When I think about the holidays, a lot comes to mind. First, the excitement of being with family and friends and creating wonderful and hilarious memories with them. Second, everything that needs to be done, the shopping and decorating and cooking and cleaning. And third, all the wine I’m going to drink!
Wine is my secret weapon during the holiday season. It brings out the best in all of the delectable foods, makes a great gift and helps tremendously after a long day of putting up lights or enduring store crowds. Whether you’re a wine-gifter, food-pairer or just trying to relax, here are a few tricks and tips to help wine help you this holiday season.
If you’ve never paired wine with food before, this may not feel like the best time of year to start, with so many different people, foods and dinner parties it would be crazy to try to calculate the perfect pairing for every occasion. This doesn’t mean, however, that it can’t be done. If you want to pour the best, bring the bubbly! Sparkling wines pair well with almost anything and are always a crowd pleaser. While champagne is always an option, albeit a pricey one, you might try a prosecco (Italy) or cava (Spain), especially if you’re buying more than one bottle. When shopping for sparkling, there are a few terms to look out for that will let you know how sweet or not sweet it will be. Most commonly, if you see “brut” “brut nature” or “extra brut” on the bottle, this will be a drier wine, meaning less sweet or no sweetness at all. Alternatively, if you see “dry” or “extra dry” this means that some residual sugar was left while bottling, and these will have some sweetness to them.
Another great bring-to-dinner option is mulled wine. Mulled wine is a spiced wine that is served warm, and makes a delicious winter time treat. There are many recipes out there, and most can be done in a crock pot! Here’s a basic recipe to get you started:
1 (750 ml) bottle of dry red wine
1 orange, sliced into rounds
1/4 cup brandy (optional)
1/4 cup honey or sugar
8 whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
2 star anise
optional garnishes: citrus slices (orange, lemon and/or lime), extra cinnamon sticks, extra star anise
Combine all the ingredients in a crock pot and slowly heat to medium (you don’t want to cook off the alcohol), and let steep for at least 20 minutes. It’s that simple!
When it comes to giving gifts, wine offers a simple and easy option but can be sentimental and heartfelt at the same time. A bottle of wine can be a reminder of a great time in someone’s life, the vintage of their prime. It can also give them a taste of some of their favorite places. If a loved one often dreams about their time spent in Germany or South America, a bottle from that region could mean the world to them. The bottle’s appearance is a factor to consider as well. I don’t often condone label shopping, even though I am guilty of this myself, but in this case even a label on a bottle might also prove a great gift, one your recipient keeps around for a long time. There is the option, too, of making your own label either online or using various DIY techniques, which could be a great idea for someone you may not know as well or as a “thank you” or “thinking of you” gift.
In the midst of the holiday hullabaloo, don’t forget to take time to wind down. With all of the stresses it can be difficult to sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor so when picking out wine gifts or dinner beverages, don’t forget to grab yourself a bottle to pair with a comfy chair and a good book. Good luck this season, and may all your Christmas gifts be wine! QCBN
By Valerye Jeffries
For your next wine adventure, visit the Raven Café in downtown Prescott or check our menu and upcoming events online at ravencafe.com.
Valerye Jeffries is the wine manager and sommelier of the Raven Café.
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