As the festive season approaches, the thought of holiday indulgence becomes ever more enticing. This year, why not elevate your celebrations with a touch of luxury by splurging on your favorite wine or Champagne?
Whether it's a well-deserved treat for yourself, a thoughtful gift for friends, or a cherished bottle to share with family, the experience of savoring a premium wine or bubbly can transform any occasion into a memorable event.
Wine lovers with discretionary income might consider splurging on the rare and expensive wines of the world. Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Montrachet Grand Cru or a Chateau Petrus Pomerol from Bordeaux’s right bank are a few examples.
However, if your wallet is not fat enough for these high-priced bottles, there are other, more readily available, splurge wines to consider that offer extravagance and a lot of finesse for less.
If the holidays bring images of Champagne wishes and caviar dreams, look for the organic Grand Cru Champagne from the Cote des Blancs by grape grower and producer, Champagne Pierre Peters.
The Peters family has produced wine in Champagne since the 1850s. The Cuvee Reserve Blanc de Blancs is priced around $75 while the pricier special cuvees and vintages are higher.
Chardonnay-based champagnes from the cold climate Cotes des Blancs subregion pair beautifully with caviar and cold seafood spreads.
The chalky soils that the grapes grow in allow the roots to penetrate deeply, creating elegant wines with a distinct texture and a sapid minerality. These wines are complementary to a variety of seafood-based dishes.
Inside the legendary To Kalon Vineyard in Napa Valley, there is a five-acre plot planted to Sauvignon Blanc called the I-block. These dry-farmed vines were planted in 1945 and create grapes with concentrated flavors of stone fruit and nectarine. Additionally, the barrel fermentation adds a smoky or flinty note, ending with a lingering creamy citrus finish.
The 2021 Robert Mondavi To Kalon I Block Sauvignon Blanc retails for $150 on the winery website and consistently receives high scores from critics. Most recently, it was awarded 94 points from Wine Advocate.
Vina Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, the iconic Chilean red by Concha y Toro, has small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Merlot. This concentrated dark-fruited, Bordeaux-styled blend is balanced by a broad-shouldered structure.
Its freshness and vibrancy are sure to please with a holiday standing rib roast or lay it down to savor in years to come. It is both drinkable and age-worthy.
This wine claimed Wine Spectator’s top spot on their “Wine of the Year’ list and is priced approximately at $150.
WINE IN THE NEWS Winemaker Adam Lee gained the attention of newspapers across California when he was threatened by lawyers for releasing the laboratory results of another brand. Lee decided to test the sugar levels of big brand Meomi Pinot Noir owned by Constellation Brands after re-tasting it for the first time in years with his family in Texas.
Lee was a co-founder of Siduri Wines and was known for his single vineyard Pinot Noir and is considered an expert in Pinot Noir winemaking. He sold Siduri to Jackson Family Wines in 2015.
Lee wanted to compare the sugar levels of the top-selling Meomi brand with his own Pinot Noir which he now makes under the label, Dial Tone.
The results were shocking for drinkers of dry Pinot when the lab analysis showed 19.4 grams of sugar per bottle. That is a lot of hidden sugar for those trying to watch their consumption.
By comparison, that is 32 times sweeter than his Dial Tone Pinot Noir. Lee suggests everyone drink what they like but for those watching from a nutrition standpoint, consumers should be aware of the range of sugar that may be in some wines.
For those interested in purchasing a bottle or more, Lee’s Santa Barbara Pinot Noir wines are available online at dialtonewine.com.
Wine business insiders are concerned about how the shift in American leadership may affect business. In 2018, President Trump imposed taxes on French wine and cheese, levying a 25 percent tariff on these and other French products.
Demand went up for wines from other regions and their prices went up accordingly. Distributors reportedly raised prices on domestic wines as well, to make up for losses.
If you or a wine-loving friend or relative on your “to buy for” list loves wine, this might be the year to gift them with a bottle or two of their favorite wine.
Another recommended wine gift for the wine lover who likes to take a deeper dive is The World in a Wine Glass by the Executive Wine Editor for Food & Wine magazine, Ray Isle.
This 706-page tome allows the more inquisitive drinker to delve into the depths of their glass and discover wines beyond the industrially farmed, corporate-owned brands. Readers are encouraged to explore more interesting wines that are produced by independently owned wineries throughout the wine world.
The bulk of the book is made up of stories on local winemakers making environmentally friendly wines with recommended wineries in regions across the globe. There is a short opening on the many types of wine agriculture being practiced today and some thoughts on scores, descriptors, and whether that enhances the drinking experience.
This insider’s guide leads wine lovers through a masterclass on finding some of the most distinctive and thoughtfully produced wines on the planet; wines that are elevated, elegant, obtainable, and affordable.