real time. Borrow ideas and recreate the cadence at home. Book a table: The Restaurant at JUSTIN 
  • Access that matters – Estate and downtown tastings often feature limited releases and library selections. Build a custom mixed case, add gift wrapping and shipping, and secure Members-only allocations through the Wine Society.  
  • Make it a holiday outing – From festive flights to seasonal experiences, December in Paso Robles makes planning fun – and productive. See what’s on: Events 

Frequently Asked Questions