Thoughtful Gifts from Around the World for the Holidays

• Posted on 15 December 2020
• 0

For our in-store tastings Friday, December 18, and Saturday, December 19, 2020, City Vino will be “traveling” the world to bring you wines that would make lovely gifts for family, friends, or even for yourselves.

The first stop on our journey is in California, where we will be tasting the Paula Kornell Brut Méthode Champenoise. This non-vintage sparkling wine is made in the same style as Champagne, where the secondary fermentation happens in-bottle. The wine is 80 percent Chardonnay, and 20 percent Pinot Noir, and has aromas of apple, lemon pith, and freshly baked bread. On the palate, it is bright and creamy, with a hint of sweetness, along with a symphony of fruit flavors like peach, melon, apple, pear, and a biscuity and crisp finish. Toast to the holidays with this lovely wine, serve it as an aperitif to wake up your palate before your meal, or pair it with potato chips while watching your favorite movie. This wine scored 94 points in the Wine Enthusiast editor’s choice, and was ranked number five on their top 100 wines of 2020 list, and it’s a value sparkling wine with a price tag under $25. 

The next stop on our journey takes us to Morocco where we will try the Thalvin Alain Graillot Syrocco Syrah Zenata. The vineyards are located not far from Casablanca, on the Mediterranean coast, taking advantage of the cooling effect of the Atlantic Ocean breezes. Morocco is known for its dishes packed with exotic spices,  and this wine is no different. It is made from 100 percent Syrah, with hints of sandalwood, herbs, and spice, along with ripe black-and-blue fruits, black cherry, and figs. With its rich spice characteristic, this wine will pair well with saucy barbequed chicken or ribs, sausages with lots of herbs, leg of lamb or lamb chops with rosemary, and hard cheeses.

We now travel southward, to South Africa. Here we will be experiencing the Klein Constantia Estate Red. Winemaking in the region of Constantia began in 1685, so it has a long-storied history. The grapes for this wine are planted on lower and warmer slopes in what is overall one of the coolest wine growing regions in South Africa. This wine is a blend of 40 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 25 percent Malbec, 19 percent Shiraz, and 16 percent Petit Verdot, and is aged separately in up to 40 percent new French oak barrels for 12 months, before being blended and bottled. Aromas of ripe plums and black currants pair beautifully with the red fruit and baking spices on the palate. Serve this wine with a cheese and charcuterie platter or roasted meats.

Our final destination is to Italy, and to the Abruzzo region, where we will taste the Talamonti Tre Saggi Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. The “Tres Saggi” in the name translates as the three wise men which appear in a fresco in the Church of Santa Maria, in Piano, which is only a couple of miles from the winery estate, and are believed to be Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Made from 100 percent Montepulciano, the wine was aged for 12 months in French oak, then rested for an additional 12 months in bottle before release. On the nose and palate, there are cherries, vanilla, chocolate, licorice, and a hint of clove. Pair this wine with traditional Italian dishes with red sauce, a dish with spicy sausage or pizza. 

Join us for this whirlwind trip around the world to find holiday cheer!