Get Wined And Dined This Holiday With Pairings From Mirassou Winery

STUDIO CITY (CBS) — Hosting a holiday dinner? Wow your guests with excellent food and wine pairings from Mirassou Winery.

David Mirassou visited the KCAL 9 studios Thursday, armed with wine suggestions for every holiday dinner course.

David's Suggestions:

The first dish is comfort food at its finest – you just can't go wrong with Macaroni & Cheese with Bacon.

o This is truly an upscale version of everyone's favorite comfort food. The addition of the applewood smoked bacon and a bread crumb topping make this a favorite at my house.

o I suggest pairing it with our Chardonnay, which has wide appeal because it is light on the oak with more fruit-forward flavors.

The second dish is a Cherry Cornbread Stuffing with Sausage. You've never had a stuffing like this before and I guarantee your guests will be asking you for this recipe.

o I suggest pairing this stuffing with a versatile red wine, like our Pinot Noir. It's light-bodied enough to drink with other courses too, but can still stand up to the main course.

o In fact, my family was the first to bring Pinot Noir to America from France (tell story).

Our last dish is dessert (of course). These are Mini Moscato Cheesecakes. This is one where we've actually incorporated the wine that it pairs with, our new Moscato, into the dish itself for an extra boost of flavor.

Another tip: when shopping for wine for a get-together, think about the number of people coming over and the length of the event.

o If it's just a quick appetizer event, you probably don't need as much wine as you would for a sit-down dinner.

o And, even though many people prefer red wine in the cooler months, I still purchase equal amounts red and white - I find that there are always guests who prefer white, even in the winter, so it's best to be prepared.

o A tip for saving on wine at the grocery store – many retailers offer 10% off if you buy 6 bottles.

My last suggestion? Remember not to worry so much about which foods pair with which wines and simply allow your guests to relax and enjoy. The bottom line is, it's all about what you and your guests like, so you can focus on enjoying great company during the holiday season.

For more tips and recipes with wine pairings, visit Mirassou Wines online.