holiday wines

Four Seasons Plans Twitter Wine Tasting

Filed under: Wine, Events

The Four Seasons is getting in on the Twitter wine tasting trend, hosting its first virtual event and you don't even have to head to a Four Seasons to participate (although really, why wouldn't you?). The event takes place on November 17 and focuses on perfect pairings for the upcoming holidays and will highlight wine knowledge from three sommeliers with more than 25 years of combined experience.

James Tidwell, Co-Founder and Current Head of the Texas Sommelier Association; Mark Sayre, one of Wine & Spirits magazine's "7 Best New Sommeliers of 2010"; and Dana Farner, recognized as "one of the best around" by Bon Appétit magazine, will lead participants in a virtual guided tasting of three wines: Loosen Bros. Dr. L Riesling, Paraiso Vineyards Syrah, and the Chappellet Mountain Cuvee.

The discussion will address the unique flavor profiles of each wine and how to pair them with seasonal dishes or use them in a Thanksgiving holiday menu. The event will end with a Q & A session. To join in log-on to Twitter at 6:00pm CT / 7:00pm ET on November 17, 2010 and search for the hashtag #FSWine. You can also join a dedicated Tweetup at the nearest participating Four Seasons hotel or resort. Tweetups will be held at Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta; Four Seasons Hotel Austin; Four Seasons Hotel Boston; Four Seasons Hotel Chicago; The Ritz-Carlton Chicago, A Four Seasons Hotel; Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas; Four Seasons Hotel Houston; Four Seasons Hotel Miami; Four Seasons Hotel New York; Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach; Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia; Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis and Four Seasons Hotel Toronto.

Tags: four seasons, holiday wines, tweetup, twitter, wine

Celebrating the Season with Vigna Dogarina

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Many people have discovered prosecco as a pleasing, budget-conscious alternative to champagne when it comes to celebrating festive occasions. Not all proseccos are created equal, however. Finding bottles labeled with "DOC" (Denominazione Origine Controllata) or "DOCG" (Denominazione Origine Controllata Garantita) is a guarantee of quality, meaning that the grape used and the wine making process originated in a specific region. Vigna Dogarina's DOC prosecco comes from the most prestigious prosecco region in Italy, Valdobbiadene, located in the Veneto region and is available in two varieties, Brut and Extra Dry, retailing for $16 to $20 per bottle. Vigna Dogarina Brut has a delicate floral perfume and pleasant notes of wisteria. It is the driest prosecco of the range and the low residual sugar level brings out an appealing freshness and acidity with hints of green apple. The Extra Dry features fragrant floral qualities accompanied by attractive notes of acacia and meadow flowers, wild apples and honey. Its slightly higher residual sugar allows a rounder and softer effect on the pallet and brings out floral and fresh fruit aromas.

Tags: champagne, holiday wines, HolidayWines, Italy, prosecco, sparkling wine, SparklingWine, Veneto, Vigna Dogarina, VignaDogarina

Best Wines for the Holidays

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

While some want to limit their choices to one type of wine, and others don't pay too much attention to the pairings beyond whether they like the wine or not, picking the wine to accompany a holiday meal can make or break the dinner for others. Red and whites both go with roast turkeys and either is a fine choice for Thanksgiving. Reds work better with hearty beef dishes. Forbes has come up with a few suggestions for the best wines to serve at a holiday dinner, which include: Beaune, Clos de Mouches, Premier Cru, Domaines Joseph Drouhin 2003 ($80); Guidalberto 2003 ($50); Rodney Strong Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 ($41); Hugel Gewurztraminer Jubilee 2003 ($41); Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noir ($20); and Champagne Alfred Gratien Brut Millesime 1997 ($99).

One of their other excellent suggestions is to serve the good wine first, before all the "holiday cheer" has gone to people's heads, and keep the selection simpler for larger groups.

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Tags: best wines, christmas, dinner, holiday, holiday wines, thanksgiving, wine, wines