Tag Archives: holiday

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)

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

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.)

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.)

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

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

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

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

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

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 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 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, $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 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 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.

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 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.

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 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

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.

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.

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 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 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!

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+

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.

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.

Wine Diva Experiences

Creating Unique Wine Experiences