12/23/2009

By Jenni Carpenter

Here's to your glass being half full for the holidays:

Cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, balsam, cedar, cocoa, and peppermint: These are all elements of the holiday season and wines for your table. Take the time this year to relax and enjoy the aromas your glass of wine has to offer. Embrace the textures, flavors and nuances that challenge your palate and make you beg for more.

Indulge all of your senses and explore what you may not be familiar with. Below are some selections I've made with the help some of our favorite local wine lovers that are perfect compliments to any holiday get together. Cheers!

Morgan unoaked Chardonnay 2007, $16-18 (available at The Warren Store.)

"Stylish and vibrant -- a tasty Chardonnay," said Jack Garvin of The Warren Store. Classic California unoaked chardonnay can be a wonderful wine to share at the holidays. "There's pure freshness from the grapes and no oak to overwhelm the palate," Garvin says. This wine pairs well with almost any fish dish as well as your poultry and appetizers. It is a great wine to sip with some shrimp cocktail in addition to traditional cheeses.

Gustave Lorentz Gewurztraminer, $19-20 (available at the Waitsfield Wine Shoppe).

This versatile dry white wine from the Alsace region in France is a perfect example of what the region's wines are known for. If you've never tried an Alsatian wine, please treat yourself this holiday. Any foodie will find ample pairing opportunities because this wine is made for food. "Enjoy with some muenster cheese (classic pair) as well as curried foods, ham, pate and foie gras," said Joan Wilson from the Waitsfield Wine Shoppe.

Coppola Claret, $16-18 (available at the Waitsfield Wine Shoppe).

This California red blend includes cabernet, merlot, malbec, cabernet franc and petit verdot -- classic Bordeaux blend. This wine is "rich, big and has nice structure. It has berry notes but also mature dark fruit like plums. This would pair well with game, lamb, pork and poultry," said Wilson, WWS.
 
Writer's Block Petite Sirah, $16-18 (available at The Warren Store).

This wine was completely surprising when I sipped it at our holiday party this year. It was paired with pork tenderloin with a brandy mushroom sauce and was delicious. A wonderful value and drinks like a wine double its price. It's not as hearty as a traditional petite sirah; however, it has plenty of body and earth to pair with duck too.

Owen Roe's Abbot's Table 2008, $24-26 (available at The Warren Store).

This nine-grape blend is available in limited quantities this year due to its popular demand. Zinfandel and sangiovese dominate this blend which makes it great for Italian cuisine. Garvin (TWS) says, "It has a lot of versatility and is multi-textured and a full-bodied wine." A serious wine from Washington state, it would be a great compliment to venison or a rib roast.

Steininger Zweigelt, $21-23 (available at the Waitsfield Wine Shoppe).

Austrian wine is making a huge comeback in the United States. This zweigelt (it's the actual grape the winemaker uses to blend the wine) is a true example of the region. Black pepper is the predominant aroma and flavor in this wine. When I was drinking this I was craving a steak au poivre (although roast duck would go great too). There are great dark fruit notes like currant and blackberry. If you would like to try this grape on the less expensive side, Wilson has the Paul D available at the store as well, priced between $14 and $16.