The holidays are around the corner, and with them come gatherings, potlucks, and the inevitable question: what wine should I bring? We sat down with Brett Bayda, owner of Drink EEZY wines and The Hangry Herd BBQ & Beers, to get his expert take on holiday wine pairing. After nearly a decade in the wine business, Brett's philosophy is refreshingly simple: wine should bring people together, not intimidate them. Here are his top five tips for pairing wines and your holiday gathering with confidence.

1. Remember what wine is really for.

"Wine has two main categories. One is to socialize with friends and family, which is the part of the wine industry that I love the most,” says Brett. “And then the second component of it is [to] help food taste better."

With Thanksgiving and holiday gatherings ahead, Brett sees this as the perfect time to refocus. "Our friends and family are the most important things in our lives, and wine is a complement to that. The only real answer when trying to decide whether you like a wine or not is, do you like it or not? It doesn't really have to go much further than that."

*Drink EEZY Wines are made in Rancho Cordova and can be found at The Hangry Herd BBQ & Beers. Both businesses are owned by Brett Bayda.*

2. Don’t stress about picking the “perfect” wine.

Feeling intimidated about choosing wine for your holiday party? Brett has a simple message: "Don't be intimidated. It's just wine. It's not rocket science."

He points out that the pressure to pick the perfect bottle is largely manufactured. "Wine is so subjective that you could never possibly pick the perfect wine. It's impossible because everybody's going to like something else."

His strategy? "I would pick two or three wines, and I would go with medium-bodied, medium acidity, medium-alcohol levels. Even an experienced wine drinker can still really enjoy a medium-bodied wine, but a non-experienced wine drinker is not going to enjoy a heavy-bodied or full-bodied, high-alcohol wine."

3. Plan your holiday menu with three wines.

For Thanksgiving specifically, Brett recommends a three-wine approach that takes guests through the entire meal.

Before dinner: Start with a cranberry wine spritzer as an aperitif. "Take some white wine—Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio would be my top two recommendations—a little bit of two ounces of cranberry juice, a splash of club soda or lemon sparkling water, and put an orange slice on the rim for decorative purposes, or maybe a couple cranberries." It's refreshing and perfect for California's warmer November weather.

During dinner: Brett suggests either California or Oregon Pinot Noir. "If I had to pick between the two, I would lean towards the Oregon Pinot Noir." Oregon Pinots tend to be earthier, more acidic, lighter in flavor profile, and more approachable for guests who aren't big wine drinkers, with alcohol levels around 12.5-13.5% compared to California's 14-15%.

After dinner: Finish with a nice port. "It's a digestif that can help digest your food. It's full of residual sugar, so it's nice and sweet. And of course, it's high in alcohol, so it gets the party started. It's a dessert in and of itself."

4. Start your wine journey with the right bottles.

New to wine and want to expand your palate? Brett recommends starting sweet and working your way up. "I highly recommend starting with sweeter white wines like Rieslings or Gewürztraminers. They're a lot less tart, and that's one of the things that turns off a new wine drinker."

From there, graduate to Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio, but "stay away from Chardonnay, because oaky Chardonnay, which is California style, will really turn off a new wine drinker."

For your first red, Brett suggests Oregon Pinot Noir. "It's a little bit more fruity, easier to drink, and you kind of develop that palate. After you start really loving Pinot Noir, you're going to really start dipping your toes into Zinfandels and Cabs and Merlots and Syrah, and once you get there, it gets really, really exciting."

5. Bring something local to the table.

When in doubt of what to bring to a holiday gathering, consider grabbing a bottle (or two!) made by a winery in your own backyard. "At the end of the day, it's really just about exploring, supporting local winemakers that are artists developing their crafts."

He recommends getting out and visiting family-run wineries in Amador, Placerville, and Lodi. "That's the part that is the most exciting about wine, in my opinion—the exploration, the adventurous side of it."

Plan Your Holiday Gathering at The Hangry Herd

Looking for a spot to host your next holiday celebration? The Hangry Herd BBQ offers Texas-style barbecue with a California influence, featuring smoked brisket and tri-tip alongside homemade sides. They also serve Drink EEZY craft wines on tap, plus hard-to-find craft beers from around the nation.

The restaurant has a private room that holds up to 15 people, available to rent for free for birthday parties, anniversaries, and holiday gatherings. They're also planning a special smoked turkey offering for Thanksgiving week—keep an eye on their Instagram for details.

The Hangry Herd is located at 11225 Trade Center Drive #250 in Rancho Cordova. Follow them on Instagram for updates on specials and events, and visit thehangryherd.com to learn more.

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