The Holiday Hit List - Wine Edition

When we first began expanding the VT Wine Shepherd portfolio, we agreed that all the wines with which we worked would fit into our criterion for deliciousness—not just that they would be sustainably and thoughtfully produced by amazing people with whom we had real, personal, relationships. Thus it actually becomes much more difficult when we arrive at the holidays and need to choose wines we want to drink with family and friends when we gather around the table. There are a lot of options…

So in the interest of simplicity, I thought to myself: what do I want to drink right now? What do I want to share with people? Which wines are going to pair beautifully with pretty much whatever we want to cook? So here is the ultra-short list of some things I want to drink, revisit, share with people, or just drink for fun.

A great party should start with bubbles (well, actually, bubbles should also be in the middle of the party, as well as the end), and bubbles made by friends, of course. I know I’ve waxed poetic about Bree and Chad Stock and their projects in Oregon, but starting the festivities with Limited Addition Cabernet Franc PetNat seems only appropriate. It’s dry, bubbly, clean, with that herbaceousness one should expect from Cab Franc, and a slight haziness to make things exciting.

*Limited Addition Cabernet Franc PetNat*

To follow, a clean, crisp white wine from the mountains of France, Les Rocailles ‘Apremont’ Jacquère is ideal. It pairs exceptionally well with cheese (always present), most other light fare, and for the guest that can really only drink un-oaked white wine. We all have one.

For a richer style, North Valley Chardonnay fits perfectly. Oregon is famous for growing Pinot Noir, but some of their greatest wines (shhhhh, don’t tell them I said this) are actually made with Chardonnay. This example has just a touch of oak, but bright acidity and balance and a pricepoint that makes it viable for multiple bottles.

Some people believe that rosé season begins in the late Spring and ends in the Fall. Those people are sadly deluded. Especially when we are talking about Joseph Swan Trenton Estate Vineyard Syrah Rosé. From the property where one of the greatest Pinot Noirs in Sonoma is grown, also comes some of the most delicious Syrah. The #Syrahvolution is truly upon us and this ROSÉ is spicy, bright, full of complexity and beautiful character in a vintage in which most of the red grapes in Sonoma were smoked out.

As we move into red wines, I love introducing people to Moric Blaufränkisch. This is a beautiful and noble grape variety that sees some of its best expressions in Burgenland in Austria. Roland Velich from Moric has been the topic of numerous raving wine reviews (including my own writing in the VWS blog!), and for good reason. This is one of the most reasonably priced of his wines (the single vineyard wines are expensive…for Blaufränkisch… but amazing), perfect for most cuisine, light enough for the “I only drink Pinot Noir” drinker, but complex and interesting enough for the “I prefer Old World wines” drinker.

Finally, it’s nice to have a richer style, with some weight and spice, but nothing too heavily oaked or high in alcohol to crush whatever is on the festive menu. An Approach to Relaxation Sucette from the brilliant and ubiquitous power couple of Richard and Carla Betts is Grenache the way it should taste. It is floral and lifted, but not without some heft and lots of character. Delicious with an entire spectrum of holiday cuisine, but I’d want this with that beautiful rib roast or something along those lines.

These are all wines that I’d want to drink with friends, family, and wine lovers… Basically anyone who would listen to me rhapsodize about them for at least a couple minutes before indulging in far too much food and beverage in true holiday spirit. Hope everyone has a healthy, happy, and wine-filled holiday.

From the VT Wine Shepherd family to yours.

The Holiday Hit List - Wine Edition

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