Holiday Wines within your Budget

December has arrived and it is officially the season for gathering with friends to share a few laughs and good cheer. Even if you only have $9 left in your wallet after a day of shopping, there is a quality wine that you can enjoy during the holidays. Here are a few bargains from around the world that will bring warmth and merriment to your holiday dinner or celebration.

Bodegas Borsao Monte Oton Garnacha 2008 - $8.99
The Monte Oton vineyards are in the sub-region of Campo de Borja in Spain just down river from Rioja on extinct volcanic slopes. The grape widely grown in this area is Garnacha (also known as Grenache). Garnacha is thin skinned and juicy sweet and thrives in hot, arid climates such as this allowing it to become fully-ripe and concentrated. It is ruby red with black fruits, flowers and pepper on the nose. Red fruits and a bit of spice come through on the palate. It is a luscious, juicy wine that goes down easy whether you are drinking it alone or with a meal. It is an incredible value!

Loosen Bros. Riesling Qba Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Dr. L 2008 - $10.99
This is a wine you can drink all night before, during, and after dinner. The alcohol is only 8.5%. It is a vibrant, fruit-driven wine. The aromas and flavors of peaches and green apples are coupled with a racy acidity and minerality. The finish is graceful and dry with a hint of sweetness and freshness that lingers. The Loosen family has been producing wines from their Mosel estate in Germany for over two centuries. Wines from Ernest Loosen are the best representation of the Mosel region with steep slopes and slate soil giving a classic minerality to a fruity, crisp wine that is affordable for all to enjoy.

Delas Freres Cotes du Rhone St Esprit 2007 - $11.99
Delas Freres is well-known throughout the Rhone Valley in France, particularly for high-end quality Northern Rhone wines. This Southern Rhone cuveé from the small village of St. Esprit is their best ever with the blend being 75% Syrah and 25% Grenache. The winemaker Jacques Grange has upgraded the quality revealing a beautiful wine deep garnet in color with an intense red berry aroma. It is full-bodied with fine tannins and plenty of black fruits and spice on the palate. It is impressive how gorgeous this wine is for the price.

Foxglove Chardonnay Central Coast 2008 - $14.99
The Central Coast is one of the coolest wine growing regions in California producing pure, clean tropical fruit style Chardonnay’s. This wine is produced by twin brothers, Bob and Jim Varner who make value and premium wines in the Santa Cruz Mountains. This is their entry level Chardonnay that is fermented and aged completely in stainless steel giving the Chardonnay grape an opportunity to shine without the burden of heavy oak. The result is a wine with aromas of pineapple, mango, banana and pear. It has a medium-body and nice acidity in the mouth to carry the fruit.

St Michael-Eppan Pinot Grigio Alto Adige 2008 - $15.99
Most people think of Pinot Grigio as dry, light-bodied and neutral. This wine has more character which is typical of the Alto Adige region in Italy’s most northern wine region bordering Austria. St. Michael-Eppan winery was founded in 1907 and has won numerous awards. The Pinot Grigio they produce is a gem. It is dry, yet medium-bodied with pure apple, pear and peach fruit wrapped in silky minerality giving it a long, smooth and layered finish. Enjoy this wine alone or with chicken, salads with fruit, and mild cheeses.

Rocca delle Macie Chianti Classico 2006 - $16.99
This winery is young amidst the century old historical wineries in Chianti. Yet for less than 30 years Rocca delle Macie has created a reputation as one of the most highly regarded estates. They use selective herbicides to protect the environment and the workers. Fertilization is organic. The wine is made in the traditional style for Chianti and abides by the strict standards for percentage of grapes, yields, and aging. 90% of the grapes is Sangiovese with 5% Canaiolo and 5% Merlot. The color is medium-to-deep ruby and the aromas reveal sour cherry and cranberry with hints of cedar, orange peel, and flowers. It is dry with nice acidity and warming cranberry fruit on the palate. A balanced Chianti that pairs well with traditional Italian sausages and cold cuts. Alternatively try it with tuna rubbed with cumin and coriander, pan seared and finished with a orange juice, white wine, and butter sauce. Delizioso!

Flechas de Los Andes Gran Malbec 2007- $16.99
The Malbec grape was one of the grapes blended into Bordeaux, but it migrated to a better home in Argentina where it thrives in the warmer climate and produces velvety, concentrated wines. The winery was formed in 1999 as a partnership with Bordelais vintners Baron Benjamin de Rothschild and Laurent Dassault of Chateau Dassault in Bordeaux. The wine is luscious with smooth round tannins as it is aged in only 1/3 new French oak and the remainder in used oak and stainless steel. The result is a bouquet of plums, black cherries, violets and espresso. It is medium to full-bodied with succulent fruit layers, spice, and light vanilla on the palate providing an elegant and pure wine to enjoy with roasted meats, game, or pasta. It is an added bonus that this wine is Kosher for those concerned during the holidays.

Silver Palm Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 - $19.99
This California Cabernet is elegant not only what is in the bottle, but also the bottle itself. It will be a gracious compliment to any table this holiday season as it is an artisanal wine made in a quality style to accompany food. The wine consists of primarily Cabernet Sauvignon (89%), but is joined with Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet France, and Petite to produce a seductive wine of blackberry, coffee, chocolate, and a hint of cinnamon. Those aromas carry over to the palate providing a mouth filling and lavish wine that lingers.