What to Bring that Hostess with the Mostess? Wine!

Holiday season is upon us and brings with it an endless array of prepping and planning to dazzle our friends and family with holiday cheer. It also tends to bring with it a social calendar that’s packed tighter than Old Saint Nick’s belt after all that milk and cookie time. Part of the dilemma with going to all of the holiday themed parties is the pressure of bringing the host or hostess the perfect gift, you know, the gift that not only says, “Thank you for graciously opening up your home to us” but also covers things like, “Thank you for all of the clean-up you’re about to do” and the slightly less popular, “I’m sorry in advance for getting drunk and cutting nipple holes in everyone’s ugly Christmas sweater.” Whatever your need or budget, I’ve got you covered.

First thing’s first — if at all possible try to find out what the host/hostess prefers to drink. If you know they drink red or white, but aren’t sure which type, the rule of thumb is to try to adhere to the middle of the spectrum in terms of things like acidity, dryness level or fruitiness. In this article, I’ll highlight some wines in a few different price categories that would make great gifts. Keep in mind, some people have die hard wine preferences and their loyalties can be stronger than Madonna’s biceps, if you can even imagine such a thing existing.

Let’s kick things off with a great find under $15. Oregon’s Underwood Pinot Noir 2014 exemplifies a great balance of traditional characteristics, like cherries and blackberries, with a finesse you wouldn’t expect at this price point. In fact, a great deal of Pinot that comes out of this region is more than double the price point of the Underwood, but they’ve really nailed bringing quality wine at a reasonable price. For the white wine drinker in your life, pick up the Montinore Borealis White 2014 (organic). Fresh and juicy and with a clean dry finish, this wine is a definite go-to for holiday time. Also noteworthy, Cantine di Indie Polpo Rosso 2014 (organic), a smooth-drinking Sicilian red whose zippy nature keeps this wine on my list of crowd-pleasers.

Let’s talk under $30. Staying within the theme of easy-to-please, the French region of Jura is a good direction to go. Domaine Grand Trousseau 2013 (organic) is a stunner in this price range. Bright fruit notes of strawberry and raspberry are complemented by undertones of deep cherry flavor on the palate. Mild acidity, subtle tannin and slight similarities to a lean Burgundian Pinot Noir make this a smooth transition for people who may be unfamiliar with wines from the region. It’s quaffable nature and deliciousness will have your friends Instagraming the hell out of this wine (#ValenciaOrBust). Snatch up a bottle of the Domaine de la Noblaie Chinon Chenin Blanc 2014 (organic) for a unique white that is fresh, floral and fun. Be sure to tell them just how rare it is to have a bottle of Chinon Blanc, as the offerings from this region are almost always Cabernet Franc laden reds. This is truly a wonderful gift for any fan of white wine. Also noteworthy, but definitely for the more adventurous, Frank Cornelissen’s Contadino 2013 (natural/no SO2 added). Crazy winemaker + growing grapes on the hillside of an active volcano = insanity in a bottle that you can’t get enough of.

For those of you willing to go a bit higher, the $50 and under range opens up a vast amount of wines that are truly drool-worthy. It really is hard to narrow this down to just one choice, but I’d have to go with Domaine Du Meix-Foulot Mercurey 1er Cru Burgundy 2011. Wonderfully robust, wild cranberry notes and a long-lasting finish solidify this Burgundy as the perfect option. It’s a great way to gift a wine from a premier cru without breaking the bank. For a stunning wine that will appease anyone with a penchant for white wine, go for the Alphonse Dolly Pouilly-Fume 2014. Bright fruit flavors and minerality upfront, followed by a coy savory mid-palate and flavors that linger well after you’ve sipped the last drop. Also noteworthy for those who like something much bolder, Lopez De Heredia Viña Tondonia 2002.

All of these wines can be drunk alone while YouTube’ing cat videos, but also pair well with many different holiday fares so be sure to let the host know they can uncork them for apps or mains and even some ‘serts. Oh, and remember to keep your nog chugging to a minimum to ensure you’ll actually get invited back over to enjoy the wine!

Colleen Arruda is the wine and spirits specialist at High Spirits Liquors.