The holiday season is in full swing as stores close-up shop and we all get ready to spend some quality time with our friends and family.
While the smartest of us have our Christmas shopping all done and the presents placed under the tree with care, some may have forgotten about the holiday libations they may want to serve guests.
With that in mind we bring you some suggestions for the perfect adult pairing to that delicious turkey dinner.
An Okanagan sommelier and wine-purchaser for West 琉璃神社鈥檚 Cask & Barrel Liquor Store, Shanyn Ward, is sharing a sneak peak into what she will be drinking this holiday.
Her position at Cask & Barrel allows her to explore a whole world of wine and bring in unique items you may not find in other stores.
鈥淲e try to structure our purchasing on items you cannot buy at the government liquor store, so we have more specialty-type products, small allocation into the province,鈥� says Ward.
鈥淭he Villa Maria Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand) has concentrated citrus, gooseberry and grassy flavours, it is $20.89,鈥� explains Ward.
鈥淭he second one I recommend is the Leitz Dragonstone Riesling, from the Rheingau in Germany ($20.89). It is technically off-dry, but it has a little more acidity so it is fresh.
鈥淵ou want something fresh that will cleanse your pallet as you鈥檙e usually eating heavier foods at Christmas so you want something that will do that at the same time.鈥�
While Pinot Noir is a go-to pairing for turkey dinner, Ward suggests the Dominique Piron Brouilly Gamay Noir this year for red-wine drinkers.
鈥淭his is a Gamay from Beaujolais and a good alternative to Pinot Noir,鈥� says Ward.
鈥淚t is fruity, it鈥檚 spicy, it鈥檚 a classic match with turkey and it鈥檚 $28.80. We get enough Pinot in the valley, let鈥檚 do something different.鈥�
鈥淭his is a Cabernet Franc Merlot. It was introduced as one of their more entry-level wines, but this one is just $19.49 a bottle and it is full-bodied, there is lots of fruit, the tannins are really nicely integrated, it鈥檚 not too dry, it鈥檚 really something that would please a lot of people.鈥�
And for those of you who will always pass on the wine for a good beer, Ward has a craft beer classic to try.
She says the AleSmith Brewery in San Diego produces some sought-after quality beer that we don鈥檛 see much of in B.C. She is recommending you grab a bottle or two of their Nut Brown English-Style Ale for $6.99.
鈥淭his beer is fuller-bodied, but not too hoppy, it has good flavour.鈥�
And who can forget the bubbles?
Bernard Massard Brut Cuv茅e De L鈥櫭ヽusson is far more affordable than a Champagne at $26.89, but has many of the properties you would come to expect from one.
鈥淐hardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Riesling, aged for two years in the bottle. There is a little bit of creaminess to it, but it is quite fresh,鈥� said Ward. 鈥淭his is just a really nice alternative to a brioche-bready Champagne and it is a little drier than Prosecco.
鈥淭his is a new product that just came into the province not too long ago.鈥�
You can visit Ward at the all weekend long and even on Christmas Day.
To report a typo, email:
newstips@kelownacapnews.com.
carmen.weld@bpdigital.ca
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