The month of December into January is a time for soirées and entertaining. Here are some stellar picks for your holiday party table.
Bring On The Bubbles!
Sparkling wine brings a luster to your holiday bash. Consider Left Coast Cellars 2013 Blanc de Noir, a traditional method sparkler. This wine is from Oregon’s newest wine region, the Van Duzer Corridor in Willamette Valley.
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Blanc de Noir indicates white wine made with red grapes. Willamette Valley is known for its Pinot Noir and those acclaimed grapes are used in this Blanc de Noir. We just loved the full flavors of apple and raspberry paired with outstanding perlage (bubbles!).
A mere 135 cases were produced. The SRP is $55. Left Coast Cellars also makes an array of Pinot Noirs that are ideal for entertaining.
Get Your Grenache Blanc Going
We have increasingly been popping the cork on Grenache and Garnacha, two different names for one great grape. It is one of the oldest and most widely planted grapes in the world.
In France’s Rhône Valley, Grenache is a primary grape, typically paired with Syrah. It is also part of the GSM (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre) blends popular worldwide. Garnacha is grown in almost every area of Spain and graces the well-regarded wines of Priorat and Cariñena.
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While most Grenache is of the red variety, white Grenache/Garnacha is making a name for itself with high-quality wines. We popped open the Domaine Rombeau 2015 Andréa from France's Cotes du Roussillon region. It was a perfect match with our holiday turkey.
This is a unique white Grenache blend with 31% White Grenache, 29% Grey Grenache, 14% Marsanne, 13% Malvoisie, and 13% Vermentino. This had a full body and complex structure with grapefruit and peppery notes. It has a golden hue and is a limited production wine. Only 3,000 bottles were produced.
Riesling Rendezvous
With the varied meals that accompany your holiday festivities, remember one word: Riesling! We love Riesling for its food-friendly nature and the broad range of styles. You can opt for a bone-dry bottle or a range of choices up to a sweet late harvest wine.
Germany built its wine reputation on this grape and its a good choice when making your wine selection. For a recent vegan feast prepared by our daughter we opted for the 2018 Blue Fish Riesling from Pfalz.
Our meal included General Tso’s Cauliflower with rice and green onions along with a Napa cabbage salad and chile garlic edamame.
Riesling is a classic pairing with spicy foods. Blue Fish is a dry Riesling with a nice balance. It has flavors of lemons and peaches with a thread of minerality. At under $10, this is an outstanding buy!
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