Sparkling, Aperitif
& Dessert Wines
Teeny, supremely creamy
bubbles sparkle in this Spanish cava from a well-regarded family estate in the
Penedes region. Produced in the Champagne method with a blend of regional
indigenous grapes, it’s one of our favorite fizzers in any price range with
bright lemon acidity, chalky minerality and a bone-dry finish.
$18, astorwines.com
From France’s Champagne
region to the desert of New Mexico, the Gruet family produces magnificent
French-styled bubbly. One of our favorite domestic sparklers in its price
range, this wine spends two years maturing before bottling, resulting in
sophisticated flavors of green apple, grapefruit and almonds.
$14, klwines.com
Hosting a holiday brunch
this year? Then look no further than this sprightly, subtly sweet Italian
offering with notes of fresh peaches and pears, orange blossoms and honeysuckle
sweetness on the finish. And for more Moscatos we love, check out our Nov/Dec 2012 issue.
$19, drinkupny.com
From grandma’s glass to the
cocktail coupe, sherry has seen quite a resurgence over the past several years,
and this palate-piquing offers is an exquisite example of Spain’s most famous
fortified wine with brisk acidity, mouth-watering salinity and a hint of olives
and almonds.
$16/500ml.,
drinkupny.com
Rich and figgy with note of
toasted hazelnuts, dried fruits and dates, this tawny Port holds onto a bright
acidity that helps keep the sweetness in check. A longtime favorite in our
book, and at a price that’s hard to beat. Serve after dinner with dessert or
cheese plates.
$15, coolvines.com
Whites & Rosés
Jakob Schneider Kabinett Riesling 2011
This off-dry Riesling from Germany’s Nahe region deliciously balances fresh fruit up front with stone-like minerality on the finish making it a great option both on the holiday table and off.
This off-dry Riesling from Germany’s Nahe region deliciously balances fresh fruit up front with stone-like minerality on the finish making it a great option both on the holiday table and off.
$20, coolvines.com
South American Sauv Blancs
are picking up steam and this one from Chile’s Maipo region is a real stunner.
It’s clean and green with tropical fruit flavors and a bright grassy zip.
$11, astorwines.com
Combining grapes harvested
from some of Sonoma County’s top appellations—think Russian River Valley,
Alexander Valley and Carneros—this barrel-fermented Chard offers flavors
ranging from lush tropical fruits to Meyer lemon to almonds.
$18, simiwinery.com
Light, bright and
refreshing, this Greek offering finds fans for its fruit-forward and floral
flavors. It has enough oomph to stand up to richer holiday dishes, but with a
lower ABV that makes pouring a second glass easy.
$17, drinkupny.com
The eye-catching label is
what first attracted us, but one sip turned into two and we’re sold from the
inside out. Crafted from the Syrah grape in France’s Languedoc region, expect
food-friendly flavors of ripe red berries and just a hint of fresh mint.
$12, drinkupny.com
This free-run, stainless
steel rosé from one of South Africa’s most reputable estates offers richness
and body from the Cabernet grape with a fruit-driven freshness and flavors of
grapefruit zest, cherries and pomegranate.
$13, drinkupny.com
Reds
An Italian wine with both
German and Austrian influence, this bottle from Alto Adige wine industry super
star Martin Foradori is brisk and lively with a nuanced bouquet of flavors that
range from black currants to mushrooms to sweet tobacco. A great one to gift to
wine geek friends—just be sure to pick up an extra bottle for yourself.
$18, winelibrary.com
With so many different
personalities around the holiday table it can be hard to please everyone, but a
bottle of Barbera usually does the trick thanks to its easy-drinking balance of
fruit, acidity and tannin, and this offering from the Oddero estate comes in at
close to half the price of comparable bottles but with all the taste we’ve all
come to love.
$17, astorwines.com
The Gamay grape often gets
a bad rap no thanks to the mass-produced Beaujolais Nouveau wine released every
November, but elsewhere in France’s Beaujolais region winemakers are getting
serious about Gamay crafting ethereal expressions like this wallet-friendly
bottle that boasts food-friendly acidity and notes of violets and truffles. And
for more Beaujolais we love, check out our September/October 2012 issue.
$14, coolvines.com
When the holiday season
just calls for a wintry bottle of Cab, this inexpensive offering does the job with
its dense, fruit-and-spice palate and oaky tannins on the finish. Just be sure
to stock up, as you’ll be ready to crack a second bottle before you know it.
$15, drinkupny.com
Biodynamic-produced Pinot
Noir for under $20? Believe it. Crafted in Oregon’s Willamette Valley just
outside the coastal foothills, this unadulterated offering is ripe and elegant
with flavors of crushed raspberries and subtle smoke.
$18, drinkupny.com
Red berry fruit, green
pepper and spice—this $10 Chilean Carmenere has it all. Casa Silva consistently
produces some of the best wines of Colchagua Valley and this bottle remains
among our go-to favorites any time of year.
$10, napacabs.com
A classic wine for the
holiday table, this cool-climate Zin from California’s Sonoma Valley offers up
all the traditional Zinfandel flavors (think robust red berries and peppery
spice) but without the big-budget price tag.
$15, coolvines.com
This oaked Shiraz from
California’s Layer Cake offers juicy fruit flavors that are perfect for a
holiday table.
$13, bevmo.com
More fleshy and
fruit-forward than traditional, all dry-fruit-and-dust Riojas, this vibrant
Tempranillo from the famed Gonzalez Byass sherry house (the family-owned
company responsible for the beloved Tio Pepe fino, among others) offers a
decidedly modernist take to winemaking, with flavors of bright cherry, fresh
herbs, and even some cocoa and spice.
$18, buywineusa.com