One of my favorite holiday traditions is baking Christmas cookies with my family each year. We spend hours in the kitchen with festive music playing and the fire crackling in the background. There’s truly nothing better. This year, I wanted to make the tradition feel even more special. And what could be more magical than pairing cookies with wine? Below is a roundup of some of the most beloved holiday cookies and the perfect wines to enjoy alongside them.
Gingerbread & Tawny Port
Whether it is making cute little gingerbread men or a whole gingerbread house, this is the quintessential Christmas cookie. Step it up this year with a glass of Fonseca. Fonseca 20 Year Tawny Port pairs beautifully with gingerbread because its warm notes of caramel, dried fig, and spice echo the cookie’s molasses and ginger flavors. The wine’s silky sweetness and nutty complexity soften the spice while enhancing the richness of the gingerbread for a perfectly cozy finish.
Sugar Cookies & Sparkling
My personal favorite holiday cookie is the sugar cookie. Without fail, I bake them every year with my family using my grandma’s iconic recipe. Paired with Bouvet Brut, the experience is even better. The wine’s bright acidity and fine bubbles balance the cookies’ sweetness without overpowering their delicate flavor, while crisp notes of green apple and citrus add a refreshing, festive twist to every bite.
Snickerdoodles & Riesling
While snickerdoodles may not be my personal favorite, the love for these cookies runs deep. They’re a true holiday cult classic. Shades of Blue Riesling is a perfect match for snickerdoodles, as its light sweetness and bright acidity complement the cinnamon sugar spice while keeping the pairing light, balanced, and full of holiday cheer.
Peanut Butter Cookies & Cabernet Sauvignon
Growing up, there was never a year our family skipped making peanut butter chocolate cookies, and they were always the first to disappear. It is hard to imagine improving on the classic combination of peanut butter and chocolate, but pairing these cookies with Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon does just that. The wine’s ripe dark fruit and subtle cocoa notes echo the chocolate, while its structured tannins balance the richness of the peanut butter, creating a decadent yet beautifully balanced pairing.
Peppermint Bark & Pinot Noir
While peppermint bark is not a holiday cookie, it sure is a Christmas classic. For an elevated twist, pair it with the St. Francis Pinot Noir. The wine’s bright red fruit and subtle spice complement the chocolate while balancing the refreshing peppermint flavor. Its smooth, silky texture enhances the sweet and minty contrast for a festive and harmonious pairing.
Almond Shortbread & Pinot Gris
Last but certainly not least, enjoy your almond shortbread cookies with a glass of Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris Clos Jesbal. This stunning pairing showcases the wine’s rich, honeyed fruit and vibrant acidity, which perfectly complement the cookies’ buttery, nutty flavors. It highlights the shortbread’s delicate texture while adding a bright, elegant twist to every bite.
