Need a few wine suggestions for Christmas presents, or thank you gifts, or to serve guests? I’ve got seven suggestions and all of them are fairly easy to find at local retailers or order from the winery.
Let’s start with the white wines. D’Aun and my all time favorite white wine is from DeSante Wines called L’Atelier. A blend of Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Sauvignon Vert, this is a refreshing white wine that everyone will enjoy. And it is a bargain at $28.
If you want an even bigger bargain, check out the 2017 Domaine Lafage “Novellum” Chardonnay. Granted, we like the L’Atelier better, but this French Chardonnay is just $10.99 a bottle. It’s simple, drinkable, and quickly becomes a crowd-pleaser.
Want something upscale that doesn’t break the bank? Kesner makes several different Chardonnays and I think all of them are delicious. They are $45 and up, which puts them in the “nice gift” or “special dinner” category without becoming ridiculously overpriced.
For red wines, we served Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon at a recent large party and it was a hit. This is not a fancy wine so don’t expect to impress a wine lover with it. But for just $18 a bottle it’s a good value.
If you want to impress people with something unique and unknown, check out Teeter-Totter Cabernet Sauvignon. My favorite winemaker is the mastermind behind this wine, and for the quality it’s a bargain at $65 a bottle. The 2016 is fantastic if you can find it (the 2017 is readily available).
If that’s too expensive, check out the relatively new Grounded Wine Company. They have two red wines offering high value for their price. Public Radio is their Paso Robles red blend ($25) and Collusion is their Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon ($22). I really enjoyed both of them.
And a bonus suggestion. You have to be on the allocation list to get wines from Realm Cellars, but the secondary market often has The Bard available if you hunt around. Even though this is made by the same winemaker as Teeter-Totter, the quality really jumps with Realm because the grapes come from the finest vineyards in Napa Valley. Unfortunately the price jumps too ($150-200 per bottle). But if you want to really splurge this will impress everyone who knows wine. Just be sure to invite me over when you pop the cork!