Anthony Gismondi offers up a stellar list of wines you can wrap up and gift with the confidence that they will never be regifted.
Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.
The holidays are just around the corner, and for many, that means gift giving. So, in the spirit of the holiday season and the inevitable shopping frenzy, our present is a slight format change this week to present a stellar list of wines you can wrap up and gift with the confidence that they will never be regifted.
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
We have created scenarios to help you sleuth out the perfect bottle for a friend or co-worker this year.
The first rule is never to spend more than you can afford. The cost of most wine is irrelevant if you take the time to select a thoughtful gift. If you have the funding and want to amp up your wine gift, consider wrapping up a book on wine or, even more useful, adding a simple glass decanter or box of proper-shaped glasses.
The real art of gift giving is to match the taste, style, and, most significantly, the cost for each person on your gift list. It takes a bit of work, but with a little research and some help from a talented sales clerk, you should be able to find the right bottle for the right person. Most private wine shops allow you to choose from a wide selection of glasses and decanters. BCLDB prices are confirmed until Nov. 27 only. After that, prices will likely go up, and the supply of the good stuff will disappear quickly, so don’t delay your shopping.
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Sparkling wine is the breakthrough category of the pandemic. So it is now de rigueur to keep a sparkler or two in the refrigerator that you can pull out at any time. Here are some favourites.
• Cattin Sauvage Crémant d’Alsace Brut, Alsace, France, $26.99
• Albet i Noya Petit Albet Brut Reserva 2017, Penedès, Spain, $26.99
• Bottega Rosé Gold Prosecco Spumante Brut N/V, Treviso, $31.99
• Haywire Vintage Brut 2013, Okanagan Valley British Columbia, Canada, $38.99
• Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut, Mendocino County, California, United States, $36
• Champagne Pierre Peters Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut N/V, Champagne, France, $81.99
• Laurent Perrier Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature, Champagne, France, $135.99
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
This means you should consider wines your hosts prefer, not you, and then think about something on the edge of their comfort zone. Spend what you would on flowers or chocolates and use that as a guide.
• Domaine Paul Mas Allnatt Vermentino 2019, Languedoc, France, $19.99
• Laurenz V. Und Sophie Singing Grüner Veltliner 2019, Weinland Österreich, Austria, $19.99
• Château Pesquié Ventoux Terrasses Rouge 2019, Ventoux, France, $19.99
• Graham Late Bottled Vintage 2015, Douro Valley, Portugal, $24.99
• Bottega Gold Brut Prosecco Spumante N/V, Treviso, Verona, Veneto, Italy, $31.99
These are perfect for the vegetarian/vegan/environmentally conscious crowd looking for wines made with little or no intervention; organic, biodynamic, wild-fermented, unfined wines are appreciated at any time. Green is in, especially when they taste this good.
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
• Yalumba Organic Shiraz 2019, South Australia, $16.99
• Robin Ridge 2019 Gamay, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada, $23.99
• Domaine de Cébène Les Bancèls 2016, Faugères, Languedoc, France, $31.99
• Emiliana Coyam 2018, Valle del Colchagua, Chile, $29.99
• Fouassier Père et Fils Sancerre Les Romains 2018 Sauvignon Blanc, Loire Valley, France, $43.99
• M. Chapoutier Hermitage Chante Alouette Blanc 2017, Rhone Valley, France, $88.99
• Champagne Lanson Green Label Bio-Organic N/V, Champagne, France, $99.99
Or what we term gastronomic wines, tend to mesh effortlessly with food, and it would be crazy to ignore their versatility and ability to improve any dish you are serving to your guests. So here’s a list of food-friendly entertaining wines to juice up your gathering.
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
• Dr. Loosen Blue Slate Riesling Dry 2019, Mosel Valley, Germany, $15.69
• Selbach Riesling 2019, Mosel Valley, Germany, $19.99
• Barone di Valforte Pecorino 2020, Abruzzo, Italy, $19.99
• Boutinot Les Coteaux Côtes du Rhone Villages 2018, Rhône Valley, France, $19.99
• Spearhead Pinot Gris Golden Retreat Vineyard 2020, East Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, B.C., $20
• Château de Pierreux Brouilly Réserve de Chateau Gamay Noir 2016, Beaujolais, France, $22.99
• Umani Ronchi Fonte Del Re Lacrima Di Morro D’Alba 2019, Alba. Italy, $27.99
• Ornellaia Le Volte 2018, Tuscany, Italy, $28.99
• Giovanni Rosso Langhe Nebbiolo 2017, Piemonte, Italy, 29.99
This is a popular theme. The go-to wines are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Syrah or most any red blend that is dominated by the same grape varieties. Perfect for collectors.
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
• Vina Cobos 2019 Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina, $24.99
• Gerard Bertrand Grand Terroir Rousillion Les Aspres An 1886, Languedoc, France, $26.99
• Domaine de Longue Toque Vacqueyras 2017, Rhone Valley, France, $31.97
• Boutinot La Côte Sauvage Cairanne 2016, Côtes du Rhône Villages, Rhone Valley, France, $32.99
• Tenuta Luce La Vite Lucente 2017, Tuscany, Italy, $39.99
• Painted Rock Merlot 2018, Skaha Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada, $39.99
• Alvaro Pétalos 2018, Bierzo, Castilla-Leon, Spain, $37.99
• Castello di Ama 2019 Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy, $44.99
These are never easy to buy, but you can usually please them with an unexpected pick. So here are four labels collectors will welcome and are unlikely to own already.
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
• Renato Ratti 2016 Barolo Conca, La Morra, Piedmont Italy, $135.99
• Dr. Loosen 2018 Erdener Treppchen GG Alte Reben Dry, Mosel, Germany, $60.99
• Penfolds California Collection 2018 Cabernet Shiraz Bin 600, California, $80.99
• Taylor Fladgate Century of Port 10, 20, 30 & 40-Year-Old Tawny, Douro Valley, Portugal, $285.99
The best place to source B.C. wine is from Save-on-Foods, B.C. Liquor stores and select private wine shops. Here are some picks that over-deliver for their price and are great for entertaining.
• Haywire Gamay 2019, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, $25.99
• Nk’Mip Cellars Qwam Qwmt Chardonnay 2016, Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, $32.99
• Painted Rock Merlot 2018, Skaha Bench, Okanagan Valley, $39.99
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
• Quails’ Gate Stewart Family Reserve Pinot Noir 2019, West Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, $53.99
• Phantom Creek Estates Kobau Vineyard Merlot 2017, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, $83.99
• Tantalus Chardonnay Chardonnay 2018, East Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, $31.99
This doesn’t mean you have to be a wine geek, but wines with a sense of place are perhaps best given to the curious wine drinker.
• Garzón Estate Cabernet Franc-Tannat, Garzon, Maldonado, San José, Uruguay, $20.99
• Quinta De Chocapalha Castelão 2018, Portugal, $21.97
• Bodegas Izadi Rioja Blanco 2019, Rioja, Spain, $29.99
• Torres Pazo das Bruxas Albarino 2019, Rueda, Castilla-Leon, Spain, $34.99
• Clos de los Siete 2017, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina, $27.99
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
A bottle or two of dessert wine is always welcome during the holidays. Our picks span both sweet and fortified wines for after dinner.
• Alvear Solera 1927 Pedro Ximenez N/V, Montilla-Moriles, Spain, $32.99 (375ml)
• Lustau East India Solera Sherry N/V, Sherry Jerez — Manzanilla, $32.99 (500ml)
• Chateau Suiduraut 2016, Barsac, Bordeaux, France, $75 (375ml)
• Graham Ten Year Old Tawny Port, Douro Valley, Portugal, $38.99
• Mission Hill Reserve Riesling Icewine 2016, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, $56.99 (375ml)
• Penfolds Grandfather Rare Tawny, Australia, $67.99
Two dessert favourites — pumpkin pie and cheesecake — mix and mingle in this sweet dessert created by Chef Steven Hodge at Temper Chocolate and Pastry. Prepare to fight over the last slice:
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake
Cookie crust
1 cup (250 mL) cookie crust
1 tbsp (15 mL) sugar
2 tbsp (30 mL) butter
Melt butter and combine together with sugar and crust. Press down into base of a 10-inch free form cake round. Par bake at 325F for 10 minutes.
Cheesecake filling
2 cups (500 mL) cream cheese
1/2 cup (125 mL) sugar
1 vanilla bean scraped
2 large eggs
1 large egg yolk
1/4 cup (60 mL) cream
2/3 cup (160 mL) pumpkin puree
1 tsp (5 mL) cinnamon
1/4 tsp (1 mL) nutmeg
1/8 tsp (0.5 mL) cloves
Cream together the sugar and cream cheese, then add the vanilla bean until smooth. Slowly add in eggs until incorporated. Add in cream, puree and spices. Allow to sit in fridge for 24 hours. Pour into crust and bake for 50 mins at 210 F, then check to see if it is wobbly in the middle. If it is, bake at 5 minute intervals until baked. Allow to cool before serving.
Serves 10-12.
Pumpkin pie cheesecake calls for a sweet versus sweet match.
Alvear Solera 1927 Pedro Ximenez N/V, Montilla-Moriles, Spain, $30
The solera began in 1927, leaving a tiny portion of the wine 90-years-old. Dark maple syrup, treacle, roasted pecans, raisins, dried apricot and toffee walnut flavours slide down effortlessly
Chateau de la Roulerie Coteaux du Layon 2017, Anjou, Loire, France, $33.99
Botrytised Chenin, with rich honeysuckle, pear, ripe quince and pepper, make this an intriguing match for pumpkin cheesecake.
Source: vancouversun.com
