Holiday Wine Guide

The holiday season is here and you need wine. Whether it is pairing your feast or a great wine to bring to a holiday bash, we've got you covered. Dashing through the snow, sipping red, white and Rosé, to the parties we'll go, laughing all the way!

Reds and Whites:

Saldo 2019 Red Blend (SRP $32): A blend of Petite Syrah, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel, this wine is bold and memorable. On the palate, it offers notes of dark fruit with dried black cherries, mixed spices, with plenty of density and body. Pair the Red Blend with a rich holiday recipe, like an herb-crusted lamb or roasted filet.

2018 Oceano Chardonnay - Happy vines lead to superior wines. The cool climate and longer growing season allows the Chardonnay grapes to achieve peak ripeness, resulting in a wine that is balanced, layered, and has a distinct citrus zest. Pack a bottle for your next coastal trip and taste the difference! Take a sip and see how the Chardonnay pairs perfectly with lighter dishes. 600 cases produced.

2019 Oceano Pinot Noir - Thanks to the ideally situated oceanside location, pinot noir grapes thrive in their Spanish Springs vineyard. Oceano’s award winning pinot noir is fresh and savory with hints of cherry, raspberry, and herbs. Our Pinot Noir is perfect for dinner parties, so stock your wine cellar and be prepared to wow your guests with a hearty meal paired with this wine. 365 cases produced.

Gary Farrell 2019 Russian River Selection Chardonnay:  Rich and golden, yet vibrant and zesty, this beautiful orchestra of Russian River Valley vineyards offers up enticing aromas of ripe nectarine, honeysuckle, lemongrass and freshly baked brioche. Flinty, briny and spicy, the palate is full-bodied and rich, yet remarkably mineral-driven, with flavors of roasted Meyer lemon, grapefruit, ginger and just a kiss of lightly toasted oak. The beautiful saline quality balances the tangy acidity and lingering spice. Everything is nicely integrated, from the tangy entry to the long oily finish.  We had so much fun visiting the winery.  

Lion Tamer Cabernet Sauvignon (SRP: $65):  Sabrina and Tim Persson are the next generation of the Hess family and visionaries behind the progressive winemaking style of Lions Head Collection. This striking Napa Cabernet is plush in texture with heady aromas of blackberries, black cherries and notes of freshly ground coffee. A touch of Malbec develops a softness in the tannins, making this a wonderfully smooth and seamless wine. These mouthwatering tannins surround the palate, framing layered elements of bright blueberry, subtle smoke and deliciously rich mocha. The result is a wine that’s perfectly balanced, with well-integrated sweet oak notes presenting on the lengthy, elegant finish.

Head High Pinot Noir comes from pure, unadulterated Sonoma County fruit. Grown in the optimal climate, in Sonoma County's finest vineyards, this is the highest quality pinot noir at the best price. Wine grower, Bill Price, grew up in Hawaii, where surfing became a lifelong passion of his, before returning to California and falling in love with wine. Head High wines are just like head high waves: pure, unadulterated and ready to go. 

Hess Select Cabernet Sauvignon North Coast (SRP: $20):  Hess Select wines are sourced from grower families who advocate for sustainable viticulture, sharing the guiding principle to make the very best wines that elevate the everyday and honor family legacy. Grown in the unique region of California’s North Coast, the complexity of this 2018 vintage can be attributed to prime vineyard sites producing flavorful fruit with layers of agreeable acids and balanced tannins. On the nose, this Cabernet Sauvignon presents vivid aromas of red cherry and blackberry accented by notes of warm cedar. Perfect to enjoy with family in front of a crackling fireplace, this wine delivers rich flavor and structural beauty.

Cakebread Cellars 2019 Napa Valley Chardonnay Reserve (SRP $60) Cakebread.com

Each of the individual vineyard lots undergoes fermentation in French oak barrels, and a significant portion of the wine is fermented with its native yeast to enhance body and complexity. Portions of this wine also receive a secondary malolactic fermentation before aging more than a year in barrel on the yeast lees. With blending, we balance the vivid fruit intensity with elegance and finesse. The Chardonnay Reserve opens with aromas of creamy golden apple, peach, and baking spice that lead into intense, concentrated flavors of sweet apple, melon and pear. This is a balanced, fresh wine, with the kind of acidity that makes pairing easy.

Cakebread Cellars 2018 Two Creeks Anderson Valley Pinot Noir (SRP $45)Cakebread.com

These Anderson Valley pinot noir grapes are crushed into open-top tanks and fermented with native yeasts. Part of the wine ferments with the stems, which gives the wine spice and complexity. Gentle punch downs reintroduce the cap of skins to the fermenting wine, for ideal extraction of color, flavor, and tannin, while aging in new French oak enhances complexity. Aromas of sweet black cherry, raspberry, rose petal and violet carry over onto a fresh palate of raspberry and flavors. Round, silky tannins support the bright fruit, and a touch of minerality complements the delicious red fruit expression over a smooth finish.

LE GRAND VERRE, the award-winning, single serve, ethical, proprietarily designed, and predominantly female produced boutique wine collection of France, has officially arrived on American shores. Envisioned by three French wine-loving friends, Nicolas Deffrennes, Founder, Régis Fanget, Brand and Artistic Director, and Valérian Déjours, Chief Operating Officer, the trio dreamt up LGV with one mission: to embody the culture and experience of tasting premium French wines – without the need to open an entire bottle

Bubbly:

Martini & Rossi Sparkling Rosé (SRP $14.99) is drier-than-ever, meaning fruity flavors, crisp bubbles and a cool break from the sun you can easily pass around. Be sure to bring a bottle to your next clam bake – the soft mouthfeel, well-balanced structure, and delicate aromas make this the perfect pairing for grilled seafood.

Martini & Rossi Asti (SRP $14.99) has long been associated with winter get-togethers and New Year’s toasts, but when poured over ice the wine is perfect for hot summer days. The wine’s ripe flavors of peach and wild sage pair beautifully with small bites like ripe fruit, smooth cheeses and (most importantly) fresh gelato. What’s more, Martini & Rossi Asti just announced that it is on track to being certified sustainable by the end of this year, so readers can feel good about enjoying this wine!

Martini & Rossi Prosecco (SRP $14.99) is beloved around the world for its deliciously dry and fruitful style. This fresh, crisp wine has a crisp citrus acidity, notes of flowers, apple and thyme, and is well-balanced with ample body and fruit finish. Perfectly versatile, this is the ideal sparkling wine to sip while mingling with friends, or alongside a main course.