With the holiday season just around the corner, one of the easiest and most popular gifts is none other than wine. For this column, I have compiled a list of recommendations for holiday reds and whites of various prices — perfect for gifting or your own enjoyment.
The Prisoner 2019 Red Blend with Time Limited Box (on sale from $69.99 to $57.99)
The Prisoner is a very popular California red wine that is a blend of many grape varietals but mostly Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon. It gives you a full-bodied, high-alcohol, fruit-forward wine with a bold and unrelenting character. This month, you will also get a complimentary time-limited box designed by Canadian artist Justin Broadbent. Perfect for gift-giving.
Nk’Mip Cellars 2019 Cabernet Sauvigon Qwam Qwmt ($40.99)
If you are looking for a gift-worthy B.C. wine, look to this red wine from Nk’Mip Cellars. Nk’Mip is the first Indigenous-owned winery in North America and they are making some seriously world-class wines. This wine has dark fruit flavors with hints of tobacco and leather on the palate. Available at the winery or at specialty liquor stores.
Babich 2022 Sauvignon Blanc (on sale from $20.99 to $17.99)
It is never a bad idea to have a Sauvignon Blanc white wine lying around during the holidays. Sauvignon Blanc wines are very popular because their crisp acidity and citrus flavors make for a great sipping wine that also pairs well with cheeses and light appetizers. Babich has been making wines in the Marlborough region of New Zealand since 1916 and this is an affordable crowd-pleaser.
Mazzei 2019 Chianti Classico Ser Lapo (on sale from $32.99 to $28.99)
This wine is named after Ser Lapo Mazzei, who founded the winery back in the 14th century. This is a high acidity, fruit-forward Chianti Classico Riserva, which is a blend of 90 per cent Sangiovese and 10 per cent Merlot. It has been aged in oak (50 per cent new) for 12 months. It is a great and consistent Italian value wine that pairs well with meat and pasta dishes.
Scala Dei 2017 Cartoixa (on sale from $59.99 to $54.99)
Scala Dei is one of the oldest wineries in the Priorat region of Spain. This wine is a blend of 80 per cent Grenache and 20 per cent Carignan grapes, giving black fruits and plums on the palate and violets on the nose. The wine will have a mineral and spicy aftertaste. Another great wine to pair with your holiday meals.
Chateau De La Gravelle 2020 Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lie ($21.99)
I love wines from the Muscadet Sevre et Maine wine region in France's Loire Valley because their wines are very affordable, tangy, acidic and minerally. The wines sit on lees for eight months, which adds to the complexity of the wine. Great with raw shellfish.
Clos Apalta 2016 ($189.99)
If you really want to splurge on someone (or yourself), this is one of the top Chilean red wines from the Marnier Lapostolle family, founders of the Grand Marnier liqueur. They started making this flagship wine in 1997 and it is a blend of 70 per cent Carmenere, 18 per cent Merlot, eight per cent Cabernet Sauvignon and four per cent Petit Verdot. It is aged 24 months in French oak barrel — 90 per cent new and 10 per cent second use. In my opinion, Chile makes the best Carmenere-based wines and this is a truly distinctive wine.
I hope everyone has a great holiday season. Look out for my next column, where I will be providing sparkling and dessert wine recommendations for New Year’s celebrations.
Until next time, happy drinking!
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