Art Coast® Wines For Elevated Holiday Entertaining
When it comes to holiday entertaining, selecting the perfect wine can feel daunting to some. Whether your goal is a wine that complements your meal or one that enhances the food’s flavors, we’ve got you. Here’s our list of the local standouts you should be serving and savoring this holiday season.
While the ultimate experience would involve a winter escape to the Art Coast, where you could visit each winery for a tasting, other purchasing options are available.
Michigan Wine Co. 2023 Dry Riesling
The 2023 Dry Riesling from Michigan Wine Co. is a crisp, refreshing expression of this classic varietal—perfect for both casual gatherings and elegant holiday entertaining. Crafted entirely from estate-grown grapes at their vineyard in the Fennville AVA, this Riesling breaks from tradition by finishing almost completely dry. A chilled fermentation process preserves the wine’s natural acidity and bright freshness, resulting in a beautifully balanced pour that recently earned a silver medal at the 2024 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition.
Brimming with delicate floral aromatics and notes of peach and apricot, this light-bodied wine is best served well-chilled. Its clean, refreshing profile makes it a versatile companion to a range of holiday dishes. Start your celebration with a glass before dinner, or enjoy it alongside lighter meats and spicy flavors, like pork, fish, or chicken. The 2023 Dry Riesling is available for purchase at the winery’s tasting room or can be ordered online for direct shipment at https://www.michiganwineco.com/wine-cider.
Modales 2024 Muscat
At Modales, they like to say this wine doesn’t need a special occasion—but the holidays certainly make a strong case for opening a bottle (or two). The 2024 Muscat is crafted from Valvin Muscat, a relatively new hybrid grape variety that thrives in Michigan’s unpredictable winters and yields beautifully expressive, aromatic fruit. Grown at the Modales Terrace Hill Vineyard, this marks the winery’s first vintage working with this grape—and the result is pure joy in a glass. Fermented cool with native yeasts, then chilled below freezing to preserve a touch of the grape’s natural sweetness and low alcohol, this wine is finished with just a touch of CO₂, enough to give it a playful fizz without tipping it into sparkling territory.
Playful and fragrant, the 2024 Muscat bursts with notes of rose petal, white peach, mango, and nectarine. It’s perfect on its own, as a lively holiday cocktail base, or alongside festive bites like honey-baked ham, charcuterie, creamy goat cheese, Thai papaya salad, or holiday sweets. However you choose to enjoy it, this bright, aromatic wine is made for celebrating life’s simple pleasures. Purchase it directly from the Modales tasting room or online at https://modaleswines.com/collection/wines/.
Fenn Valley 2020 Meritage
A true classic for holiday entertaining, Fenn Valley’s 2020 Meritage is a bold yet beautifully balanced Bordeaux-style blend that celebrates the harmony of three noble grapes—Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. The Cabernet Franc lends notes of black cherry, Cabernet Sauvignon adds a hint of black pepper, and Merlot rounds it out with soft, earthy fruit character. The result is a seamless, bold wine that feels both lush and comforting at the table. The name Meritage (a blend of merit and heritage) was coined by a small group of American winemakers in 1988 to identify premium, handcrafted wines made from traditional Bordeaux varietals—a philosophy Fenn Valley continues to honor with this exceptional release.
Offering both complexity and depth, the 2020 Meritage pairs effortlessly with grilled meats, hearty pastas, roasted vegetables, and aged cheeses. Pick up a bottle of this handcrafted blend at the Fenn Valley tasting room or online at fennvalley.com/product/meritage.
