It’s that time of year when friends and family get together to exchange gifts and raise their glasses to toast to a new year. With millions of people flying home to visit family every year, there can be a lot of pressure to make your holiday party and gifting extra special. In comes our expert staff of knowledgeable sommeliers, sharp entrepreneurs, and some of the biggest wine lovers you’ll meet.
Here at Napa Technology, we know a thing or two about selecting a good bottle of wine. Read on for our top holiday wine recommendations as well as a handful of unique wine gifts that will make you exclaim, “Oh, what fun!” all season long.
Making Spirits Bright: Wines that will make you say, “Cheers!”
The Hess Collection: The Lion Tamer
Who doesn’t love a big, bold red blend around the holidays? This powerful, aromatic blend uses Malbec to tame tannins for a smooth finish. “Much like a Lion Tamer who uses a deft hand to soothe powerful, instinctive animals, Winemaker Dave Guffy uses Malbec to soothe powerful tannins. This red blend brings all the roar of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah, and when blended with Malbec, produces a big, lush wine that finishes with smooth and tamed round tannins.” This wine is dripping in accolades and will please any red wine lover on your list. Pop it into your WineStation Cellar and enjoy across a few meals this holiday season.
Obsidian Ridge 2016 “Half Mile” Cabernet Sauvignon
A Cabernet Sauvignon is a classic holiday wine that pairs well with a variety of dishes and is perfect for toting along to any holiday party. We love the intense aromas in this wine and the velvety smooth mouthfeel. “This wine is youthful but well-balanced, and the firm tannins give a cue to its longevity.” Store this wine in your WineStation Cellar as it matures for years to come.
Quintessa 2017 Illumination Sauvignon Blanc
For the guests that prefer a light and crisp companion to their meal, this Sauvignon Blanc aims to please. One of the most sought after wines in Napa Valley, the Quintessa Illumination Sauvignon Blanc makes the perfect gift to add to your list. The 2017 Illumination comes from the cooler Coombsville and Bennet Valley AVAs, with a bit from the Quintessa estate. Made up of 53% Sauvignon Blanc, 40% Sauvignon Musqué clone, and 7% Sémillon, it springs from the glass with vibrant lemon curd, white peaches, orange blossom, and lime leaves scents with hints of wild thyme, chalk dust, and yuzu zest. Medium-bodied and wonderfully elegant, it delivers vivacious citrus and gentle herbs layers with a racy backbone and long mineral-laced finish.
Wines from the famed Bordeaux region in France are a great addition to any holiday gifting list. Some of the oldest, most reputable wines come out of this region, and one of our favorites is the 2015 Marquis De Mons. This is the second wine of the Château La Tour de Mons from the Bordeaux region. It comes from the same terroir and is vinified with as much care as the Grand Vin, and the blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon is similar. It uses the younger vines of the estate. Marquis de Mons’ wine style tends towards the research of balance, with supple tannins and good aromatic expression of violet, rose, blackberry, and truffle. It is a wine to enjoy while still young – meaning you can pop it in your WineStation Cellar and enjoy now!
Maray Gran Reserva Carménère 2018
Another wine great for pairing with heartier holiday dishes is the 2018 Maray Gran Reserva Carménère. Deep, intense red with slight violet hues. The nose is elegant, complex, and very spicy with black fruit and chocolate. In the mouth, it has smooth tannins and a perfect combination between the oak and the fruit. Elegant and long finish. The climate where this wine is grown in the Mediterranean and the vineyard faces north, so it receives more hours of sunshine, ensuring the optimum ripening of the fruit. It’s a wine to get you excited for the Mediterranean vacation you’re just dying to go on next year.
Oh What Fun: Unique Wine Gifts
Now that you’ve found the perfect bottle to tote to your holiday party or gift to one of the many wine lovers on your list, explore some of the more unique gifts that are, of course, wine-related.
Remember advent calendars? Every day you’d countdown to Christmas by unwrapping a tiny chocolate candy. Ok, we’ll admit, there were days when we’d unwrap a whole week’s worth of chocolate. Well, be prepared to get into the holiday spirit once again with this 2019 Advent Wine Calendar from VineBox. The adult-friendly nod to your favorite childhood tradition! This is perfect for the adventurous wine drinker who is up for trying new varietals, or for getting your bah-humbug coworkers into the spirit.
The holidays are almost synonymous with chocolate. Become everyone’s favorite host with these La Maison Du Chocolat Assorted Chocolate Coffrets. These luxury chocolates are delicious, rich candies that, much like wine, have a flavor for every palette. Pair with a luxury bottle or indulge in them on their own!
What do you do with all those corks after you pop a wine into your WineStation Cellar? Well, if you know someone with a huge stash piled up somewhere, you can gift a Wine Cork State from Uncommon Goods. Pop your keepsake corks into little slots that sit inside the shape of your home state. A nice piece of art that holds memories of great bottles of wine and good times.
You’ll want to join hands in song all night long with this Vintage Merlot Wine Soap. This handmade artisan soap is derived from real wine and can be described as smelling jammy, rich, and bright- don’t taste it though, save that for the REAL Merlot.
Now this one made us chuckle- an 8 GB Cork USB Drive. You need somewhere to store those vacation photos, don’t you?
The holidays don’t have to be a stressful time. With the ease and convenience of the WineStation Cellar’s ability to store and preserve, you can make your favorite wine collection last all season long. Enjoy all the food, drinks, and company this year thanks to the help of our staff here at Napa Technology. Seasons Greetings!