What to Drink for the Holidays, Part 1

Time is short, the traffic stinks, and it's crowded everywhere you go. So that's the downside of the holiday season. The upside is time with family and friends, and the opportunity to share relaxed meals. The calendar even helped, by providing many people with two 3-day weekends. And when we have the opportunity to share holiday meals and to relax with people we care about, our thoughts always turn to wine, beer and spirits. Ok, we're in the industry, so that's expected. But what we're here to do is help you make informed choices. Our stores will be busy in these next couple of weeks, and if you don't have time to talk with one of our store associates, you can use this guide to make great selections.

In no particular order, we offer you the following recommendations:

Lazy Creek Vineyards, "Lazy Day" Pinot Noir. From the folks at Ferrari-Carano. Your blogger took two bottles of "Lazy Day" Pinot Noir to Thanksgiving, and everyone loved it. "Lazy Day" Pinot Noir comes from Anderson Valley in Mendocino County where warm, sunny days and cool, foggy mornings and nights create the ideal microclimate for producing this wine. This sustainably-farmed Pinot Noir has attractive aromas of plum, raspberry, a hint of licorice and toast. Lush flavors of bright red cherry and plum, with a nice touch of spice on the finish are perfect complements to round out this medium-bodied, easy-drinking wine. Only $24.96 in the Bottle Club®.

Robert Storey Cellars, Genevieve's Vineyard Napa Valley Chardonnay. A Chardonnay is a perfect white wine for ham, with the vanilla and fruit balancing against the salty smoke of the ham. This limited production wine was crafted by Kerry Damskey, AKA "The Indiana Jones of Winemaking."  Kerry's goal is to highlight the terroir; the place of origin.  Balance and brightness in his winemaking style allow the wine's nuances to slowly reveal themselves in a rich and impressive finish.  Harvested at optimum ripeness and barrel fermented in French Oak.  Luscious aromas of Asian Pear, vanilla and spice lead to a richly layered finish of pear and tropical fruit, with hints of vanilla and light, sweet oak. Only $16.96 in the Bottle Club®.

At this time of year, if we're not looking for "something special," we're choosing "something different." That brings us to Coat & Badge Merlot. Everyone remembers the scene in the movie "Sideways," but that was 1)California, 2)more than 10 years ago and 3)just a movie.

Coat & Badge is from Washington, where the terroir is well-suited to this traditional Bordeaux varietal. Because it's a softer wine, this Merlot will work nicely for virtually any holiday setting, pairing with a Charcuterie plate or a festive dinner. Coat & Badge is a medium- to full-bodied Merlot, offering flavors of ripe dark cherries, plum, earth and a touch of cocoa with fresh acidity. It's well-balanced and approachable. Only $12.96 in the Bottle Club®.

Another must-have for holiday entertaining is an aperitif wine. Whet the appetite of your guests with something light and tasty, like the Pikorua Sauvignon Blanc.

Pikorua is a classic example of a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc! It's juicy and ripe, with flavors of tropical fruits, grapefruit and grass. The lively acidity keeps the ripe fruit flavors in check, while fresh-cut herbal notes come through on the finish. This has a friendly style that is approachable and quite refreshing. If you like Kim Crawford then you should definitely check this out. Only $13.96 in the Bottle Club®.

That's a good start for your shopping. Above are four different varietals, from four different appellations, evenly divided between red and white. Look for more recommendations in the coming days, including craft beer and sparkling wine.

And while we have your attention, please note our special holiday hours:

Sunday, December 20, 9am-9pm
Wednesday, December 23, 8am-10pm
Thursday, December 24, 8am-7pm
Friday, December 25, Closed
Thursday, December 31, 8am-8pm
Friday, January 1, noon-4pm