Right in time to welcome 2010, today we have Josephine, (who previously made some wine suggestions) contribute as the first guest writer for our blog. Josephine works at Continental Fine Wines, and has expert knowledge on wines and fine dining. I hope this list of recommendations will inspire menus for holidays and festivities in the new year!

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No occasion is ever truly complete without the accompaniment of liquor. But it’s not only about keeping the booze flowing and your guests happy – as Marie Antoinette would have it in her lavish parties – the type and quality of liquor you choose also reflects the character of the event. Growing up, I always loved reading the taste profiles of wines from my dad’s library, amazed by how their characteristics sounded as complex as people.

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So here is my short list of wines to invite to a party, from aperitif sipped in conversation, to richer wines paired with sweets and cake, and some bubblies to throw in for good measure. And because it’s a damn recession, and I’m more of a good value hunter than big spender (I’ll wait until that rich old man comes along…), most of these wines are within the $10-20 USD price range, with a few noted exceptions that I thought were too good to be held back by the price tag.

Sippable whites for… “Are you with the bride or the groom?” questions:

• 2007 Chateau Ste Michelle Chardonnay from Colombia Valley. Very drinkable and light, fruity and citrusy
• 2008 Montecillo Verdemar Albarino from Spain. If you enjoy crisp wines (i.e. with an acidic/”tart” taste).
• 2008 Chateau Ste Michelle Riesling. Amazing price point for an 87 point Riesling, thus voted as “best value” on Wine Spectator. For those who prefer their whites less sweet, this has an off-dry taste.
• 2008 Cinquante Cinq Viognier from the French Rhone Valley. Another crisp and light aperitif, with a clean finish (i.e. no lingering after taste).
• 2008 Cupcake Chardonnay. A popular one because of its price point and its memorable name.

Sippable reds: (I chose pinot noirs because they are light to medium-bodied)

• 2008 Emerson Pinot Noir from Oregon is immensely popular.
• 2008 Mark West Pinot Noir at $12.99. Great price point.
• 2005 Icario Rubi Toscana, a Merlot and Sangiovese blend from Tuscany. Sangiovese is an Italian grape – the taste profile is fruity and medium-bodied, slightly spicy, but not as robust and overpowering as a Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a well-balanced one since it’s blended with Merlot.
• 2007 Barnard Griffin Syrah from Washington State – I had this on Christmas Eve and absolutely loved it. Not sure if they ship internationally, as they are a private label that produced about 2,000 cases. Spicy, smooth and velvety, and not very dry (it has a sweet but richness to it), which I found delicious. For the price point, it earned 90 points on Wine Spectator, which shows good value.
• 2007 Norton Ridge Merlot from Napa. You know what they say – can’t go wrong with a Merlot, especially when it’s Norton Ridge.

“Let Them Eat Cake!” whites:

In general, I recommend going for Chardonnays because they have a buttery, creamy flavor with notes of apple, melon, and pear both on the nose and on the palate – especially when you let the wine sit. Most people chill their whites – but they overdo it. The aroma and sweet taste in Chardonnays actually grows when the wine warms up and isn’t served so cold.

For citric desserts…e.g. key lime, lemon, raspberry:

• 2008 Woodbridge Chardonnay – produced by Robert Mondavi. The price point definitely fell way down after he died last year. This is good value for a magnum (which is 1.75L instead of the regular sized bottle of 750ML). Citrusy, dry chardonnay.
• 2007 Trimbach Reisling at $18.99 is a real steal. It’s 91 points on Wine Spectator. Crisp (acidic), very dry, and has a heavier body than the sippable whites.
• 2006 Von Schleinitz Weisenberg Riesling Spatlese. Another steal at $16.99, being a 90-point Riesling. Off-dry.

For creamy cakes and sweets:

• 2008 St. Michael Eppan Pinot Grigio from Alto Adige, Italy is immensely popular and delicious. Ranked #70 of all wines in 2009 by Wine Spectator. Spicy apple and peach notes, clean acidity (which means easy on the acid with a short finish).
• 2007 La Crema Chadonnay from Sonoma Coast.
• 2008 Ridge Monte Bello Chardonnay from the Santa Cruz Mountains at $54.99. This is an obvious splurge (save it for the bride’s table) but so worth it. Won an astounding 95 points on Wine Spectator. Great if you like that long, oaky finish (after taste) like I do.
• 2007 Beringer Chardonnay Private Reserve from Napa Valley. Beringer is one of the oldest vineyards in Napa. This is a full-bodied chard and very, buttery.

For savory finger foods and appetizers:

• 2008 Girard Sauvignon Blanc from Napa
• 2008 Silverado Sauvignon Blanc

Bubblies:

A note: Technically, only sparkling wine produced from Champagne, France can be considered “Champagne.” And they are expensive because they have that AOC (Appellation d’origine contrôlée, which is a French geographic certification granted to wines and cheeses and certain meats to guarantee “authenticity”). Before you reach for that $40-50 bottle of Veuve Clicquot or Dom Perignon, however, you should know that there are plenty of sparkling wines produced elsewhere that taste just as delicious, with a friendlier price tag. And by the way, Veuve is good, but often times it’s the branding that ups the price, not the taste.

Prosecco – Italian sparkling wine – is a great alternative at cheaper price points with the same bright, bubbly taste:

• Villa Sandi Prosecco
• Prosecco Brut Mionetto

Californian sparkling:

• Domaine Chandon Brut Classic. Actually the subsidiary of Moet et Chandon, but based in California and subsequently cheaper. Great value, one of my favorite go-tos for that consistent, bubbly taste.
• At $33.99, but still cheaper than Veuve, Schramsberg Brut 2006 Blanc de Noirs (made from Pinot Noir grapes) is absolutely delicious. I served 30 bottles of it at a recent party, and let’s just say…people kept coming back for more. It has a honeyed, buttery taste to it.

Champagne:

• Paul Goerg Brut Rose. The shade of pink is the topic of discussion – and perfect for matching a potential color scheme for an event.
• And my personal, personal favorite – Louis Roederer Brut Premier NV – if you like that dry, slightly bitter aftertaste. Gives a good kick to your champagne but still goes down real smooth.

Cheers to 2010!

{photos by Kiddi Kristjáns, Rae Coleman and Mihay from Flickr}