听
I guess it doesn鈥檛 achieve much to lament the commercial / economic hi-jacking of this season upon us. The obscurity, humility and simplicity of a Middle Eastern mother, a child and a caring (if not bewildered) husband, seems a long way removed from wracking up more credit card debt on Made in China items guaranteed not to last, activity fatigue, over-eating at parties, sleep deprivation and desperate planning for the next warm weather escape destination. Merry Christmas!
May I boldly commend some actions for reality resuscitation in this sometimes-stressful season?听
鈥� look up at the stars for at least four minutes 鈥� go where you can see them
鈥� make or buy four Christmas cards for four neighbours
鈥� take a quiet soak,听 bath,听 or sauna听
鈥� cook a meal from scratch
鈥� get a real tree,听 decorate it
鈥� dare three friends to attempt curling with you
鈥� call a long-time friend for no reason except to talk and catch up
鈥� write a note to each of your children for Christmas telling them what they mean to you
鈥� listen to Handel鈥檚 Messiah 鈥� or part of it 鈥� it鈥檚 three hours long!听
鈥� attend a Christmas Eve church service somewhere
鈥� join the 鈥渟low wine movement鈥� 鈥� enjoy a glass of quality wine 鈥� slowly
On the last point please see some recommendations here. There鈥檚 a more comprehensive list for gifting wines to wine appreciators who are novice, experienced, or collectors at FineWinesSask.com.
A great Christmas to you and your loved ones.
Doug Reichel
White Wine Picks for the Christmas Season:
Relax Pinot Grigio 2013 鈥� Italy ($14.99 鈥� ID# 15743). The Relax series of wine is all about fun wines summed up in the words on the top of the screw cap: Chill and Unwind. This refreshing Relax Pinot Grigio is an easy sipping wine that will appeal to a wide swath of wine drinkers and a wide selection of food. 听
Generation Seven White 2012 鈥� VQA Canada ($15.99 鈥� ID# 16040) - Winemaker: Paul Bosc Jr.听
听
Here we have five grape varieties all grown on the Chateau des Charmes winery estate, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario: Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Gewurztraminer. Viognier and Savignon. An easy going wine. Unoaked, fresh and fruity. I鈥檝e had hardened red wine drinkers admit they really like this white wine. Food pairing suggestions: salads, salsa, oven-roasted chicken basted with fresh herbs, lemon and butter.听
Torreon de Paredes Reserve Chardonnay 2009/10听 - Chile ($16.26 鈥� ID#6615).听 Winemaker: Alvaro Paredes. Description: All the Torreon de Paredes wines come from their own estate vineyards 100 km south of Santiago, Chile. One wine writer considers this Chardonnay better than Chardonnays at twice the price. Torreon de Paredes were among the first Chilean vineyards to become ISO 14001 certified for environmentally-friendly land use. And the results are in the glass. Handpicked grapes from older vines and then 6-8 months in French oak barrels. On the nose: notes of vanilla, fresh pineapple and lychee. In the mouth: intense, juicy and soft notes of herb and spicy, toasted finish.听 Food pairing suggestions: barbecued pork; roasted poultry; lake and seafood and creamed vegetable dishes.
Red Wine Picks for the Christmas season:
Quinta da Esperanca 2011 鈥� Portugal ($17.99 鈥� ID# 12142).听From the same winery as the TE Red, and the same young winemaker (Joana), Quinta da Esperanca, or, Estate of Hope, is made of three uniquely Portuguese grapes (Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, and the world鈥檚 blackest grape, Alicante Bouschet). This wine wowed me some time ago because it was entirely unique in flavours, and incredibly complimentary with just about any food you decided to set down with it.听 If you want to break out of a wine rut into something truly satisfying and new, try this one. Food Pairing ideas:听 Yes 鈥� to most of your food ideas including appetizers, pork (try with a saskatoon or blueberry topping), beef ribs, fresh lake and seafood, mild and medium cheeses.
听
Melipal Malbec 2012 -Argentina ($19.99; ID# 6952).
Upon tasting this full, bright, ripe dark fruit amazingly balanced wine with aromas of plums, strawberries and coffee, by itself and then with a grilled steak, one person announced to me, "This is the very best red wine I have ever tasted!" I think this Malbec wine sets the standards for quality Argentinean Malbec wines. 听
听
Eikendal Classique 2012 鈥� 麻豆传媒AV Africa ($32.00 鈥� ID#2058). Winemaker: Nico Grobler. Description: One classy red grape blend from one vineyard: 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc. Nico鈥檚 meticulous attention to detail in the Eikendal vineyards means that each year鈥檚 production becomes a true work of liquid art that can be enjoyed now and over the next 15 years. Tightness, freshness, length, pure elegant fruit, with beautiful finesse. Perfect oak integration and not your typical wood chewing icon wine. A wine with soft nuances, whispering it鈥檚 secret in your ear.听 Gifting this may earn you a raise in pay! Food pairing suggestions: Danish blue and Gorgonzola cheeses; beef; bison or venison; Carpaccio with beets; or a rich chocolate and berry tart.听
听
Perbruno 2009/2011/2012 鈥� Italy听 ($35.59 鈥� ID# 7308).
From the bio-dynamic (鈥渂eyond organic鈥�) vineyards of Paulo Giusti in Tuscany, comes this 鈥淪uper-Tuscan.鈥� Named in honour of his father, Bruno (Per 鈥揊or- Bruno) it is 100% Syrah (Shiraz), matured in 300 litre French Oak barrels for 12 months. The Perbruno has a rich tannin structure with a finessed, silky-rich spice fruit finish. Outstanding in every way.听 Enjoy now or听 gift to a wine collector knowing that it can be set aside for another 8-10 years for ongoing maturing.听
听
Liqueur for the Christmas Season:
Cabot Trail Maple Cream Liqueur 鈥� Canada ($33.94 鈥� ID#20803).
From Quebec, brand new in Saskatchewan and setting a new standard for clean tasting, cream liqueurs, this one will win friends and influence enemies!听 Made from pure premium Canadian maple syrup, using the freshest cream and a special mix of grain alcohol and rum, this liqueur has wonderful layers of flavour without being 鈥渟yrupy.鈥澨� This is dessert in a glass 鈥� or over a scoop of ice cream 鈥� or in your coffee 鈥� or 鈥� or 鈥�
听
Spirit for the Christmas Season:
Chase Vodka 鈥� UK ($55.32 鈥� ID#9512).
听
One sip and you know why Chase was chosen over 110 other vodkas from around the world to be judged 鈥淭he World鈥檚 Best Vodka鈥� (San Francisco World Spirits competition 2010).听 Made from organic English potatoes near the Welsh border, distilled three times in 70 columns, this vodka is the definition of deliciously smooth 鈥� like buttery mashed potatoes perhaps. You don鈥檛 reach for the Coke with this Vodka 鈥� and its 100 per cent gluten-free. 听
All wines listed are available in Saskatchewan through your local government liquor store or rural liquor franchisee. If they don鈥檛 have it in stock, request it by ID# - they鈥檒l bring it in.听
