Holiday Party Wines
The season is awash with get-together invitations from friends, co-workers and relatives. The coureous thing to do is bring something, so why not some tasty vino?
When bringing wine for social slurping, there is no need to go crazy. Go for an easy-drinking cocktail wine that doesn’t require food. It’s best to bring a wine you like to drink, and try to learn at least one thing about the bottle. Talking about the wine you brought is a great way to break the ice.
Attention hosts: The proper etiquette, when receiving a bottle of wine, is to open it up right away, before you open your own wine.
2006 CMS White by Hedges Columbia Valley, Washington | $10 This is our inexpensive white cocktail wine of choice. While it’s not overly complicated, it’s very agreeable and the price kicks ass. For ten bucks you get a Chardonnay-based white from Washington that’ll agree with your whole party. |
2005 Bodegas Crisve Nomeda La Mancha, Spain | $10 For only a few bucks, pick up this small-production, mostly-Tempranillo blend from Spain. It’s smooth, easy to drink and has great fruit. |
2007 Fournier Sauvignon Blanc Fournier Sauvignon Blanc Vin de Pays du Jardin Loire Valley, France | $11 A party isn’t a party without Sauvignon Blanc, so go old-school and get a crisp and clean wine from France’s Loire Valley. It’s awesome with cocktail shrimp, hard cheeses or just by itself. |
Casillero del Diablo Carménère Rapel Valley, Chile | $11 Earthy, smooth and—dare we say it?—luscious. Chilean Carmenere is being hailed as the new Malbec. It’s great with simple foods like burgers or meatballs, but can also be used as a cocktail wine. |
2006 Andeluna Malbec Mendoza, Argentina | $12 This is big, juicy, fruit-forward wine has the ability to satisfy the majority of party-goers. From the dry wine drinker to sweet wine sipper, this Malbec will win over the entire crowd. |
Château Saint Cosme “Little James Basket Press” Côtes du Rhône, France | $13 This is an entry-level wine from a killer wine producer in the Rhone Valley of France. Don’t let the cartoon-ish label fool you—there is amazing wine for the money in this bottle. |
2006 Loimer Grüner Veltliner Weinland (1000ml) Kamptal, Austria | $15 Best known for its ability to cool down a hot summer’s day, Grüner also makes a great holiday sipper. This pairs perfectly with seafood apps, like crab cakes and oysters, but best of all, comes in the traditional 1L bottle. |
2006 João Portugal Ramos Marques de Borba Tinto Alentejo, Portugal | $15 This is a whole lot of wine for the money. It’s simple and easy to drink, but really shines when used to wash down tiny tidbits of cheese and cured meats that often accompany holiday parties. |
2006 La Posta “Cocina Blend” Mendoza, Argentina | $15 A blend of Malbec, Bonarda and Syrah, this is a great wine with appetizers, but this inexpensive bad boy stands out from the crowd when used to wash down rare beef. |
2006 Turtle Creek Chardonnay Lincoln, Massachusetts | $30 Yeah, that’s right … the grapes are grown and made into wine less than twenty miles from downtown Boston. Impress your California-dwelling, wine-snob relatives with bottled New England deliciousness. |
2005 Cune Vina Real Crianza Tempranillo Rioja, Spain | $18 This Spanish Tempranillo feels silky smooth as it goes down. The wine keeps things classy with an Old-World label and flavors to match. |
2006 Charles Smith Wines Kung Fu Girl Riesling Columbia Valley, Washington | $18 The winery’s description says it all—“Why? Because, Riesling and girls kick ass!” Shake things up with this off-dry wine from the rebels at K Vintners . |
2006 Justin Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles, California | $22 Paso Robles is the Jamaica Plain of Napa: off the beaten path, but chock full of kickass spunk at a great price. This is everything you want in a California Cabernet, only with a little more attitude, but a few bucks less than its Napa Valley cousins. |
1+1=3 Cava Brut Penendès, Spain | $15 Every party needs some bubbly, so go for this Spanish Cava with a catchy name. Between the citrus flavors and the affordable price, it’s your cocktail sparkler. |
2007 Hall Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley, California | $25 When you need a killer white to impress party-goers but don’t want to spend a fortune, pick up this bottle. Awesome grapefruit and lemon flavors make this crisp wine great on its own or with seafood apps. |
2004 Allegrini La Grola Veronese Veneto, Italy | $26 Impress the crap out of your friends without blowing a week’s budget. This is a deep and rich Italian red from a famous vineyard. |
