Entertaining for the holiday season can be stressful enough – what to wear, what to cook, what to serve – and then there’s the wine! With so many choices and so many price-points, picking the the wrong wine is far easier than finding the right one – but Lifestyle Expert Kasie Savage is here to help!
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Keep it simple
Crowd pleasers that are palette friendly are always the best bet. Look for wines that are labelled “easy drinking.”
Don’t spend more than you have to
Let’s face it, if you choose a crowd-pleasing wine, people will remember the good times and your great company over the price of the bottle. If you are serving up wine for a crowd, there’s no point shelling out $25+ a bottle if you know you’ll be going through 6, 8, 10 bottles. There are plenty of incredible wines in the $10-12 range that will leave you with extra money in your pocket – for desserts!
For the host
If you’re bringing a bottle of wine, there’s always that red vs. white dilemma – why not bring one of each. This is the time of year where some winemakers offer up gift sets – with a red Cab Sauvignon and a white Sauvignon Blanc (like Two Oceans, $19.95).
Here are 3 wine makers that are completely different in terms of offering, but are all great examples of easy drinking, crowd pleasers.
Two Oceans
Two Oceans hails from the Western Cape of South Africa, where two opposing oceans meet – the Atlantic cold, and the Indian Ocean, warm. Two Oceans is widely available across Canada, offering 4 varietals in most provinces, as well as a Moscato. The Duo Gift Pack is in stores at select LCBOs featuring the Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc.
Montecillo Reserva
Originating from the Rioja region, located in Spain´s cool North. The Reserva is 100% Tempranillo Montecillo wines are crafted only with Spanish indigenous Tempranillo grapes, from La Rioja Alta, perfect for elegant and longterm aging wines.
Flat Roof Manor Pinot Grigio
The grapes used to craft this wine came from three vineyards in Stellenbosch, SOUTH AFRICA. The Flat Roof Manor captures the love of a father to his daughter. A wealthy businessman himself, he wanted to open the door of fortune to his children. The keys to the Flat Roof Manor were a wedding gift to his beloved daughter.
This wine was created with fruitfulness in mind, so enjoy it now and don’t let it waste away in the cellar.
Two Oceans Mulled Wine
– 3 parts Two Oceans Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot
– 1 part spiced apple cider
– Thinly sliced apples and oranges to taste
– Heat on high until hot but not boiling.
– Set aside for 10 minutes to steep. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and enjoy!