Top 10 wines to gift during the holidays.
It’s the season that keeps on giving! The pressure is on to shop for not only the people you love at home, but your colleagues at the “White Elephant” party, friends, and don’t forget to not show up empty handed to the dinner parties and afternoon soirees, between now and December 31st.
We’re here to help you through this takeover of your wallet. Spend your dollars wisely on hand selected, top ranking wines from our online shop. No need to be a showboat this season, just show off your wines!
Take a look at the list below, of our top 10 wine picks to gift this season, for North American wine lovers!
1. 2022 Spearhead Riesling - Okanagan Valley, Canada
Here is our absolute top pick for gifting this holiday season. Riesling not only performs well on its own but is one of the easiest wines to pair with hors d’oeuvres, dessert and a variety of entrees including – seafood, meat (duck, pork, bacon, prime rib, filet mignon, and other fatty meats), spicy dishes, Indian vegetarian, vegan dishes, and pasta.
Not to mention – Spearhead Winery was awarded 2024 Winery of The Year at the Canadian National Wine Awards. On the nose, this wine displays jasmine and lime with a hint of crushed rock and flint. The palate opens with a blast of fresh lemon, crab apple, and mineral notes. Great tension and balance.
2. 2015 Pondview Vidal Icewine - Niagara Peninsula, Canada
Don’t get us started on icewine. We have converted folks who only drink cabernet sauvignon from Napa Valley into icewine lovers. Simply by pairing it to the right occasion, or for no reason at all, especially icewine that has some age.
Icewine is a captivating style of wine that deserves a prominent place in any serious wine enthusiast's portfolio. Nowhere is this truer than with the authentic, world-class icewines produced in Canada, the global leader in icewine production. One shining example of this Canadian excellence is the 2015 Pondview Vidal Icewine.
On the nose, vivid aromas of ripe apricot, fragrant honey, and lush tropical fruit captivate the senses. The perfect pairing for this icewine is salty, rich foods that accentuate its natural sweetness and create a mouthwatering synergy of flavors. Whether savored on its own as a dessert wine or paired with everything from foie gras to blue cheese, you need this sophisticated wine in your life.
Switching it up for our friends who prefer a Bordeaux style blend that is soft and full of fruit with classic and elegant structure. All hail this beautiful red blend from Clos Du Soleil, Similkameen Valley, Canada. Grown in Canada’s organic capital and only desert region, the merlot dominant blend (55% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Malbec, 7% Petit Verdot) has the perfect touch of inky petit verdot to finish. The taster is greeted with aromas of cedar, fresh ripe raspberries and blackberries.
On the palate the wine is soft and layered, dominated by fresh ripe fruit flavors of raspberry, blackberry, and pomegranate, with more subtle notes of forest undergrowth and spice, with juicy acidity.
4. 13th Street Cuveé Sparkling Rosé - Niagara Peninsula, Canada
It’s New Years Eve, you’re wrapping up the day’s last email and jetting for the door. You have 5 minutes to powder your nose, and you didn’t have time to contribute to the potluck. Don’t fret – be a distinguished wine pro and bring a bottle of the 13th st sparkling rosé. Women will swoon, and men will be happily surprised at the bounty of aromatics, defined palate and attractive color. We served glasses of this wine as our guests arrived at a winemakers dinner, this past year. There wasn’t a single attendee in that room that complained!
(46% Pinot Noir, 54% Chardonnay) The mousse is creamy and fine, but the wine is dry and quite bracing with a long, fine finish of fruit skin, ripe stone fruit and light toast. Great wine for cellar aging as well!
5. 2021 Lomita Cabernet Sauvignon - Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico
Let’s head south of the border to another desert region that is producing cabernet sauvignon at par with Napa Valley, California - Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico. Don’t take our word for it, google the reviews!
A red wine known for its bold flavors and balance. You can expect vibrant notes of black cherry, plum, and hints of blackberry, layered with subtle vanilla and oak undertones from barrel aging. On the palate, it presents a full-bodied texture, with firm yet velvety tannins. Flavors of dark chocolate and a touch of spice enhance the complexity, leading to a long, satisfying finish. It’s a versatile wine that pairs well with grilled meats, rich pasta dishes, or can be enjoyed on its own.
Surprise your Cab loving “Uncle Matt” with a bottle of this wine for steak dinner. He will be asking you “where can I buy this”? And you say – Kascadia Wine Merchants.
6. 2021 Ravines Blaufrankisch/Pinot Noir Blend - Finger Lakes, New York
Okay so if you love Austrain cuisine, you may have come across a fruity, mildly tannic, earthy and off dry red varietal called Blaufrankisch. Well, we did many years back at one of our favorite restaurants in Campbell, California called “Nashmarkt”. Fast forward 5 years, and we discovered Ravines Vineyards from the big apple state - New York, is producing a blend with Pinot Noir. – “get outta hea!” This is the one you take to your trendy friends’ gathering.
A crowd favorite – you will be greeted with spiced plums, black cherries and rose petals, with a touch of cinnamon and pepper. Juicy with an acidic backbone. 100% estate fruit of Pinot Noir and Blaufränkisch from estate vineyards on Seneca Lake: White Springs (Blaufrankisch) and 16 Falls Vineyards (Pinot Noir).
7. 2022 Two Shepards Albarino, Lodi, California
Here is our top pick for natural wine lovers. Meaning - people who enjoy wine that's made with minimal intervention and without additives, synthetic chemicals, or excessive pesticides. Certified natural and organic wines - Two Shepherds focuses on Rhône and uncommon varieties, often from the only few acres available in California. Their old world style, free from manipulation, allows for the true expression of the variety, vintage and vineyard.
This Albarino exudes notes of honeydew, guava and kiwi. If you want to swing red – check out the Two Shepards Carbonic Carignon!
8. 2022 Q&A RMV - Okanagan Valley, Canada
Let’s start by saying, we love a white blend with just the right blend. Behold, our most popular white wine of this year - the classy 2021 Q&A RMV is the undisputed star of the show! Here we have the most delicious blend of Roussanne, Marsanne and Viognier. It offers a generous nose of honeyed apricots, candied lemon, and beeswax, lifted by expressive orange blossom aromatics and delicate oak spice.
Q&A is a premium wine project by Hollywood actor and director Jason Priestley, Winemaker’s CUT proprietor Michal Mosny, and media personality and broadcaster Terry David Mulligan.
9. 2021 Terah Sangiovese - Mokelumne River AVA, CA
Without a doubt, as a female founded company, we pride ourselves on being brand ambassadors for other female founders and winemakers. Let’s shine a well-deserved spotlight on the one and only Terah Bajjalieh, of Terah Wine Co. A native Californian, Terah refined her unique style and found her love of wine by way of food and from her travels across the globe. Terah immersed herself in the international world of wine, studying Enology and Viticulture in Spain and France. Her six years of vintage hopping saw her complete 13 harvests covering five countries, including France, Australia, and New Zealand – sometimes doing three harvests in a year.
This wine showcases all of her natural instincts and expertise in producing high caliber wine with minimal intervention.
A combination of roasted cherries and black cherries coat the palate. The mixture of cooked fruit and fresh fruit keeps the tastebuds thinking. Soft hay like characteristics work as the tannins for the wine, creating a drying effect. Light rose petals and delicate black fruit linger on the palate. A beautiful wine from start to finish!
10. Brea Chardonnay - Central Coast, California
Last one – we want to give a shout out to Brea Wine company for producing this mouth watering and “deelish” Chardonnay!
Hailing from the Central Coast of California, this 2023 BREA Chardonnay is the result of a collaboration between two esteemed figures in the natural wine world - Chris Brockway, the renowned owner of Broc Cellars, and Tim Elenteny, the seasoned libations logistics leader of Elenteny Imports. Together, these masterminds have crafted a Chardonnay that showcases a striking balance of bright, refreshing character and nuanced complexity. It is sure to delight the senses and leave a lasting impression on all who have the pleasure of experiencing it. Available now for $23 on our website!
And that’s a wrap, for our 10 top wines. We hope that this list helps you refine your shopping list and your palate. Do not hesitate to reach out to us at info@kascadiawine.com if you have any questions. Happy “Holly Days”! x – VJ
