There is something I love about choosing wines for the holidays. Between the food, the gatherings, and finding a thoughtful bottle for someone special, wine becomes part of the celebration long before the first glass is poured.

While I wasn’t able to attend The Charming Taste of Europe’s fabulous New York City tasting, their team kindly sent me two bottles to explore and share: Olivier Fleury Le Petit Pavillon Sainte-Croix-du-Mont 2019 and Truentum Malamore Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva 2021.

One brings a little golden sweetness from Bordeaux, while the other offers the character of an Italian red made for a cozy dinner. Together, they have me thinking about holiday menus, meaningful gifts, and the European wine regions that continue to inspire me.

Photo by Sara Jimenez & Edited with AI

The Charming Taste of Europe, and the People Behind It

The Charming Taste of Europe is a promotional campaign co-funded by the European Union, connecting consumers in the United States and Canada with selected European wines and agricultural products. Under the message “Enjoy! It’s from Europe,” the campaign highlights their quality, origins, and the traditions behind them. Its current edition brings together wines from Italy’s Abruzzo region, sweet Bordeaux wines from France, and fresh kiwis from Greece.

The information accompanying my wines introduces three partner organizations, each representing an important part of that story.

The Consortium for the Protection of Wines of Abruzzo, founded in 2002, is a nonprofit association with more than 250 members, according to the campaign materials. Its work supports the protection, promotion, and recognition of the region’s wines, including Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo, Trebbiano d’Abruzzo, Pecorino, Abruzzo DOC, and Villamagna DOC. Those DOC and DOCG designations connect wines to defined origins and production requirements.

The Union of Late Harvest Wines of Bordeaux celebrates six appellations: Cadillac, Cérons, Côtes de Bordeaux Saint-Macaire, Loupiac, Premières Côtes de Bordeaux, and Sainte-Croix-du-Mont. These golden wines offer another delicious reason to explore Bordeaux.

The Association of Imathia’s Agricultural Cooperatives, or ASIAC, brings together eight major fruit producer organizations in northern Greece. The accompanying materials describe their shared work in production and international markets, with fruit including peaches, nectarines, apples, cherries, and kiwis.

As someone who works with wine and olive oil, I appreciate seeing the people and places behind agricultural products receive this kind of attention. There is so much more to discover when we look beyond the label.

Olivier Fleury Le Petit Pavillon Sainte-Croix-du-Mont 2019

Sweet Bordeaux holds a special place in my heart. Years ago, I had the opportunity to travel with Sweet Bordeaux to Barsac, and it remains a trip I will never forget. Seeing a wine region in person gives its wines a lasting connection to your own story.

Although this bottle comes from Sainte-Croix-du-Mont, a separate appellation from Barsac, it brings me back to that appreciation for Bordeaux’s sweet whites.

Le Petit Pavillon 2019 lists Sémillon, Sauvignon, and Muscadelle on its label. The back label describes a golden color, citrus character, a rounded palate, and a bright finish with orange-peel and almond notes. Those details immediately suggest some delicious possibilities for the holiday table. I myself will be enjoying this over the holiday season!

What I Would Pair With It

Sweet wines deserve a place beyond the final course! For fall and winter entertaining, these are the combinations I would explore:

  • Blue cheese with pears and walnuts. Salty, pungent cheese makes a wonderful contrast to a sweet white wine, while pears bring a seasonal touch.
  • Butternut squash soup with a little warming spice. I would keep the soup savory and let the wine provide the sweeter element.
  • A pâté or terrine appetizer. Rich textures and a sweet wine with freshness can make a lovely opening to a holiday meal.
  • A lightly sweet apple or pear tart. Keep the dessert less sweet than the wine so the pairing stays balanced.

Serve it chilled and try a small glass alongside your appetizer board. It may become the bottle guests want to talk about!

This is the kind of bottle I would give someone who enjoys exploring wine or loves building a beautiful cheeseboard. Include a handwritten pairing suggestion, or bring it with a wedge of blue cheese and a few pears. You have given them an experience to enjoy, along with the bottle.

Photo by Sara Jimenez & Edited with AI

Trventvm Malamore Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva 2021

I absolutely love Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, and Abruzzo remains on my list of places to visit in Italy. Until that trip happens, discovering its wines is a delicious way to keep the inspiration going.

The 2021 Malamore is made from Montepulciano. The wine is deeply ruby colored, with dark berry fruit, violet, spice, and wood notes, supported by balanced tannins and a long finish. It sees 9 months in oak to give it elegance and maturity. This is a perfect wine for anyone who enjoy’s Italian red wines… which honestly is pretty much anyone on your wine loving list this holiday season.

The profile of this wine has me planning something savory, slow-cooked, and perfect for a chilly evening.

What I Would Pair With It

  • Braised short ribs over saffron risotto or creamy polenta. Rich beef and a deeply flavored braising sauce would be my first choice.
  • Sausage, fennel, and cranberry sourdough stuffing. The savory sausage and fennel give this pairing its foundation, with cranberries adding little bursts of tartness.
  • Mushroom lasagna. Earthy mushrooms, browned cheese, and comforting layers of pasta feel right at home here.
  • Rosemary-roasted lamb or a winter beef ragù. Both would make a beautiful centerpiece for a holiday dinner.

For a simpler evening, I would happily build a meal around pasta with a hearty tomato sauce, good Parmesan, and this bottle on the table.

Malamore would be a lovely choice for the red wine lover who enjoys cooking. The black-and-gold label feels festive, and the pairing possibilities make it easy to turn into a thoughtful gift.

Tuck it into a basket with artisan pasta, a favorite sauce, and a recipe card. That is my kind of holiday present, something delicious with an invitation to slow down and make dinner.

Two Different Wines, Plenty of Holiday Inspiration

What I appreciate about these two bottles is how differently they can contribute to a gathering. Le Petit Pavillon invites us to explore sweet wine with savory food, while Malamore inspires the comforting dishes I love making when the weather turns cold.

One connects me to an unforgettable trip. The other keeps a future Italian adventure on my wish list. Both remind me why sharing wine stories, food, and a little curiosity is such a wonderful part of the holiday season.

Thank you to The Charming Taste of Europe for sending these wines and bringing a little European inspiration to my holiday planning.

Learn more at The Charming Taste of Europe.

Disclosure: These wines were provided as complimentary media samples by The Charming Taste of Europe. Pairing suggestions and opinions are my own.

The Charming Taste of Europe campaign is co-funded by the European Union. The European Union supports campaigns that promote high-quality agricultural products.