Tis the Season to Imbibe

Here it is Christmas season again!  And no doubt you will be attending several parties, maybe a few dinners, or even do some entertaining at your own place.  But even if you’re at home by yourself for the holiday, there’s no reason why you can’t unwind and shed the stress of the holiday season with some wine.  So regardless if you’re needing to buy some wine or bubbly for an event, or just for yourself, here’s a selection of great options at great prices that you will enjoy and and won’t dent your wallet.

The first up is a Chardonnay by Mer Soleil called Silver.  I was first introduced to this selection last year and have been a fan ever since. The first thing you’ll notice is the unique bottle, so it’s rather easy to spot in the wine store.  The inspiration for the ceramic bottle is from the concrete fermenters which attribute to the unique character of this wine.  It has that typical buttery Chard appearance, but the notes are fruity with a palate of pear mixed with a hint of citrus.  As such, it has a nice crisp acidity that for pairing with apps and snacks, in addition to the typical white meats you would expect from a white wine.  I paid $19.99 for this, but have seen it range from $15.99-22.99 depending where you are and shop.

The next up is such an old friend for me that it’s a no-brainer that it would be on this list.  I was first introduced to Red Diamond back in 2008 when my buddy and I went to Chicago to see Oasis play (Ironically, 6 years to the day – Friday Dec 12, 2008).  He picked it up somewhere and let me try it.  It had a well-balanced berry/cherry profile.  It was also a bit sweet.  I was surprised at how much he told me he paid for it, which was under $10.  As a result, it has become a staple in my collection and this is the typical wine for the colder months and for certain meals in the Summer.  Needless to say, in 6 years, I’ve gone through a few cases of this.  You can still find this gem for under $10.  Unless it’s on sale, I usually pay $9.99 for it anywhere around Nashville.  Here’s an interesting bit of trivia for you, this wine is one of Ste. Michelle‘s brands (a company with a great portfolio).  And guess who is the parent company for Ste. Michelle?  Altria.  In other words, Phillip Morris, if you remember who that giant was.  They obviously do more than tobacco products and wanted a name that was more encompassing.

You know you can’t have a proper Christmas dessert without something to pair with it, and port fits that bill.  The first of two Kobrand entries, Fonseca is a good brand for those who aren’t too familiar with port, or who are looking for quality at a lower price point.  The Bin 27 is a great selection that is between $15-20.  It’s something that I have around for the occasional party that requires port because of our desert selection, otherwise I normally drink it’s more mature cousin, Taylor-Fladgate.  But the cousin is a bit more pricey, so I’m excluding it from this list.  You can find some this slightly jammy port to have berry notes with a bit of oak.

Now we get to the celebration offerings, the bubbly, the sparkling wines.  Up first is Gloria Ferrer‘s Sonoma Brut.   This is not an overly complex sparkling wine with notes of apples and pears that is sweet and smooth.  It’s something you could mix, but why when it definitely stands on it’s own?  You can find this in the teens, between $13 -17.

And lastly is a sparkling wine by Domaine Carneros.  If you don’t know and happen to look at the label more closely, you’ll see under Domaine Carneros, it says “by Tattinger”.  Tattinger is a well respected worldwide producer of champagne.  When the bubbly started being consumer in greater quantities, Claude Tattinger looked around to find a place that could help meet the demand.  He found such a place in the Carneros area of Napa, and entered into a partnership with Kobrand to create Domaine Carneros.  The standards and methods used at Tattinger in France were now being used at the newly created winery.  And their sparkling winemaker, Eileen Crane, is America’s most experienced and respected sparkling winemaker, having worked for 35 years from the ground up.  Here’s another little bit of trivia for you: Eileen was hired by DC in 1987.  Prior to that, she headed up Gloria Ferrer in 1984.

I found this offering to have the typical green apple and pear combination one would expect, but also a great level of complexity with honey and a hint of citrus.  This is the 2006, which is my preference over the 2008.  Both are really delicious, but the 2006 has better definition and clarity on the palate with a dash of pepper.  You can find these in the low $20s.

This wraps up my seasonal wine suggestions.  I hope you have a chance to enjoy any, or all, of them!