Category Archives: Wine Recommendations

Winter Whites

If you are a non-denominational wine drinker, you may choose to drink crisp and fruity Sauvignon Blancs and pretty-in-pink Provence Rosés during the dog days of summer. Then as soon as the first bite of winter’s chill hits the air, you switch to rich and dark Cabernet Sauvignons and Syrahs to warm your soul through those bitter winter months.

However, there are those of you who eschew the “wine rules” and want to continue to enjoy your white wines between November and March. Yet, a Sauvignon Blanc might not be ideal – you want a white wine that will wrap you in a warm embrace. You are looking for richer, fuller bodied white wines that have the depth and structure of reds, but with the fruit flavors, aromatics and lack of tannins that white wines bring to the glass. If this sounds like you, read on because I have some excellent recommendations for the best types of white wines you can keep drinking all winter long.

Chardonnay

Chardonnay is an incredibly versatile grape and can make wine in lots of different styles, from steely and restrained (Chablis, France) all the way to rich and buttery (California). For winter drinking, select a Chardonnay from a warm climate area like California, Australia or Chile. These wines are often aged in oak and have a big, round texture with tropical fruit flavors of pineapple and mango, along with obvious oak influences.

Daou Vineyards Chardonnay 2018 ($16)

Viognier

Viognier has the creaminess of Chardonnay, but with more floral aromas and less acidity – think honeysuckle, peaches and roses. For a richer style, select a Viognier from California, Australia or Rhone, France.

Yalumba Viognier Eden Valley 2016 ($15)

Rhône whites

Rhone-style white wines are made from a blend of white grapes that hail from the Rhone Valley in France, although many warmer wine regions make this style of wine, such as Paso Robles, CA. The primary grape varieties in these blends can include Roussanne, Marsanne, Viognier, Grenache Blanc and Pinot Blanc. These are rich, bold whites with mouthwatering flavors of lemon, apricot, oranges and pastry.

Tablas Creek Vineyard Patelin de Tablas Blanc Paso Robles 2017 ($20)

Pinot Gris

Pinot Gris (hailing from France) is actually the same grape variety as Pinot Grigio (hailing from Italy), but the wines are produced in different styles. Whereas Pinot Grigio is light bodied with citrus flavors, Pinot Gris is richer and creamier with flavors of honey, ginger and clove alongside fruity pear, peach and nectarine.

Eyrie Pinot Gris Willamette Valley 2017 ($20)

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Gewurtztraminer

This grape from Germany and Alsace, France is intensely aromatic and often made with small amounts of residual sugar, giving it a touch of sweetness. The texture is almost oily on the palate and it displays warm aromas and flavors of ginger, incense, honey and allspice with a very characteristic rose petal aroma and tropical fruit flavors of pineapple, grapefruit and apricot.

Trimbach Gewurztraminer 2016 ($22)

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So light a fire in the fireplace, snuggle up under a fuzzy blanket and wrap your hands around a delicious glass of winter white wine to warm your soul. Cheers!

Grape of the Week: Touriga Nacional

In a nutshell:

  • Produces big, rich, dark colored, tannic red wines

Where is it grown:

  • Portugal

Wine Styles:

  • Dry red wine, often blended with other varieties, but sometimes a single varietal
  • Port

Wine Texture:

  • Body: Full
  • Tannin: High
  • Acidity: Med-High
  • Alcohol: High

Flavor and aroma profile:

  • Black fruit: blackberry, blackcurrant, blueberry, black plum
  • Herbs/Spices: leather, licorice, mint
  • Floral: violet
  • Oak: cocoa, vanilla, nutmeg

You might like this grape if you like…:

  • Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Australian Shiraz

Food Pairings:

  • Red meat
  • Game meats
  • Blue cheeses
  • BBQ
  • Winter stews

Recommendations:

Evidencia Reserva Touriga Nacional 2016, $15

Sandemann 10 yr Tawny Port, $30

Quinta Do Crasto Touriga Nacional 2016, $65

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Wines To Serve This Holiday

The holidays are a time for celebration, and celebrations are a time for drinking…and eating! If you are still trying to figure out what wines are best to serve with your holiday meals, I have some excellent suggestions that will pair beautifully with any dish you will be preparing.

Feast of the Seven Fishes (or any seafood dish)

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Bodega Garzon Albarino 2018, Uruguay ($18) – I grew up in an Italian household with the prohibition against eating meat on Christmas Eve. Instead, we indulged in the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Bodega Garzon Albarino is a perfect wine to pair with any of your Christmas Eve seafood dishes. It is medium to full bodied with bright flavors of citrus, peach and pear and a slightly creamy finish. This crisp, yet luscious wine will compliment, and not overpower, any seafood dish.

Charcuterie/Cheese/Antipasto

La Battagliola Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetrano DOC 2017, Italy ($15) – I love to kick off my holiday with a glass of bubbly and appetizers. Not only is Lambrusco a perfect pairing with any meat and cheese board, that beautiful dark red color is festive and seasonal. This red sparkler is dry with beautiful aromas and flavors of strawberry, plum and cherry. It is fuller-bodied and higher in alcohol and tannins than many other Lambruscos, which is why I love it. It is big, flavorful and fresh.

Honey Baked or Glazed Ham

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Champalou Vouvray La Cuvee des Fondrau 2016, France ($22) – If you are preparing a honey-baked or glazed ham, you will want a wine with just a touch of sweetness to stand up to the sweet glaze. This Vouvray (made from Chenin Blanc grapes) is only slightly off-dry with just a touch of residual sugar. The sugar is well balanced by bright acidity, and has flavors of apple, honey and pear. This wine is a fresh and fruity, easy-drinking compliment to a sweet/salty ham dinner.

Game Birds/Poultry (Duck, Turkey, etc.)

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Mohua Pinot Noir 2015, New Zealand ($16) – Pinot Noir is an excellent compliment to medium weight dishes like salmon, chicken, duck, and turkey. It also works really well with roasted vegetables and mushroom dishes. This Pinot is from Central Otago, New Zealand, a region that is producing excellent cool-climate Pinots at great prices. This wine is everything a Pinot should be – medium-bodied with fresh flavors of strawberry, raspberry and red cherry with a touch of herb and spice on the finish.

Beef (Filet Mignon, Prime Rib, etc.)

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Orin Swift Machete 2016, California ($48) – Not only is Orin Swift’s Machete my favorite wine label ever, it is also my favorite wine in this price range, and can easily stand up to heavier meat dishes. The Machete is a blend of Petite Sirah, Syrah and Grenache. It is inky dark in the glass with rich, jammy flavors of blackberry, blueberry, fig and boysenberry, complimented by a dash of vanilla and cinnamon. It is a big, bold and fruit-forward California wine that can just as easily be enjoyed as a meal in itself, or paired with a tasty filet mignon.

Dessert

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Royal Tokaji Late Harvest 2016, Hungary ($20) – The wine enjoyment shouldn’t end after the entree! Bring out the Christmas cookies, cakes and pies, then crack open a bottle of Late Harvest Tokaji. This wine is pale gold with sweet tropical fruit flavors of mango, pineapple, citrus, peach and honey. Although it is a dessert wine, it is not cloying or syrupy sweet. It has a beautiful lightness and freshness to it that lifts the sweetness.

Cheers and Happy Holidays!!!

 

 

10 Gift Ideas for The Wine Lover

Are you looking for some unique wine-related holiday gift ideas for that wine lover in your life? Well, look no further. Here are a few of my favorite things that I’m certain you will enjoy as well!

Coravin Wine Preservation System, $285

The Coravin is a top-of-the-line wine preservation system for anyone who hates to waste really good wine. Queue the jokes about never leaving an unfinished bottle behind, but there are many circumstances when you may not finish an entire bottle in one sitting. For me, my husband doesn’t drink any white wine, so when I want to enjoy a single beautiful glass of Puligny-Montrachet white Burgundy, I will use my Coravin. I also like to sample lots of different wines as part of my profession, or sample wines in my cellar to see how they are progressing, and the Coravin makes that all possible without having to open lot of bottles or open something that would benefit from more cellar time. The Coravin inserts a slim needle through the cork, pumping inert argon gas into the bottle while wine is poured into your glass. The gas keeps oxygen from negatively impacting the wine, and the cork re-seals itself after the needle is removed, so you can enjoy the same bottle of wine for weeks, months or even years! (Buy on Amazon)

Zalto Denk-Art Universal Glasses, $69

Zalto Denk'Art Universal Glass

Once you drink from a Zalto wine glass you will never be able to drink from anything else. They are a piece of art in the form of a wine glass, designed to reflect the same tilt angles as the Earth. The thinness of the glass enhances the flavors of the wine rather than overpowers it with glass taste that you get from thicker glasses. Zaltos are lead-free, dishwasher safe and made in Austria. If you are opening an special bottle of wine this holiday, it deserves to be experienced in amazing glassware. (Buy on Amazon)

Le Nez du Vin, $40-$399

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If you are amazed by how wine professionals can take one whiff of a wine and describe dozens of different aromas, now you can learn how to do the same. The Le Nez du Vin is an aroma kit that comes in a variety of sizes, and contains viles of common wine scents. You can hone you wine aroma recognition skills so you can take your wine enjoyment to the next level. (Buy on winearomas.com)

Vino Chapeau Wine Tasting Covers, $7.99

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Vino Chapeau discs enhance your wine tasting experience. They cling to the rim of your wineglass and remain secure as you swirl your wine, concentrating aromas under the cover. Put your nose to the glass, remove the disc and enjoy the flood of aromas that fill your nose and allow you to more easily identify scents. They are also fantastic for outdoor use in warmer months as they keep insects out of your glass! (Buy on vinochapeau.com)

Cheese Grotto, $85-$350

Wine and cheese go together like peanut butter and jelly, and if you are serious about your cheese, you need an equally serious cheese preservation system. The Cheese Grotto is a climate controlled system that will extend the shelf life of your gourmet cheeses while allowing you to store them unwrapped and outside of your refrigerator. (Buy on cheesegrotto.com)

Wine Infused Salts, $35

Wine-Infused Salts

Not only do I love wine, but I am absolutely addicted to salt. Thankfully I have uncommonly low blood pressure, so I can add as much salt as I want to my food. In addition, salt is one of those magical flavors that brings out the absolute best in wine. Salt in food will make your wine taste less bitter and astringent, and more fruity and soft. Now imagine what wine infused salt could do! They are made with Pacific sea salt, complementary herbs, and wine reduced to a very concentrated syrup.

Wine Tasting Kit, $27-$275

If you want to get more experience tasting a variety of wines, but don’t want to spend thousands of dollars purchasing a wide variety of bottles that you may only drink one glass of, consider an e-Tasting Kit. This French company has bottled dozens of different wines into small, single-serving portions, so you can taste up to 72 different wines from a single tasting kit! (Buy on etasting.com)

Grapevine Cuff Bracelet, $29

One of my favorite merchants is Wine Country Craftsman based out of Paso Robles, CA. They make a wide variety of beautiful, hand-crafted and custom items from retired grape vines and wine barrels. This Grapevine Cuff Bracelet is just one example of their exquisite work. It is crafted from reclaimed Napa Valley grapevines that were making wine during prohibition. The grape vines are dried for up to 2 years then kiln fired, hand cut, sanded and sealed to preserve this beautiful piece of jewelry for generations to come. (Buy on winecountrycraftsman.com)

Blitzen & Friends Wine Bottle Stoppers, $59

These wine bottle stoppers are just so much fun and will be the center of attention at your holiday gathering! (Buy on wineenthusiast.com)

The Wine Diva Private Tasting Experience, $300 for up to 10ppl

Last, but most certainly not least, I will host a fun and educational private wine tasting for you and your guests in my NJ home wine cellar, your home, your office or any other space. I supply the bottles, wine glasses and expert knowledge, and you sit back, relax and enjoy the wine! These tastings are perfect for birthday parties, corporate events, bachelorette parties, bridal showers, girls nights, or just a great excuse to get together with friends. I can customize a package to fit your needs. No size party is too large or too small! Don’t live anywhere near NJ? Not a problem! I can also do Skype/FaceTime tasting sessions where I will purchase the wine and have it shipped to your house, then host a live e-tasting with you and your guests. (Contact me at [email protected])

Best Holiday Gift Wines At Any Price Point!

Wine is the consummate holiday gift for just about anyone on your adult holiday gift list. There are excellent options at all price ranges – $15 bottles for a Secret Santa gift, $30 bottles for an amazing holiday party hostess, $50 bottles for your boss or closest friends, all the way through $100+ bottles for that very special wine lover in your life.

Here are some excellent wine gift recommendations at a variety of price points, with a sparkling wine, a white wine and a red wine included within each category. A variety of regions and grape varieties are also represented. There is guaranteed to be something here for everyone!

Under $15

Gruet Blanc de Noirs

Gruet Winery Gruet Blanc de Noirs NV, $13 – This is a fun and unique sparkling wine from New Mexico, of all places! It is made from 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay, giving it a light salmon color. It is dry with flavors and aromas of raspberry, pear and vanilla.

Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc-Viognier, 2017

Pine Ridge Vineyards Chenin Blanc / Viognier 2017, $11 – The 17% Viognier adds some body and honey flavors to the citrusy Chenin Blanc. This wine is crisp and lively with lots of green apple, peach and lime.

La Posta - Malbec Pizzella Family Vineyard 2017 <span>(750ml)</span> <span>(750ml)</span>

La Posta Malbec Pizzella Family Vineyard 2017, $14 – This is deep, dark Malbec from Argentina with serious tannins and flavors of blackberry, plum, licorice and chocolate. It’s full bodied, but approachable and not too heavy.

$15-$20

Nino Franco Prosecco Rustico

Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco di Valdobbiadene NV, $17 – There’s a reason why Prosecco’s popularity has exploded in recent years. It is fruity, not too dry, easy drinking and super affordable. This is an excellent value Prosecco with flavors of apple, peach, pear and a slightly creamy texture with silky bubbles.

Chalk Hill Sauvignon Blanc

Chalk Hill Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2017, $18 – Sauvignon Blancs are some of the best value white wines available. The Chalk Hill Sauvignon Blanc offers something a little different since it was partially fermented and aged in oak (most Sauvignon Blanc is entirely fermented in stainless steel). This gives it a rounder texture and more flavor complexity. It has tropical flavors of tangerine, pineapple and mango, with herbal and floral notes.

2017 Bodega Garzon Tannat Reserve, Uruguay

Bodega Garzon Tannat 2017, $17 – I had the pleasure of enjoying this wine at home this past week, and I just had to include it on this list! It’s dark, rich and full-bodied, yet elegant and approachable. It is reminiscent of Cabernet Sauvignon, but at a much better price point. It has flavors of blackberry, plum and raspberry, with a long spicy finish.

$20-$35

Roederer Estate Brut

Roederer Estate Brut Anderson Valley, $23 – This is my go-to sparkling wine for everyday drinking. It’s an excellent value. It is crisp and elegant with flavors of citrus, pear, apple and vanilla, with a finish of brioche, nuts and pastry.

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Massican Annia 2017, $30 – This wine from Napa Valley is a unique blend of Italian varietals Ribolla Gialla and Tocai Friulano, with a dash of Chardonnay. Light, elegant and complex, this wine has bright, juicy flavors of green apple, peach, pear and melon with some notes of almond and honey.

Castello di Monsanto Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva

Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva 2015, $25 – For the many Chianti lovers out there, the Monsanto Chianti Classico is full-bodied and dry, with firm tannins and flavors of cherries and berries with leather and earth. This wine is a good choice for someone who will cellar it for a few more years.

$35-$50

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Ployez-Jacquemart Extra Brut Rosé, $45 – Pink is just more fun, so this Rosé Champagne makes a beautiful and delicious holiday gift. It is medium-bodied and dry with strawberry, cherry, pastry, cream and spice flavors.

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2017 Clos St. Jean Chateauneuf Du Pape Blanc, $45 – This wine is a blend of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Bourboulenc, and Clairette. It is rich, creamy and full-bodied, bursting with peach, honey, apricot and brioche. It is complex and balanced, and can be drunk now or cellared for a few years.

2012 TOMMASO BUSSOLA AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO 750ML

2013 Bussola Amarone Classico, $50 – Amorone della Valpolicella is one of my favorite types of Italian wines, so I just had to include one on this list! The Bussola has deep, rich flavors of cherry jam, plum and raisins balanced by coffee, chocolate and herbal notes.

$50-$100

Bollinger Brut Special Cuvee

Bollinger Brut Champagne Special Cuvée, $60 – Bollinger is my favorite Champagne to serve on special occasions and holidays. It is a blend of 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay and the rest Pinot Meunier. It is big, rich and complex with flavors of apple, pear, lemon curd, peach with subtle toasty notes of fresh baked bread and a creamy texture.

Pahlmeyer Chardonnay Napa, 2017

Pahlmeyer Chardonnay Napa Valley 2017, $80 – I opened this gorgeous Chardonnay on Thanksgiving and wow, was I impressed! I’m usually not a huge fan of Napa Chardonnay, but this one was rich without being overwhelmingly buttery. It had flavors of vanilla, pastry, cream, caramel, pear and yellow apple with a beautiful velvety texture. This one may end up on my Top 10 Favorite Wines of 2019 list!

2014 Ramey Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Ramey Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2014, $65 – This is another strong contender for my Top 10 Favorite Wines of 2019 list. This Napa Cabernet is actually a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 6% Malbec, and 3% Petit Verdot. It is medium to full-bodied, refined and elegant, with flavors of red cherry, raspberry, black cherry, vanilla, toast and white pepper. It is silky smooth and beautifully balanced.

$100+

2008 Louis Roederer "Cristal" Brut Champagne

Louis Roederer Brut Champagne Cristal 2008, $260 – I hesitated putting this one on the list because it is so decadent. However, I had the absolute bliss of tasting Cristal for the first time a few weeks ago and it blew me away! Given how utterly stunning this Champagne is, I had to include it as the creme-de-la-creme of all holiday wine gifts. Champagne doesn’t get any better than this – complex, smooth, the creamiest bubbles I have ever tasted, fruity, spicy, yeasty – it’s got everything. Whoever is gifted this one must be really special.

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2016 Huet Vouvray Cuvee Constance, $150 – I had to include at least one sweet wine on this list and the Huet Constance was it! This is a magical, botrytized dessert wine made from Chenin Blanc in France. It has layers of rich flavors – raisin, honey, fig, dried fruits, nuts, peach – with a long finish. It is concentrated, yet well balanced by acidity so doesn’t taste cloying.

Château Pontet-Canet Pauillac 2016, $150 – When my kids were born, I purchased a “birth year” wine for each of them. The Chateau Pontet-Canet 2005 was my choice for my son. No list would be complete without a world-class Bordeaux. This 2016 is definitely a wine for the serious collector who will cellar it carefully for many years to come. It has fine tannins with ripe flavors of black cherry, blackcurrant, cassis, vanilla, nutmeg, licorice, cedar, tobacco and clove. This wine has elegance and finesse, but requires patience – hang on to it for a few decades.

 

5 Wine Pairings for any Charcuterie & Cheese Board

Tis the season for parties with families, friends, neighbors and co-workers! There is no better and more festive time to gather together those closest to you to celebrate, unwind and be merry. Yet to truly throw the perfect party, there must be outstanding food and beverage offerings.

Arguably, one of the easiest, most eye-catching and crowd-pleasing party food around is a beautiful, international charcuterie and cheese board. Every board is unique and reflects a variety of different flavors and textures sure to please even the pickiest party guest.

The staple of any charcuterie board is an array of salted, cured and smoked meats. This often includes selections such as prosciutto, jamón, salami, chorizo and pâté. A combination of hard and soft cheeses, ranging from mild to robust, will offer something for every palate. The board can be rounded out with sweet and sour flavors from olives, pickled vegetables, cornichons (those adorable tiny pickles), mustards and jams.

With such an array of flavors and textures, the idea of pairing such a curated charcuterie board with one or two appropriate wine selections can be daunting. Fortunately, it is much easier than you would imagine.

The primary flavor components of a charcuterie board are salty, spicy/smoky and fatty. Any wine selection should pair well with each of these elements. There may be a temptation to pair a big, bold red wine with a charcuterie board because of the meats, however, this would not be the ideal choice. The complex flavors in a big, red wine from tannins, oak and high alcohol will have negative interactions with the variety of flavors on a charcuterie board, making the wine taste more bitter and astringent.

The ideal pairing for charcuterie would be wines with high acidity to cut through the creamy fats, as well as fruity flavors that can stand up to the bitter salt and spice. Here are a selection of five can’t miss pairings for even the most diverse charcuterie and cheese boards.

 

#1. Reyneke Chenin Blanc 2017, $25

This wine is bright and fresh with a nice streak of acidity to cut through fatty meats and creamy cheeses, while ripe fruit flavors of apple, citrus and peach add a striking balance to smoky meats.

 

 

 

#2. Charles Smith Kung Foo Girl Riesling Evergreen 2017, $12

Riesling’s naturally high acidity is the perfect compliment to balance decadent creamy and salty cheeses. The cheeses also tone down the sweetness of the wine, bringing this pairing into perfect balance. Kung Foo Girl is brimming with lively acidity, and peach, apricot and citrus flavors.

 

 

 

#3. Medici Ermete Concerto Lambrusco Reggiano 2018, $20

This light, fizzy Italian red that is slightly off-dry is perfect for smoothing out those spicy and smokey charcuterie flavors. The high acidity and delicate bubbles keep the palate fresh after creamy, heavy cheeses, and the berry and bubblegum flavors make this a fun and lively wine for any party.

 

#4. Erath Pinot Noir 2016, $14

The best way to successfully pair red wine with charcuterie is to select a light-bodied, fruity pinot noir from a cooler climate, like this Erath from Oregon. This wine has mellow tannins that are smoothly integrated with tart cherry and raspberry flavors and high acidity that will compliment and not fight with the flavors on your charcuterie board.

 

#5. Tio Pepe En Rama Fino Sherry 2015, $15

If you want to wow your guests with an unexpected pairing, consider serving this Fino Sherry. Sherry is a fortified, dry white wine with aromas of bread, almonds and citrus. Legend has it that tapas was invented by a Spanish king after he drank sherry while eating cured ham, so charcuterie was made for this wine!

 

Best Wine Pairings for Thanksgiving

The holiday season is a time of revelry, celebration and most of all, gluttony! There is nothing more heart-warming than gathering around the holiday table with family and friends to enjoy an enormous meal prepared with love, except when that meal is also paired with the best wines for the holidays.

However, it is particularly difficult to pair wines with holiday meals because no two tables are the same, and no two meals are prepared the same way. The main course could be turkey, ham, lamb or prime rib. Side dishes can span a huge range of flavors, like sweet potatoes, green beans, stuffing and cranberry sauce. There can be international dishes from regions like Asia and Mexico. Not to mention the endless variety of spices to flavor everything.

Food should take center stage on the holidays, which means any wine pairing should compliment the meal and not fight for all of the attention. The best approach to selecting a wine for your holiday table is to choose a versatile, food-friendly wine that pairs well with many different dishes, and to select wines that most of your guests will enjoy. Here are some excellent holiday wine pairings.

The Chook Sparkling Shiraz NV, $15

The Chook Sparkling Shiraz

Before you reach for that bottle of champagne, consider surprising your guests with a glass of bubbly they have probably never tasted before, and may not even know exists! The Chook Sparkling Shiraz is a red sparkling wine from Australia. It is dry, medium-bodied and bubbling over with juicy plum, blueberry and chocolate flavors. It is both soft and refreshing with velvety bubbles, and pairs astonishingly well with holiday meals, especially roasted poultry and meats. This is a fresh and vibrant wine to kick off your holiday celebration, and should be enjoyed well-chilled and served in champagne flutes.

Famille Hugel Classic Riesling 2017, $20

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When most people think of Riesling, they think of sweet white wines. However, Rieslings are made with a range of sugar levels from completely dry to lusciously sweet. This Famille Hugel Classic Riesling from Alsace, France is a dry, light-bodied wine with ripe fruit flavors and aromas of pear, apricot, green apple and lemon. The refreshingly high levels of mouth-watering acidity in this wine make it an excellent pairing option with lighter foods such as fish and turkey. It also beautifully compliments spicier dishes, like curries, as well as hard-to-pair vegetables including mushrooms and asparagus.

The Hilt Chardonnay Santa Barbara 2015, $27

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Chardonnay is an excellent choice for your holiday table, but it must be the right style of Chardonnay. Many Chardonnays, especially those from California, tend to be overly oaky and buttery. This style can easily overwhelm the delicate flavors of turkey, white potatoes and other fixings. The better choice is a more restrained style of Chardonnay like The Hilt Chardonnay 2015 from the cooler central coast of Santa Barbara, CA. This wine has a bright, flinty minerality with rich flavors of lemon, pineapple and peach rounded out by delicate floral notes and aromas of honey and nuts. It has a touch of light oak to give it structure, but the oak is well-integrated and does not overwhelm the fruity, floral characters of this gorgeous wine.

The Four Graces Pinot Noir 2017, $20

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Pinot Noir is much like Chardonnay in that the style of wine will determine whether or not it’s a good pairing for your holiday meal. Some Pinot Noirs can be big, rich and jammy with higher levels of mouth-drying tannins that can overpower your taste buds and reduce your ability to fully enjoy the variety of flavors on the table. Medium-bodied Pinot Noirs from cooler regions like Oregon and Burgundy will better pair with a wider variety of foods. The Four Graces Pinot Noir 2017 is from the cool Willamette Valley in Oregon. The wine has bright red fruit flavors of cherry, raspberry and cranberry with just enough pepper and smokey notes to balance the fruit. Its bright acidity cuts through richer dishes, while the smooth tannins don’t overwhelm dishes with more subtle flavors.

Carlisle Zinfandel Papera Ranch Russian River Valley 2016, $50

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Zinfandel is the perfect crowd-pleaser – both fruity and spicy, and balanced by soft tannins. It is supremely tasty without being overbearing. The richer, fruit-forward nature of Zinfandel pairs well with anything from turkey to beef, white potatoes to sweet potatoes, stuffing to cranberry sauce, and it accentuates sweet spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. Wow your guests with a truly outstanding bottle of Carlisle Papera Ranch Russian River Valley Zinfandel 2016. This wine is elegant, yet powerful, with complex flavors of blueberry, cherry, chocolate, tobacco and pepper. The refined fruit and silky tannins make this a stand-out wine that your guests will notice, but it won’t take all of the spotlight away from that delicious holiday meal.

Fonseca 20 Year Tawny Port, $40

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No holiday meal is complete without a sinfully delectable dessert, or three. Hold off on pouring the coffee until after dessert. Instead, pair those pies, cakes and pastries with a Fronseca 20 Year Tawny Port. After aging in oak barrels for 20 years, this port has developed a rich amber color with complex flavors of dried cherries, fig, raisins, caramel, cinnamon, honey and sweet tobacco. All of those rich flavors accentuate a variety of sweet and nutty holiday desserts like pecan pie, almond cake, caramel cheesecake, creme brulee, cherry pie, chocolate mousse, dark chocolate layer cake and more!

Happy holidays!

5 Boozy Hallow-wine Brews

We’re only a few short days away from my favorite Fall holiday! Halloween holds a special place in my heart because my birthday is only two days before, and I grew up throwing epic Halloween/Birthday parties every year. Even as an adult, I love having an excuse to wear a costume outside of Disney World and Comicons without getting sideways glances.

To celebrate this upcoming Halloween, I wanted to share some boozy brews that, of course, all have wine as a key ingredient. As a bonus, if you invite me to your Halloween party, I promise to pour all of these for your guests!

Pumpkin Spice Wine Spritzer

Pumpkin Spice Wine Spritzer | Halloween Cocktail Recipe

Ingredients

Instructions

    1. Add ice to a low ball glass.
    2. Pour in the pumpkin spice liquor and the wine.
    3. Stir then top off the glass with seltzer.
    4. Garnish with cinnamon stick

Recipe and photo courtesy of www.mantitlement.com

Red Wine Margarita with Black Lava Salt

Red Wine Margarita, Black Lava Salt

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Pour red wine into an ice cube tray and let freeze overnight
  • Remove ice cube tray from freezer and add all the wine ice cubes into a blender
  • Pour the tequila, margarita mix, lime juice over the frozen wine cubes
  • Blend just for a second or two
  • Slice limes and rub around the rim of a margarita glass, dip the top of the glass into the black salt
  • Fill with the wine margarita mixture

Recipe and photo courtesy of www.myturnforus.com

Halloween Sangria

Halloween Sangria. Blood red sangria with frozen grape eyeballs. Perfect Halloween drink for a party!

Ingredients

  •  1 cup whole black grapes
  •  1 cup whole green grapes
  •  2 oranges — sliced into rounds
  •  1 lemon — sliced into rounds
  •  1 lime — sliced into rounds
  •  1 cinnamon stick
  •  1/4 cup brandy
  •  1 bottle red wine
  •  1 can ginger ale — (12 ounces)
  •  Colored sugar — for rimming glasses

Instructions

    1. Rinse and de-stem grapes, then pat dry. Spread in a single layer a baking sheet, then place in the freezer at least 2 hours before you plan to serve
    2. In a large glass pitcher, combine 1/2 of the orange slices (reserve the second half for serving), lime, and lemon slices. Add the brandy and cinnamon stick and stir gently to combine. Slowly pour in the wine. Refrigerate sangria for at least 2 hours or as long as overnight (a longer chill time will increase the flavor).
    3. When ready to serve, add the ginger ale to the pitcher and stir gently with spoon. To sugar the glass rims, place the colored sugar on a plate, then rub an orange slice around the glass rim. Dip the rim of each glass into the sugar, coating well. Fill glasses with frozen grapes and reserved orange slices, then slowly pour in the sangria. Sip immediately and enjoy.

Recipe and photo courtesy of www.wellplated.com

Bloody Rum Punch

Donq bloody rum punch recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 (750 mL) bottle rum
  • 1/2 (750 mL) bottle ​red wine​
  • 6 oz ​lime juice (fresh)
  • 6 oz ​triple sec
  • 6 oz​ simple syrup
  • 2 ​limes (sliced into thin wheels)
  • 2 red ​oranges (sliced into thin wheels)

Steps to Make It

  1. In a large punch bowl or pitcher, combine the rum, red wine, lime juice, triple sec, simple syrup, and lime and orange slices.
  2. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least two hours before serving (overnight is better).
  3. Serve over ice in punch glasses and enjoy!
Recipe and photo courtesy of www.thespruceeats.com

Ghouls Night In

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Rim a chilled cocktail glass with caramel syrup, then dip into chopped peanuts. Set aside.
  2. Pour Barefoot Pinot Grigio, vodka, liqueur and chocolate syrup into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until well chilled.
  3. Strain into prepared cocktail glass.

Recipe and photo courtesy of www.barefootwine.co.uk

10 Spooky Wines for Hallo-wine!

Halloween is right around the corner and I have the perfect spooky wine recommendations for that creep-tastic costume party, trick-or-treating with the neighborhood parents, or just relaxing like the dead at home.

 

#1. Shinas Estate, $18

Shinas Estate in Victoria, Australia, makes a series of wines with spine-tingling labels, including The Verdict (Cabernet Sauvignon), The Guilty (Shiraz), The Innocent (Viognier), The Executioner (Shiraz, Cabernet, Viognier blend), and Sweet Justice (sparkling Moscato). These are all plump, fruit-forward wines, with The Guilty and Sweet Justice pairing particularly well with Halloween candy.

#2. The Walking Dead, $15

“An epidemic of apocalyptic proportions has swept the globe, causing the dead to rise and feed on the living. In a matter of months, society has crumbled; there is no government, no grocery stores, no mail delivery, no cable TV. Luckily there is wine…”

There are four The Walking Dead wines – Cabernet Sauvignon, Blood Red Blend (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec), Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. Each of these wines features an augmented reality label that comes alive with the Living Wines Label app. I won’t give away what happens in the labels, but if you’re a fan of The Walking Dead TV show, these wines are a must-buy!

#3. Apothic Dark and Apothic Inferno, $15

Apothic Dark is a dangerous romance of Zinfandel, Syrah and Merlot, creating a smooth wine with blueberry, blackberry, coffee and dark chocolate flavors. Apothic Inferno has emerged from the flames with a whiskey soul, having been aged for 60 months in whiskey barrels. The red fruit contains touches of maple and spice.

#4. The Velvet Devil, $12

This deep, dark wine is devilishly good with flavors of red and blue fruit and a silky smooth texture that makes Merlot sexy again.

#5. 19 Crimes The Banished, $10

19 Crimes makes a series of infamous wines featuring labels with British criminals who will tell you their stories in augmented reality label using the Living Wines Label app. These stories are about the 19 Crimes that were punishable by banishing convicts to the Australian penal colony. The Banished Dark Red wine is dominated by Shiraz and supported by Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache. “Like the wine rations served on convict ships, every sip deserves to be savored.”

#6. The Culprit, $15

The Culprit is a monster red blend from Sonoma County, CA, that includes 9 different grape varieties! The primary varietals are Syrah, Zinfandel and Petite Syrah, making this a scary big, bold and complex wine.

#7. Phantom, $20

Bogle Vineyards’ Phantom Red is a hauntingly delicious blend of Petite Syrah, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Mourvedre. The spectre of this rich, jammy wine with dark fruit, black pepper, spice and vanilla will haunt you long after the last sip.

#8. Orin Swift Palermo, $45

The haunting label that graces Palermo, a Napa Valley red blend (Cabernet, Merlot and Malbec), is a chilling photo of an actual mummified priest wearing a red cape and a black hat, taken by a National Geographic photographer in a 16th century catacomb in Palermo, Sicily, after which the wine is named. The wine is rich, fruit-driven and approachable, with just a touch of oak.

#9. Eternally Silenced, $45

Eternally Silenced, a Pinot Noir from The Prisoner Wine Company in St. Helena, CA, will leave you speechless. This wine has dark red fruit flavors of cranberry and cherry along with herbaceous characters of pine needles and cedar, reminiscent of being chased through a dark forest by who-knows-what in the deepest of night.

#10. Derange, $80

Derange, produced by The Prisoner Wine Company, was made by hand-selecting their most insanely concentrated and intense wines to blend under this label. It is a terrifyingly tasty blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Syrah, Merlot, Syrah and Zinfandel is filled rich black fruit, vanilla and sweet spice flavors.

 

5 Seasonal Wines for Fall

The air is crisp, the leaves are turning to blazing oranges and reds, and the scent of pumpkin spice latte is on the air. It can only mean one thing. It’s time to put away the light and refreshing, strawberry scented rosés in favor of fuller-bodied, more seasonally appropriate wines.

Before you crack open that big, rich Cabernet Sauvignon, there are quite a few other wines out there that pair particularly well with autumn. Think about wines that have characters of sweet baking spices – cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves – and wines that have flavors of honey, vanilla and apples. Here are a few recommendations that are as spicy and warm as that Starbucks PSL, but with a bit more of a kick.

1. 2015 Hugel Classic Gewurztraminer (Alsace, France), $20

Gewurztraminer is a gorgeous white wine that can be made dry, off dry or sweet. It is famous for its intense aromatics of rose, lychee and sweet spices, like ginger, cinnamon, allspice and honey. The 2014 Hugel Classic is a dry wine with just a touch of sweetness. It is rich and medium-bodied with ripe fruit flavors of pineapple, pear and apples, alongside aromas of smoked nuts and spice.

 

2. 2017 Siduri Russian River Valley Pinot Noir (Sonoma, CA), $30

Although well-known for having bright, red fruit flavors and a lighter body, Pinot Noir also has sweet spice aromas of cloves, as well as characters of earth and damp leaves, reminiscent of a forest after an autumn rain. The Siduri Pinot Noir is a fuller-bodied style with flavors of cherry compote and cranberries, and notes of cinnamon, allspice and smoke.

 

3. 2017 Torbreck Woodcutters Shiraz (Barossa Valley, Australia), $20

Shiraz from the Barossa Valley are some of the most powerful red wines in the world. The full-bodied yet smooth Torbreck Woodcutter’s Shiraz lives up to this reputation with flavors of spicy dark cherry, blackberry, vanilla and dark chocolate, like drinking from a bag of Halloween candy.

 

4. 2009 La Rioja Alta Viña Ardanza Reserva (Rioja, Spain), $30

This powerful and elegant wine is made of 80% Tempranillo, 20% Grenache, with autumn flavors of fig, dark cherry and walnuts. As a “Reserva” wine, it spent a significant amount of time aging in oak barrels (36 months for the Tempranillo and 30 months for the Grenache). The oak influence left its mark, imparting aromas of vanilla, leather, tobacco and cedar.

 

5. 2015 Doisy-Vedrines Sauternes, 315ml (Bordeaux, France), $35

Sauternes are arguably the best dessert wines in the world. They are made from Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes affected by Noble Rot, a fungus that weakens the grape skins and causes the water inside the grapes to dehydrate, intensely concentrating sugars and flavors. This Doisy-Vedrines Sauternes has rich, sweet flavors of citrus, marmalade, ginger, honey and marzipan, perfect for pairing with an apple or pumpkin pie.