The dinner table is the heart of any holiday party, and it’s not difficult to create a simple yet elevated and festive holiday dinner table setting. Start with soft, neutral linens like cream, ivory, or a muted sage, and pair it with natural yet unexpected textures like wooden candleholders or woven placemats – touches that can easily create an inviting, vineyard-esque backdrop. Other small touches like sprigs of rosemary, pinecones, or (in our case, especially!) grapevine clippings, give a nod to the season without feeling too overdone.

You can consider arranging a few smaller candles and bottles of Wente’s Brut Sparkling Wine in the center for a warm glow. The combination of all of these elements will add to that sparkle that makes your table feel festive and magical for your dinner guests. Another fun idea we love is placing longer stem candles in empty wine bottles. Surround the wine bottle candles with some garland strewn across the table, and voila! Your simple yet sophisticated holiday dinner table is complete!

With everything else to busy ourselves with during the holidays, entertaining shouldn’t be stressful. That’s why simple, elegant recipes are key, and our family has mastered a few special holiday dishes. For a fresh, light starter, our recipe for  Festive Skewers featuring mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, and olives are a great option, and pair particularly well with the 2024 Louis Mel Sauvignon Blanc, a youthful wine with vibrant acidity and notes of guava, apricot, and citrus. For something a little more indulgent, Pan Seared Scallops with Citrus & Shallot Butter perfectly complement the bright, balanced flavors of Wente’s 2024 Morning Fog Chardonnay.

Gourmet (yet totally approachable, shh!) appetizers from our recipe rolodex like Prosciutto-Wrapped Dates with Blue Cheese or a showstopping main course like the Lemon Pepper Roasted Chicken are ideal with 2022 Wetmore Cabernet Sauvignon or the 2022 Cabernet Franc.

Every holiday gathering feels extra special with a warm (and warming!) cocktail. One of our personal favorites is the Mulled Wine recipe using the 2022 Mount Diablo Highlands Red Blend, with cranberry juice, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and a few star anise. To really impress, serve the mulled wine in heatproof glasses with a rosemary sprig or cranberries as garnishes for an extra touch of holiday flair.