There are only three shopping days left before Christmas. So what do you get for the wine lover on your list? I’ve made many wine recommendations before, and I have some more to share.
I recently came across a wonderful Cabernet Merlot ($15.99 at Superstore) from the Okanagan’s Perseus Winery. This blend is made from Cabernet Franc instead of Cabernet Sauvignon, which is a softer, more aromatic grape than its more popular cousin. It makes the wine juicy, flavourful, easy to drink and great with red meats and dark turkey or duck.
B.C, produces some wonderful Pinot Gris and one I particularly enjoy is 50th Parallel 2017 Pinot Gris ($15.99 at Superstore). I love its peach, nectarine, grapefruit and lime characteristics. As the label says, “smooth and very more-ish.” Enjoy with Christmas goose, turkey, or ham.
For those who fancy an Italian pink sparkling wine, give them the Anna Spinato Spumante Rosé Organic ($14.99 on sale). It’s a delicious dry bubbly with a cherry, rose petal and strawberry nose and flavour plus a hint of earthiness. It’s made for the Christmas season and perfect for ham and turkey
Carrying on the Italian theme, buy a panettone. It’s the delicious cylindrical bread with rounded dome and candied fruits and raisins that is so popular during festive season. Also purchase the ingredients to make vin brulé, a mulled wine to go with the panettone. That’s how they enjoy it in Piedmont, the home of panettone.
First buy an Italian Barbera, a dry medium bodied red from Piedmont. A good example is Batasiolo Barbera d’Alba ($15.99). I enjoy its bouquet of blueberry and raspberry fruits and flavours of cooked dark fruits. Pour the wine into a saucepan and add ¼ cup of sugar, four pieces of star anise, two cloves, two bay leaves, two cinnamon sticks and two peppercorns.
Heat until almost boiling and then simmer for half an hour. Serve hot with slices of toasted buttered panettone. Delicioze!
For a stocking stuffer idea, buy some drop stops. If you’ve ever been embarrassed when you pour a guest some wine and it drips on the tablecloth or on your guest’s clothes, these super-thin Mylar disks will come to your rescue. Simply roll up the disk and fit it into the neck of a bottle. And you will pour like a sommelier and you won’t drip any more.
Another handy and relatively inexpensive gift is a bouchon. This is a sparkling wine stopper. If you insert the bouchon as soon as you remove the cork, it will keep your Champagne or sparkling wine fresh and bubbly for several days.
Or, of course, you can purchase an International Wine Festival Tasting ticket. This is the main event at the festival held on Thursday February 28th 7-10 pm, Friday March 1st 7-10 pm, and Saturday March 2nd 2:30-5 pm & 7-10 pm.
There are several wine clubs in Vancouver, which I have enjoyed. The Australian Wine Appreciation Society (AWAS) is a fun loving group that enjoys wine, food, laughter and learning, and now includes New Zealand wines.
The AWAS holds ten events a year which includes dinners to experience food and wine pairings, plus winemakers dinners, varietal tastings and their popular “Barbie” in June. Annual membership fees are $40 per person and $70 per couple.
Eric Hanson is a Richmond wine educator and wine journalist.
