Wine for the Holidays

December 19, 2008

ADVICE FOR THE HOST

How much wine will you need? ( Food & Wine, December 2007)

A Cocktail party:
2 hours @3 glasses per person X 20 people = approximately 12 bottles

A Dinner party:
4 hours @ 5 glasses per person X 8 people = approximately 8 bottles

(generally there are about 4.5 to 5 glasses per bottle so you can calculate for your own party)

WHAT TO BUY…

Whether your gathering in the coming weeks is for Christmas, Hanukkah or another celebration, Foodie Favorites and The Wine Cellar can help you with your wine picks for this festive season.

Mark and I walked the racks and here are some of his suggestions:

A little bubbly to get the party started…Sparkling Wine or Champagne is a must at this time of year!

Two very reasonably priced sparkling wines that are great as a greeting for your guests, an aperitif or a first course pairing… From Savoie, France, Varichon & Clerk for only $12.99 or Anime, a pink prosecco from Italy for $16.99.

If you are looking for a white wine that is good with fish, salmon, turkey and a nice alternative to an oaky chardonnay, try a 2007 Graham Beck Viognier from South Africa for just $14.99.

Mark picked two red wines that will go well with a range of foods (in particular, think roast beef , lamb and other savory holiday entrees). Chateau Reynier, a great Bordeaux for only $18.99 and Fonthill, a 2002 Shiraz, selling here for a mere $19.99, are sure to be enjoyed by your guests.

Lastly, to cap off the day if you are so inclined, a dessert wine from Spain… Casa de la Eramita for $17.99. It will go well with chocolate, nuts and other treats as you are winding down your celebration.

PROPER SERVING TEMPERATURE (Food & Wine, December 2007)

Serve white wine at 55 degrees. It will reach the proper temperature if kept in the refrigerator for about 1.5 hours, in a freezer for 40 minutes or in an ice bucket with ice and water for about 20 minutes. If the wine has been in the refrigerator for an extended time, you may want to keep it at room temperature for about 20 minutes before serving.

Though many people drink red wine at room temperature, it should really be served at about 65 degrees. You can achieve that by keeping it in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes. Do not overchill though!

Cheers!
Foodie

The Wine Cellar
www.thewinecellarredbank.com
23 Monmouth Street
Red Bank, NJ 07701
732.219.9935

Food and Wine
www.foodandwine.com