As we enter the official “Holiday Season”, which according to shopping malls starts the day after Hallowe’en, you may be starting to feel overwhelmed by all the work required for everyone to have relaxing holidays. The last thing you need to worry about is what wine will work with your perfectly executed menu and whether your guests will be enjoying your selections. In addition, as a Sommelier and a mom myself, I know how important it is to put your feet up and relish that comforting glass of wine after a long day of chasing after toddlers.
When many of us think of the holidays, a toast over a bottle of bubbly is the first thing that comes to mind. Of course, I have never limited sparkling wines to special occasions, but such times of celebration are the perfect excuse to indulge again. Sparklers need not break the bank, and evidence of this can be found in the following few glittering gems that are sure to please a crowd. Ontarians might not know that we live a short jaunt away from an extraordinary sparkling wine producing region: the Niagara Peninsula. Staying local is a great way to balance the excess of the holidays and will surely surprise and delight your guests. A couple of my favourites under $30 include:
Henry Of Pelham Cuvée Catharine Sparkling Brut, VQA Niagara, $29.95 (for the same price, they do a gorgeous little rose sparkler), and Cave Spring Dolomite Brut, VQA Niagara Escarpment, $26.95 (available through winerytohome.com).
A recently released pair of sparklers from Roederer’s estate in Sonoma, California most definitely delivers at a reasonable price point. Roederer, the maker of the infamous Cristal, set up shop in California in 1982 and has since been producing, rich, bold full-bodied styles of sparkling wine using its breath of experience in Champagne production.
Keep your eyes peeled for:
Roederer Estate Brut, Anderson Valley, Sonoma, California, $28.95 and its pink counterpart: Roederer Estate Brut Rosé, $34.95.
If true Champagne is a must over the holidays, an inexpensive yet class act of a choice comes from the producer Taittinger, who produces a heavenly Brut Reserve Champagne at $52.95.
At a Taittinger tasting a few years ago, our speaker suggested that Taittinger was particularly appreciated by women. If this is in fact the case, the more discerning of the sexes is surely attracted by its remarkable elegance, complexity, lively citrus fruits and its stirring nose of freshly baked sweet pastries.
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For those super moms who are ahead of the game and have already begun holiday shopping, good for you. Exciting wines that come through Vintages tend to disappear quickly after their release date and this is especially the case over the holiday season.
What you can find now, might be tricky to locate several weeks from now. Don’t worry if you’re not sure yet who’s bringing what to dinner: whether it’s turkey, goose, or Ccornish hens you have roasting away in the oven, fear not, these delicious, versatile wines will keep you covered: Familiglia Bianchi Chardonnay, Mendoza, Argentina, 2008 $12.95, a terrific value, and Torbreck Roussane, Marsanne Viognier, Barossa, Australia 2008 $19.95 a luscious southern French-style blend available November 27th .
If, like me, hibernating by the fireplace is where you like spend most of your holiday, you know that it is best accompanied by a rich, warm red such as Adelaida Cellars Anna’s Estate Vineyard Syrah from Paso Robles at $26.95. However, reds need not be heavy at this time of year - lighten the mood by serving a fragrant and lively Gamay alongside your turkey such as Jadot Combe aux Jacques Beaujolais Villages, 2009 $15.95
For those of you who often leave the shopping until the last minute (I am with you), fear not, there are plenty of interesting finds coming up in the next Vintages release of November 27th. Keep an eye out for this yummy, crowd-pleasing Cabernet: Ghost Pines Winemaker’s Blend Cabernet Sauvignon, from both Napa and Sonoma at $19.95 as well as the Domaine la Fourmone Tresor du Poete Vacqueyras, from the Southern Rhone at $24.95.
Last but not least, an indulgent dessert deserves and equally indulgent counterpart. The following suggestion is opulent enough to replace dessert altogether but would also be divine over a simple bowl of vanilla ice cream. Maria Alvear’s Pedro Ximenez, Do Montilla Moriles from Spain ($19.95) is a dark, sticky and luscious treat that will surely leave you satisfied while whisking you away from the painful reality of holiday cleanup. Cin Cin!
For more information on these wines and further suggestions as well as product availability, visit winealign.com to get the word directly from the pros.
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