Wines for the Holidays 2022

Reviewed on December 2022

This is my last column of 2022.  I thought it would be fun to talk about wines that would make good adult stocking stuffers and suggest a tasty bubbly to ring in the new year. My two picks for stocking stuffers is the Messias Miniature Ports and the Lulu Spritz cocktail. The Messias gift pack is a selection of 5 different ports – 2013 LBV, a 10 year old tawny, a 2 year old tawny, 2008 Colheita and 2005 Colheita. You can either give this box set to the wine lover in the family or break up the box and give individual 50 mL bottles in a few stockings! The Lulu Spritz wine cocktail is a combination of pinot grigio, tonic water and orange bitters. I prefer to pour it in a glass but you can drink it right out of the can. It’s a delicious balance of sweet orange meets bitter tonic. A fun drink to have on hand when you are entertaining or put in an adult’s stocking. It’s always good to have some bubbly in the fridge. The Salentein Cuvee Exceptionelle Brut is from Argentina and I can only imagine how many of bottles of this was consumed this week following Argentina’s win in the World Cup! It is a blend of 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay.  It is a great choice for New Year’s eve or to mix with orange juice to make a Mimosa on New Year’s morning.