Holiday helpers in the wine aisle

For advice on what wines to serve during the holidays, we turned to Bill Hounshell, general manager of Matherne’s Supermarket on Highland Road. Fifteen years ago, Hounshell began expanding the store’s wine program; today it’s one of the largest purveyors in Baton Rouge and also features reservation-only weekly wine dinners. In an onsite tasting room, Hounshell and his team pair a wide range of wines with a multi-course dinner.

Hounshell recommended one white and two reds to sample this month, following food blogger Maggie Heyn Richardson’s rules of avoiding Chardonnay and sticking to $20 or less. He included a bargain Cabernet Sauvignon from a new winery co-owned by musician Dave Matthews, a complex Sauvignon Blanc and a silky Pinot Noir. Click here for his picks.