We’re now upon the most wonderful time of the year! However, there’s a lot to do including give gifts to family, friends and hosts/hostesses. I’m presenting Stephanie’s 2019 Holiday Wine Shopping Guide. The guide below is based on my opinion only and I try to list those that people can actually find in either grocery stores, Total Wines or local liquor stores. If you have tried a wine and love it and know that the person to whom you’re giving it likes that particular varietal, then go with that. Your “known” of the wine and the person is better than my “known” of the wine. Most of the wines listed are not priced more than $100 per bottle. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to delve into that tier of wines, but I just don’t buy wines that expensive. Never say never, but not now. Legal disclaimers aside…here we go:
Whites/ Rosé’s/Sparklings:
Up to $20
· Matua Sauvignon Blanc – very light and relatively dry at less than $10 per bottle
· Joel Gott Oregon Pinot Gris –
$14.00 per bottle (apple and lemon, lighter white)
Louis Bouillot Perle d’Aurore Sparkling Rosé – $19.00
· Chateau La Vivonne Les Puechs Rosé Cotes de Provence Rosé – Hint of fruit on the nose, taste of strawberry on the palette, and hint of grass or hay $15.00 per bottle
· Dr. Heidemanns-Bergweiler Riesling with slight minerality and a hint of strawberry and peach notes on the end at $18.00 per bottle
· Lamarca Prosecco is slightly dry with hints of citrus and cut grass for around $13.00 per bottle
Up to $50
· Sonoma Cutrer Russian River Valley Chardonnay – richer, slight butter, and mid-oakiness at $25.00 per bottle. I love this wine, so will usually include it.
· Conundrum White Blend – a bit of oak with honeysuckle and pear, good for drinking on its own at $24.00 per bottle
· Louis Jadot Pouilly-Fuisse from the Burgundy Mâconnais region in France with hints of lemon and notes of grass and medium-bodied – very dry and a bit sharp at around $22.00 per bottle.
$50 and Over
· Rombauer Chardonnay is a medium oak Chardonnay with hints of apple and maybe some melon for around $75.00 per bottle
· Veuve Clicquot Brut Rosé Champagne – a nicely balanced champagne (not too dry even as a brut) with peach and strawberry for $60.00 per bottle
Reds:
Up to $20
· Troublemaker Red Blend with hints of cinnamon, pepper and a little smoke so a heartier wine for around $17.00 per bottle
· Chateau De Segries Cotes du Rhone Grenache with hints of raspberry and black cherry with some pepper for around $18.00 per bottle
· 2015 Latitud 42 Crianza from Rioja, Spain is bold and has a mineral, slightly ashy taste up front but hint of dark cherry with a solid oak tone throughout with a long finish as well – must be a bold red fan, but a good wine for around $13.00 per bottle.
· You can find a lot of good Cabernet Sauvignon for under $20 per bottle as well – I have too many to list really
Up to $50
· Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon – smooth medium-bodied Cab with hints of cocoa, mild fruit and oak $25 – $30 per bottle
· Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles has hints of black cherry, cocoa and oak for around $45.00 or so per bottle
· Conundrum Red Wine has notes of chocolate and some floral essence as a medium-bodied wine that you can find for around $22.00 per bottle
· Left Coast Cali’s Cuvée Pinot Noir (certain years are better than others – 2015 was good) – slight berry and floral undertones, but was a combination cedar and spice as well for around $25.00 per bottle
· Frog’s Leap Merlot – a smooth drinking wine with some fruit notes and hints of cedar for around $36.00 per bottle
$50 and Over
· Bergstrom Cumberland Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon – a solid pinot noir with some spice and substance for around $55.00 per bottle
· Hall Cabernet from Napa Valley has hints of cherry, wood and slight chocolate for around $50.00 per bottle
· Belle Glos Clark and Telephone or Dairyman Pinot Noir (note the Clark and Telephone and Dairyman as part of the label. The Alturas is good, but these are better) is just a good smooth, but slightly heartier Pinto Noir from California at around $50.00 per bottle
· Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon has some dark cherry and vanilla and is a good wine to give as a gift at around $75.00 to $80.00 per bottle
· Silver Oak (another one I’ll always put in this list) as they just make a great Cabernet Sauvignon that is smooth with hints of chocolate and some dark berry in either Alexander Valley (around $80.00 per bottle) or Napa Valley (around $140 per bottle)
Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Be safe and drink responsibly. I hope you are able to spend the holidays with family and friends.
Total Wines: https://www.totalwine.com/
Specs: https://specsonline.com/
