Sipping Your Way Through December—Day 16

Here’s today’s Advent Calendar pick.

Today I have a simple yet deliciously decadent food-and-wine treat for you: pecan pie with Port wine.

But not any ol’ slice of pecan pie will do. It has to be really good, homemade pecan pie—you know the kind I’m talking about. It has a crispy, buttery crust and a thick, gooey, caramel-like custard filling, topped with crunchy, sugary-sweet, toasted pecans. I like to savor each warm bite with a spoonful of cold, creamy (i.e., high-fat) vanilla ice cream, such as Häagen-Dazs, which is loaded with butterfat.

I wasn’t kidding when I mentioned “decadent.”

Not just any Port will do, either. With the pie, I’m recommending Graham’s 20-year-old Tawny Port.

Tawny Port is a style of Port that’s aged for years in small oak barrels, where time and oxygen slowly do their work. Bright fruit fades into flavors of toasted nuts, caramel, dried figs, and warm baking spices, all wrapped up in a smooth, silky texture. Graham’s 20-Year-Old Tawny is a standout for its beautifully balanced profile. It’s rich, but not heavy, with just enough freshness to keep you coming back for another sip.

And that’s why it works so well with pecan pie. The wine picks up on the pie’s nutty, caramelized flavors, while its natural acidity keeps the pairing from feeling too sweet or too rich. Take a bite, take a sip, and suddenly both taste better.

I think your dinner guests will agree! And, as they say in Portugal, Saúde! (To your health).

The suggested retail price for Graham’s 20 Year Old Tawny Port is $80. Find the wine on wine-searcher.com.