6 wines suitable for your holiday occasions

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      The holiday season brings plenty of opportunities to crack open a bottle of wine, and not all of them centre around the dinner table.

      This week, let’s look at some ideal bottles for an array of seasonal occasions.

       

      Decorating the tree

      The Christmas carols are playing in the background, you have snacks at the ready, and you’re pulling garlands and ornaments out of boxes. This is usually the first real splash into the season, so you’re feeling ultra-Christmassy and can’t get enough Yuletide cheer.

      Well, how about a wine that even tastes like Christmas? Alpha Box & Dice Tarot Grenache 2015 (McLaren Vale, Australia; $24.99, B.C. Liquor Stores) is a robust red from South Australia that’s loaded with stewed plums and darker berries, with a few dates stirred in too, and then topped off with a dash of cloves and anise.

      Well balanced and immediately quaffable, this is a wine certain to make you merry.

       

      Drop-in guests

      We’re a little more social this time of year, and it’s entirely possible to have guests drop by at a moment’s notice. It’s always a good idea to have a crowd-pleasing white and red on hand, just in case.

      Expressive minerality, grapefruit pith, a squeeze of fresh lime, and a dash of white pepper make L’Ora Pinot Grigio 2015 (Alto Adige, Italy; $16.99, B.C. Liquor Stores) quite the charismatic charmer. It’s certainly one of the more interesting Pinot Grigios I’ve come across in a while, and as a fun bonus, the packaging is pretty darn sharp, too!

      For a lighter, lively red, let’s head to Beaujolais and grab a bottle or two of Château De Pierreux Brouilly 2015 (Beaujolais, France; $17.99, B.C. Liquor Stores, $2 off until December 31). Think fresh raspberries, cherry cola, dusty cocoa, and serving it up with just a hint of a chill. Both wines are killer bargains; jump on ’em.

       

      After-holiday shopping

      You’ve been battling crowds all day, you just got home, your feet are sore, and you’re exhausted. You’re in need of a glass of something that will make you right at the first sip.

      Taylor Fladgate 10 Year Old Tawny Port (Porto, Portugal; $37.99, B.C. Liquor Stores) has a satisfying warmth, overflowing with roasted plums and almonds, caramelized orange rind, and a dollop of toffee, all carried with a lovely touch of heat.

       

      The turkey dinner

      Drink pink! Seriously, cast aside any lies you’ve been told about rosé wines only being meant for summer and get thee to the French section of the store for Domaine Lafond’s Roc-Epine Tavel Rosé 2015 (Tavel, France; $24.99, B.C. Liquor Stores).

      Made from biodynamically farmed Grenache, Cinsaut, and Syrah, this is an amiable, food-friendly pink wine full of crunchy red-berry fruit and notes of Coronation grape, practically tailor-made for your holiday table.

      You know how cranberry sauce makes such a great accompaniment with your turkey and trimmings? This wine works the same way.

       

      The boozy brunch

      Whether it’s Boxing Day or any day, it’s entirely plausible that a boozy brunch will be in order, and Balthasar Ress Hattenheimer Schützenhaus Riesling Kabinett 2014 (Rheingau, Germany; $22.99, B.C. Liquor Stores) will cast a little sunshine upon whatever you’re serving.

      I know that’s quite the mouthful before we’ve even gotten into the bottle, so let me break it down. Balthasar Ress is the (consistently kick-ass) producer, Hattenheim is the village where the Schützenhaus vineyard lies, and Kabinett is the degree of ripeness at which the grapes are harvested, which basically ensures it’ll be light and fresh wine with a good kiss of sweetness.

      Also, this Riesling clocks in at less than 10 percent alcohol, so you can have a couple glasses and not have to go back to bed afterwards. Of course, it’s the holidays and you can totally go back to bed after your brunch if you’d like. Hey, I’m just your wine guy; I’m not here to judge.

      Honey-drenched apricots and peaches with Honeycrisp apple and a good dose of fresh lemon zest make this a wine that’s awfully easy to drink, and it would be particularly great with French toast, apple pancakes, and pastries.

      Brunch suitability aside, this is a wine that would just get better and better with a few years of age on it, so if you can stretch your holiday budget a little further, do lie down an extra bottle or two for a few years.

      It easily has at least a good 10 years of life left in it, and is something cellarable that’s rather affordable, too. The gift that keeps on giving!

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