12 Most Luscious Wines to Enjoy This Holiday
With the upcoming holidays of Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year’s, chances are you’ll be in the market for a few bottles of Champagne or special holiday release wines. Drinking sparkling wine is one of the most elegant and civilized activities we engage in, so take time in between wrapping gifts to enjoy some of these sparkling wines and special holiday wines.
1. Santa Julia Brut Rose NV, Mendoza, Argentina
100% Pinot Noir, bright sparkling strawberry pink color in the glass with fresh aromas of grapefruit on the nose. This gem of a wine has a lush finish making you want to go back for more. With a retail price of $13* you can easily do so!
2. Majella Sparkling Shiraz, Coonawarra South Australia
Deep red colors with a great head of bubbles. Vanilla and strawberries on the nose, black fruit flavors with great mouth feel. This is not a novelty wine, but a quality sparkling Shiraz that will please the red wine lovers at your holiday table. Retails $25.
3. Moet & Chandon Rosé Imperial, Epernay, France
Pink wine is not just for girls! This champagne presents delightful strawberry and raspberry aromas with a toasted finish. The rich intensity of this champagne from Epernay, France, will set the mood for the day. Retails for about $50.
4. Domaine Carneros by Taittinger Brut Rose, Napa, California
This California sparkling wine is fruity and floral with a very elegant rose color. At $36 a bottle it’s a bargain compared to its French counterpart.
5. Biltmore Estate Blanc de Blanc, Ashville, North Carolina
Made with 100% Chardonnay grapes from California and produced by the historic Biltmore winery, this sparkler has hints of freshly baked bread on the nose with fruit flavors of lemon and apricot. This will pair nicely with spicy dishes and seafood. Retails for $25*
6. Cupcake Prosecco,Veneto, Italy
White peaches and honey-dew on the nose, with citrus flavors and a toasted finish. Will pair nicely with a traditional Italian Christmas Eve seafood dinner. Retails for $14*
7. Christmas at Biltmore, Ashville, North Carolina
Not a sparkling wine, but a sweet, limited release wine just for the holidays. Made with a blend of four white grapes it has a light blonde color with sweet spices and orange blossom on the nose. Sweet flavors of strawberry and apricot. The bottle has a limited release label that makes it beautiful for gift giving. Retails for $12*
8. Cupcake “Red Velvet”, Livermore, California
Nothing says “Classic Holiday” more than a red velvet dress, so when they name a wine “Red Velvet” it’s sure to be an instant holiday classic. Deep chocolate aromas and dark berry flavors with a creamy intense finish. This red blend from California will pair with a steak or a dessert tray of chocolates. Retails for $14*
9. Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut, Sonoma, California
From the first sparkling wine producer in Sonoma, California, this wine presents lovely floral aromas, nutty with fresh apple and lemon flavors. Made with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, widely available at $20 makes it easy to keep a case on hand for the holidays.
10. Bartenura Prosecco, Veneto, Italy
From the Veneto region of Italy, this sparkling wine is fruity with a dry, creamy finish. This versatile Kosher wine will pair nicely with your Chanukah celebrations. Retails $18
11. J Vineyards Cuvée 20 Healdsburg, California
Their distinctive bottle is recognizable from across the room, a “label-less” bottle adorned only with an elegant “J”. The elegance continues with each sip, lemon and honeysuckle aromas and tart grapefruit flavors and creamy pear finish. This wine commemorates their 20th anniversary, a great reason to pop a bottle! Retails $24
12. Pindar Vineyards 2009 Cuvée, Peconic, New York
Made from 100% Pinot Meunier grapes, the latest vintage of sparkling wine from this North Fork, Long Island vineyard has hints of ripe apple and sourdough flavors. Challenging to find outside the New York metro region, I try to pick up a few bottles whenever I head back home. Retails for $28
This list is a compilation of special occasion wines I’ve enjoyed during this year. While it would have been spectacular to have had all 12 available at one tasting, it’s best to spread them out and enjoy them one by one. Wines with a (*) were provided to me by the winery as a trade sample.
Featured image courtesy of author, Eileen Gross.
http://wineeveryday.net/
Eileen Gross is the Chief Financial Officer for a financial services and risk management firm in Washington, DC. She is wine lover, traveler, and collector who shares her wine experiences on her blog “Wine Everyday". She is is a member of the Society of Wine Educators.
