This post is sponsored by La Crema, but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board.
The holiday season is basically one long game of calendar Tetris, except every event comes with a group chat that has 11 unsaved numbers texting some variation of “what should we bring?” all to be met with the same answer: wine. Friendsgiving? Wine. Gift swap? Wine. Dinner at your friend’s parents’ house? Suddenly, the bottle you grab off the shelf feels like a much bigger decision than it needs to be.
The good news is you don’t need to become a sommelier or end up deep in a Reddit thread to pick a great bottle. Whether you’re hosting a crowd or looking for a hostess gift that says, “I’m thoughtful and definitely have my life together,” La Crema’s Friends & Family Sale (November 5–24) comes with an exclusive deal for Everygirl readers: up to 40% off, plus free ground shipping on orders of $125+. It’s La Crema’s biggest sale of the year, and it won’t be back again this year. Just shop through our links to unlock the savings. Here’s exactly what wine to buy for every holiday plan on your calendar.
Friendsgiving menus are famously unpredictable. One person is making a turkey from scratch, another is bringing a casserole they found on TikTok, and someone else has announced they’re bringing a salad that will inevitably be untouched. You need a wine that can hang with all of it.
So, enter Pinot Noir. It’s light enough to complement most traditional holiday dishes without overpowering everything on the table, making it an easy crowd-pleaser when you’re feeding a group with so many different food preferences. And since you’re hosting, you’ll probably want more than one bottle (running out of wine before the pie comes out is a horror no one should face). La Crema has several Pinot Noir options worth considering, whether you’re looking for an everyday crowd-pleaser or something a little more special.
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Gift swaps are a fun holiday tradition, assuming you can overlook the fact that someone will absolutely steal the gift you wanted and you wish you just kept the gift card you brought in the first place. When wine is on the gift list, the goal is to find something that feels special but still appeals to a wide range of people.
A versatile white is the perfect place to start. Chardonnay is a classic choice for a reason, while Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc offer alternatives for anyone who prefers a fresher, brighter style. And because you probably don’t know whether your bottle will end up with your wine-loving best friend or the coworker who mostly drinks whatever is in the fridge, a crowd-pleaser is the way to go. Here are a few bottles from La Crema worth wrapping up.
New Year’s Eve is not the time to show up with a bottle that requires a lengthy explanation. You want something fun, something festive, and something that’ll be a crowd-pleaser.
Whether you’re planning a girls’ NYE (pink wine is practically mandatory, duh) or a more classic midnight toast, La Crema has two pink picks worth adding to your lineup: one sparkling, one still. Both bring the festive vibes, so you can choose your own adventure depending on whether you’re team bubbles or team still rosé. Your camera roll will thank you.
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who arrive with a bottle of wine, and those who arrive with a bottle of wine they grabbed from the checkout aisle on the way over. We’re not judging either one, but if you’re heading to a dinner party where you really want to impress the host, a more elevated bottle is a surefire way to say thank you.
This is where it makes sense to spend a little more. A single-vineyard wine or a magnum feels special enough to save for another occasion, which is exactly what you want when gifting to someone who has already spent three days preparing a holiday meal for you. And with Everygirl readers getting up to 40% off during La Crema’s Friends & Family Sale, this is the moment to grab a splurge-worthy bottle for less.
Sonoma Coast Chardonnay Half Bottle, Light Pinot Noir, Monterey Chardonnay, Monterey Pinot Gris, Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, Monterey Pinot Noir, Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
Russian River Valley Brut Rosé, Saralee’s Vineyard Pinot Noir Rosé, Russian River Valley Chardonnay, Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir, Skycrest Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sealift Vineyard Pinot Noir, Fog Veil Pinot Noir, Jackson Park Vineyard Pinot Noir, Gran Moraine Pinot Noir
Two more things to know: La Crema’s mystery 6-packs are back, and they sell out every year, so don’t wait. And on November 12, La Crema drops its Last Bottles: a handful of very limited wines at 50% off. They’ll go fast!
A standard 750-milliliter bottle of wine pours about five glasses, so a good rule of thumb is to plan for one bottle for every two guests at a dinner party. If you’re hosting a longer gathering or know your friends enjoy a glass or two, grab a couple of extras. Running out is far more stressful than having an unopened bottle left over.
Start with one bottle for every two guests, then add one or two extra bottles as a buffer. A mix of mostly red wine, like Pinot Noir, plus at least one white is a good way to accommodate different preferences (refer to our Friendsgiving picks above for bottles that pair well with a traditional holiday spread).
Keep one red, one white, one sparkling wine, and one gift-worthy bottle on hand, and you’ll be prepared for most holiday plans. Pinot Noir is a versatile red for dinner parties, Chardonnay or Pinot Gris covers your white wine bases, and sparkling wine is essential for celebrations. A nicer bottle tucked away in your collection also means you’re ready for a last-minute dinner invitation.
A single-vineyard bottle or a magnum is a thoughtful option if you want to bring something more special than an everyday bottle. La Crema’s Skycrest Vineyard Pinot Noir and Russian River Valley Pinot Noir Magnum are both elevated picks for a host who enjoys wine. For more ideas, see our gift-worthy bottles above.
It runs November 5–24. Everygirl readers get an exclusive offer of up to 40% off when they shop through our links, plus free ground shipping on orders of $125+. It’s La Crema’s biggest sale of the year, and it won’t come around again this year. Mystery 6-packs drop during the sale, and Last Bottles (50% off) arrive November 12.
As the Branded Content Editorial Assistant, McKenna assists the sales team with the content creation process by updating stories, sourcing images and graphics, pitching and contributing stories of her own, and more. Some of her favorite topics to write about are entertainment, culture, and lifestyle
This post is sponsored by La Crema, but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board.
