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HOLIDAY WINE GUIDE

A Cheat Sheet For Hostess Gifting and Stocking Your Holiday Party Bar

Time to fess-up....Do you often find yourself trolling the wine aisles, attempting to find just the right bottle, ultimately surrendering to a pretty label!?! Has the breezy task of trying a new varietal or selecting an interesting hostess gift ever become a stressful nightmare? Well, this year, there's a new sommelier in town. And by that, I mean me... And by that, I'm completely kidding. Truth is, I'm aching for a Wine Shopping Guide...a simple one with below $25 and above. that includes some new, "sure thing" suggestions. So, I decided to call on CORK BAR, Co-Founder, Caleb Wines (yes...that's his name) a local pro with some "everywhere" ideas for wine gifting and bar-stocking. Enjoy a short list of Caleb's favorite California Varietals and some reliable, hi/low choices for trying any of them. Cheers! PS: For anyone in LA or visiting, Corkbar is a relaxed and unpretentious wine bar in Downtown LA that houses a huge selection of California Wines. The decor is easy, there's a cozy fire pit on the patio and yummy bites to boot....I love the sliders and burrata board....all listed with wine pairings. But my favorite part...not surprising....is that they make it easy to explore and discover new things. Just describe what you like and they'll create a Custom Flight for you, ensuring that you leave floaty, fed and full of new ideas.

Posted on November 19th, 2011

Eat/Drink + Celebrate

Roussanne CALEB'S TOP PICKS: Curtis, $20 + Qupe, $39This is a great white wine for those who want to try something different. A good Roussanne has an almost herbal quality mixed with layers of fruit, a hint of honey and depending on where it is grown and some mineral notes as well. This makes discovering a great Roussanne a rich and rewarding experience.
Viognier CALEB'S TOP PICKS: Melville, $23, Pride Mountain, $42Many people don't know how to pronounce, let alone know what a good Viognier tastes like [FYI: Vee-ohn-YAY]. There is a floral, almost perfume quality to this varietal, but contrary to popular belief, it is not sweet. Like Chardonnay, Viognier spends time in a barrel and has solid oak notes (and can be over-oaked, like a Chardonnay). A great Viognier has good acidity and complex layers, with bright citrus fruit including pineapple and nectarine.
Syrah CALEB'S TOP PICKS: Holus Bolus, $24 + Peay "La Bruma", $47This is possibly the most versatile, red wine varietal. It goes with so many different types of food, but is also great on its own. Additionally, there are a variety of Syrah types…you can enjoy fruity ones, or smoky and peppery ones, which really makes exploring different wineries’ takes on this grape, great fun. It’s also an ideal blending grape, if you end up going with a Rhone-style blend.
Pinot Noir CALEB'S TOP PICKS: Au Bon Climat, $25 + PaulHobbs, "Hyde Vinyard" $75Always a great choice for a lighter-bodied red wine. The last couple of vintages and especially the new 2009 vintage in California is drawing rave reviews. From what I have tasted, I couldn't agree more. There is a lot of complexity in a great Pinot Noir and a lot of variety, as well, as you explore the different regions take on this classic varietal.
Un-Oaked Chardonnay CALEB'S TOP PICK: Morgan Metallico $17Everyone seems to be familiar (and not a fan) of super-oaky California Chardonnay. However, there seems to be a trend going on with producers making an "un-oaked" version of this stalwart varietal. The pear-apple notes of a good Chardonnay are usually masked by too much oak, but these flavors really come through in the un-oaked version.