So many libations, so little time to sample them all. We decided to taste a few and provide some suggestions for hostess gifts or food pairing at one of your holiday gatherings. And who to know better what their wines go with that the wine makers; we reached out to each for their holiday matches.

The fruit-forward, bright lemon and apple nosed Rodney Strong 2013 Sonoma County Chalk Hill Chardonnay (SRP: $22.00) pairs nicely with butternut squash in soup with rosemary browned butter; or noodles with the squash, ginger and scallions  

Serve the complex and velvety spicy dark plum and berry Rodney Strong 2013 Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (SRP: $35.00) with steak, a burger with gruyère cheese and sautéed mushrooms, cherry or cranberry stuffing or a cheese board containing gooey unctuous goat cheese and nuts.

I recently discovered the white wines from Quincy [kan-SEE] from the Loire Valley of France,
only made using the Sauvignon grape. The wines are light bodied with mineral notes, a peppery citrus/grapefruit nose and crisp acidity. At a tasting dinner, these wines paired with everything from frogs legs, leek quiche, goat cheese tart, hamachi and veal blanquette to cheeses with ceviche of hamachi flavored with jalapeño in between (SRP from ~$15 to $30, with Domaine Tremblay 2013, $22). Give them a try.

The grapefruit and touch of oak in the Argentinian Rutini Sauvignon Blanc (SRP $25) matches well with shrimp cocktail, tuna tartare on toast points and cheese plates; while the deep red Rutini Malbec (SRP $25) with a peppery finish works well with roast pork.

Also from Mendoza, Argentina, the rich and velvety — with hints of coffee and spice — Rutini Cabernet Sauvignon (SRP $35) pairs perfectly with prime rib with a red wine jus; another Argentinian wine, the Alamos Malbec (SRP $25) with small portions of Syrah and Bonarda to add dark cherry and blackberry also pairs well with a classic ribeye, but served with a chimichurri sauce.

For ahostess gift, give something “Electrik.” Absolut announced its newest limited edition bottles,  available in striking metallic silver and sapphire  ($19.99 for 750ml and $24.99 for 1L).

Or bubbly is always the perfect gift. Consider the sparkly Champagne Taittinger Nocturne (SRP $81.99)  distinctively sweet “sec” Champagne that is perfect by itself, before dinner with a rich pâtés on toasted brioche or after with fruit dessert or lightly sweet pastry. This crisp bubbly is  40% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir, 25% Pinot Meunier with a peach-apricot nose, and a long, smooth finish. Or the Champagne Taittinger Prestige Rosé NV (SRP $83.99), a crisp, layered Champagne, best as an aperitif.
– bonnie

BonnieBOTB
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