Christmas, with all of its festive get-togethers, is right around the corner. Time to get in the spirit, and what better way to set the tone than with wine?
Here are some recommendations:
Wines for parties
‘Tis the season, and here are a couple of ideas so you don’t have to go empty-handed.
For the office get-together, bubbly is always a popular choice.
For those on a budget, consider the Mionetto Prosecco "Gold Label" (about $15 a bottle). This off-dry to dry Italian sparkler with tiny bubbles is remarkably light on the palate, crisp and refreshing. You will be amazed at how fast this bottle will be emptied.
Another all-time favorite prosecco (Italian white) is the delicious Ruggeri "Gold Label" (about $20). You will win a lot of friends with this one.
Tasty, lighter-bodied red wine is another good option. Since pinot noir is so popular right now, one of my latest value-driven recommendations is from Poppy Wine Co. (about $15). This is a pretty, lighter colored, wonderfully perfumed, feminine style of pinot from Monterey, Calif., and the winemaking genius of phenom Eric Lauman.
Another superb pinot is the Costa de Oro "Santa Barbara" (about $25), well priced because it is "under the radar" of most of the wine press. Not only does this wine overdeliver; its elegance and seductive texture makes it a home run with or without food.
Wines as gifts
Two reasonably priced cabernet-based red wines are from Broadside (the Margarita Vineyard bottling, about $21) and the Falcone Family (about $30).
Because both come from Paso Robles, they do not command Napa Valley prices and therefore overdeliver in quality for your dollar. Furthermore, both are grown in limestone soils, which create an amazing buoyancy on the palate and a remarkable lack of heaviness. This quality is also found in the reds of the Saint-émilion subregion of Bordeaux, France.
For that special gift, consider the Scherrer Pinot Noir (about $35). We were reminded recently by some visiting winemakers how Fred Scherrer crafts elegant, classy, stylish pinots that are not only delicious upon release, but get even more interesting and eye-catching with age.
Other surprises
An unlikely but cool gift for true wine lovers is a bag of "Harens Old Tree Estate" coffee from Honaunau on Hawaii island (about $25 for a 1-pound bag). Owner/farmer Duane Harens is a former Hawaii wine sommelier, and his single-estate coffee reflects that expertise.
The beans come from 80- to 125-year-old trees and are hand milled and hand roasted — truly artisanal. It is a favorite of my wife, Cheryle, who has a hard time drinking anything else.
Contact Duane at kpec@hawaiiantel.net or visit www.toydogcoffee.com.
Speaking of "out of the box," how about a bottle of unique beer? Over the past year we have seen more world-class beers make their way to the islands. Some highlights: Samuel Smith organic lager (about $3.50 a bottle), the North Coast Brewing Co.’s Scrimshaw bottling and, for the ladies, the Lindeman Lambic "Framboise" (about $7.50), which is a slightly sweet, wonderfully fruity Belgian specialty.
Have a great season!
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Chuck Furuya is a master sommelier and a partner in the DK Restaurants chain.
