Are you someone that preps for the holiday season weeks in advance? Or do you a fly by the seat of your pants and hope to have an ounce of sanity left by December 24th? I’m somewhere in between the two. Although this year more than ever, I feel the need to get my festive ducks in a row. As part of that prep, I’m making sure that my wine rack is full for any last-minute need. A neighbour dropping by with an unexpected gift, wine! A rough day at work, trying to meet deadlines before the holiday break, wine! Looking to save a few dollars after buying too many presents, wine on sale! I’m here with your Holiday Wine Guide: How To Set Yourself Up For Success.
BENVOLIO PROSECCO DOC
Prosecco should be a part of everyone’s vocabulary during the holidays. It’s a brilliant pairing for any meal (did someone say brunch?). And it’s one of the most affordable sparkling wines on the market. Not to mention, who doesn’t love the pop of a cork – especially in 2020!
Benvolio Prosecco DOC is made entirely from estate-grown Glera grapes that are grown in Friuli – Prosecco’s home in northeastern Italy. It’s not very often you find a solid, estate-quality, sparkling wine for under $20. But this delivers in spades. Most Secret Santa gifts are hard to find under that amount.
Boom – Benvolio Prosecco. Mic Drop.
Fine and persistent bubbles with fresh lemon and lime. Subtle peach and sweet herb. Crisp and refreshing. Perfectly delightful addition to our holiday wine guide.
What You Should Do: Buy a bottle as a gift for your favourite neighbour or your best friend at work.
What You’ll Probably Do: Buy a bottle for yourself and sip while watching Season 4 of The Crown.
| Available in BC | Available in Alberta |
| Approximate Retail: $18.99 | Approximate Retail: $15.99 |
| High Point Liquor on 248th New District Coal Harbour LRS |
Willow Park Wines & Spirits Highlander Liquor Store Townhouse Liquor Store Craft Cellars Alberta Beer Exchange Wise Guys Liquor Bin 905 Distinct Wines Britannia Wine Merchants |
CAMBRIA KATHERINE’S VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2018
This wine has a million things going for it.
Cambria Estate Winery is female-owned. Barbara Banke and her two daughters, Katherine and Julia, run the winery with Jill Russell at the helm of the winemaking team and Denise Shurtleff as general manager.
Together, they’ve led the winery to be certified sustainable by SIP (Sustainable In Practice) and CCSW (Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing) which means not only is the winery certified sustainable but also that the grapes are from California certified vineyards.
Beautifully contrasting estate-grown Chardonnay from the Santa Maria Bench in Santa Barbara County. Lean and mineral-driven on the nose with bright citrus aromas. Much more fruit-forward on the palate, ripe and tropical fruit flavours roar with balanced acidity and structured oak showing confidently on the finish.
What You Should Do: This is one to open with your best group of gal pals while unapologetically boasting about any and all accomplishments this year.
What You’ll Probably Do: Skip the social gathering (because COVID) and Zoom it up! Buy and bottle for every deserving friend and have it shipped to them to sip in honour of this year’s challenges and successes.
| Available in BC | Available in Alberta |
| Approximate Retail: $28.99 | Approximate Retail: $28.99 |
| BC Liquor Stores | Co-op Wine Spirits Beer Cork Fine Wine Crowfoot Wine & Spirits Highlander Wine & Spirits Willow Park Wine & Spirits Liquor Depot Wise Guys Liquor Zyn the Wine Market |
LA CREMA MONTEREY PINOT NOIR 2018
Pinot Noir from Monterey AVA is some of my favourite coming out of California. The cool breezes sweeping in from the Pacific Ocean bringing elevated acidity to the grapes, adding a layer of elegance to the wine.
La Crema Monterey Pinot Noir spends just over eight months in barrel, 100% French oak (a portion of which is new). The thoughtful barrel program has been perfected over 40 years, 27 of which with the Jackson Family as owners.
An ode to Burgundian-style Pinot Noir, this cool-climate expression is filled with red fruit: ripe cherry, pomegranate and red plum. Juicy with singing acidity and integrated notes of coffee and spice.
What You Should Do: Stock up! Especially if you’re in Calgary.
$11 off per bottle
(approximate retail $20.99)
Dec 17 to 30
Co-op Wine Spirits Beer
What You’ll Probably Do: A perfect choice for your holiday meal. Grab a bottle for Christmas Eve dinner and other for Christmas Day.
| Available in BC | Available in Alberta |
| Approximate Retail: $35.99 | Approximate Retail: $31.99 |
| Everything Wine Maple Ridge Liquor Store The Gull Liquor Store Kits Wine Cellar Liquor For Less |
Co-op Wine Spirits Beer Willow Park Wines & Spirits Costco Canada Liquor Crowfoot Wine & Spirits Craft Cellars Highlander Wine & Spirits Real Canadian Liquor Store Olympia Liquor Store Wine & Beyond Sobeys Liquor Safeway Liquor |
TENUTA DI ARCENO CHIANTI CLASSICO DOCG 2016
We’ve all missed out on travel this year. Whether it was a bucket list trip to the tropics or a weekend at the spa, it was cancelled. But sipping a glass of Chianti Classico immediately takes us to the rolling, sun-drenched hills of Tuscany.
A guzzle-able wine. Or savour it if that’s your style. Either way, it’s thoroughly enjoyable and perfect to get through some of the more stressful holiday moments. Made from 80% Sangiovese and 15% Merlot, it exudes ripe flavours of plum and black cherry with a round and supple structure. Beautifully balanced flavours with layers of black tea and spice with bright acidity and a lingering mouthfeel.
What You Should Do: My ultimate holiday wine guide hint is to plan, plan, plan. So, open a bottle and sip while you spend an hour planning your month. Set aside a weekend to get your baking done. Mark off another weekend to FINISH your shopping. And figure out meal plans now! Start your grocery shopping a few weeks in advance and stock your freezer now.
What You’ll Probably Do: Sip while watching the Holidate for the third time. You do you, it’s all good 🙂
| Available in BC | Available in Alberta |
| Approximate Retail: $30.99 | Approximate Retail: $26.99 |
| Everything Wine Legacy, Marquis New District Coal Harbour LRS West Coast Liquor Store Viti on Seymour |
Co-op Wine Spirits Beer Craft Cellars Crowfoot Wine & Spirits Highlander Wine & Spirits Real Canadian Liquor Store Willow Park Wine & Spirits Zyn the Wine Market |
PLAN YOUR HOLIDAY SUCCESS
I hope this holiday wine guide sets you on a road to festive holiday success Whether it’s getting your gifts sorted or your meal plan set – make sure there’s wine on your rack, ready to go for any kind of chaos that comes your way.