Wines For That Holiday Party
Ah yes, the holiday season. There's nothing quite like it. All that food (I'm a confessed cookie fanatic and simply can't refuse a well-made Christmas cookie) and all that extra family time (And if we're lucky - lots of extra drink to get us through that extra family time).
Of course the holidays also mean the ubiquitous holiday parties as well - thrown by the couple down the street, your best friend and his girlfriend, your boss or co-worker, or, again, your family. Over the course of the last month, no fewer than a dozen people have asked me what wines they should take to all of those parties.
Some are simply looking for wines that will be great gifts, while the saddest of the group are those with friends who serve you Kool-aid-like white zinfandel or cheap, way-too-simple-for-the-holidays Aussie shiraz with a furry creature on the label.
Heck, some fear - gulp - being forced to drink wine from a box.
Still others have been invited to the home of a real wine lover and they don't want to bring a crappy bottle of plonk and embarrass themselves.
I've been in each of these situations and trust me, there is a solution to every vinological quandary - and as you'd expect - there are good local options across the board.
Here are some tips that are sure to make your holiday wine shopping a bit less stressful:
First, don't stress out - This is the holidays and we've got enough going on with the economy and such. Deciding what wine to bring to a party shouldn't add to the stress level. We're supposed to be having fun - remember that if you remember anything.
Think food friendly and affordable - This is particularly true if you're going to a larger, more casual gathering. Don't spend a lot here - you never know if it's going to be opened as soon as you walk in or who will be drinking it. Try to pick a food-friendly, versatile wine, that will go well with a wide range of foods. Lenz Winery抯 2005 White Label Chardonnary ($12) or Lieb Cellars NV Bridge Lane Cabernet Franc ($15) are terrific options here.
Avoid embarrassing the host - Sure, the wine that is being served is terrible - but don't point that out. Bring your own wine and dodge the plastic cup of box-wine "Burgundy" by saying "Hey, a friend of mine told me about this wine and I thought I'd open it tonight. Do you want to try it?" Nine times out of ten, you'll be drinking the good stuff in no time. I like to bring something off-the-beaten path in this situation, maybe Channing Daughters Winery抯 2006 Blaufrankisch ($25).
Impress your boss - He or she has a cellar filled with the best Bordeaux, California Cabernet Sauvignon and White Burgundy. Of course, you don't want to spend that kind of money - and they know more about them than you do anyway. My guess is that they might not know much about Long Island wine, or if they do, they don't know that there are world-class wines made here. Pick up a bottle of anything labeled "Grand Vintage" from Paumanok Vineyards, anything "Old Vines" at Lenz Winery or maybe something from the Artist Series at Bedell Cellars. They will cost you around $30 to $60, but this is your boss. They have control over your annual raise, right?
When in doubt, bring bubbly - Sparkling wine is welcome at any party. Find me a party where it's out of place and I'll show you a seriously lame party. Best of all, there is a ton of delicious sparkling wine being made around here. Wolffer Estate, Lenz Winery, Lieb Family Cellars, Sparkling Pointe and Martha Clara Vineyards all have terrific sparklers. Plus, yours will be the only bottle of local bubbly at the party. Just don't call it Champagne.
Take something YOU like - Even though they probably won't open it when you arrive, what's better than giving someone else a bottle of wine that you're really digging? I've given people a couple of bottles of Raphael 2005 La Fontana ($30) and Macari Vineyards 2008 Early Wine Chardonnay ($18) as gifts already this season.