I’ve been working so diligently on a few holiday wine projects for you, I almost forgot it was Friday… and time to update you on a few of the various holiday wine TASTING events that have caught my eye this week. Be sure to tune in the next couple of weeks for insights on holiday/December wine ideas – and in the meantime, be sure to read on to discover where bells will be ringing and wine will be tasting!

Sunday, December 6 @ Magnolia Wine Co. (2 – 5pm)

Taste dozens of wines, sample (my fav!) Iggy’s breads and Fromaggio’s cheeses. PLUS, enjoy a 20% discount if you purchase 12 or more bottles. Rumor has it the first 100 customers will get a complimentary wine tasting journal, too.

Thursday, December 10 by Boston Uncorked (7-9pm)

Don’t miss Boston Uncorked’s Holiday Wine Soiree at the College Club of Boston. Tix are $44… more info? Click HERE.

Saturday, December 12 @ Ball Square Fine Wines (3-5pm)

This is the 2nd Annual “Boisterous About Bubbles” Sparkling Wine Tasting soiree!  This is an OH-SO-RARE opportunity to taste – and learn about – some of the best, very special, Grower Champagnes available in the MA market. And, for those who like bubbly from around the globe, several staff favs will be on offer for your sampling pleasure, too. Special pricing on wines tasted during the event.

Which other holiday wine events are on tap for you in the next week or so?

With the Thanksgiving festivities behind us (tear!), it’s that time of year when you can’t help but look just a few weeks forward to the end-of-year holidays. Myriad reasons abound to thank those in your life and so, in a great tradition of holiday ‘spirit,’ we begin to think of ways to do so. Of course, buying a bottle or two of wine is often something many of us consider… but it can also be a tricky route to go! What will be sure to WoW your recipient?

Over the years, I’ve figured out a few ‘rules of thumb’ to keep the anxiety at bay and the good juice flowing! Head on over to Wicked Local today to get a few quick tips to wine shop with ease this holiday season.

Who on your list will be getting a bottle of wine this year? Which strategy will you use to tackle the challenge?

With only one weekend before Thanksgiving remaining, no doubt wine lovers throughout the country will be out and about buying wines for the big event. Indeed, it’s up there as far as important wine events go! For your drinking (and reading) pleasure, it seemed prudent to round up a few of my favorite picks for the e-roster.

Wheeee!!

REDS

2007 Schloss Muhlenhof Dornfelder - This bad boy comes in a 1L size. I hosted a small affair last weekend and it could have easily been the only wine I poured (it was gone WAY too quickly!) – offering great, concentrated red berry fruit flavors (cherries, raspberries) in a smooth, sultry package. Generally speaking, this grape (Dornfelder, that is) is a German red wine phenomenon for those who like a lot of fruit, a bit of “lift” and a welcome bit of earthy, mineral-driven nuance to their wines. No lie, Scholss Muhlenhof’s is THE BEST I’ve ever encountered (so great is my love I’m tempted to buy a full case of the stuff to have on hand “just in case…” this winter). The extra glass the 1L size offers will NOT be wasted.  Only $15!

2006 Bethel Heights Eola-Amity Cuvee Pinot Noir -  A careful blend of 6 different vineyard sites, the  is a tremendous, mouth-filling example of Oregon Pinot Noir. Think of this wine as a smooth, deeply earthy Belgian truffle, filled with cherry and raspberry fruits. Truly a well-integrated, delicious wine worth the gentle splurge. (A winner destined for my own table.) About $31.

2007 Clos la Coutale Cahors – With the (worthy) Malbec craze stemming from the success of this grape in Argentina, many consumers forget Malbec is actually a French varietal. Many more do not know that arguably the best, single bottling Malbecs in France come from the Cahors region – and are labeled simply as such. This wine is  remarkably succulent, juicy and approachable. Enjoy black raspberry and blackberry flavors complemented with fresh strawberries! A touch of earthy rusticity makes this Malbec uniquely French. This one is a “bigger” wine than “traditional” Thanskgiving recommendations and would be a particularly good match for rosemary/garlic encrusted roast hen, or the like. About $17.

WHITES

Schoenheitz NV Edelzwicker - Edelzwicker means “noble blend”. Indeed this wine includes as many as seven different varieties from Auxerrois to Sylvaner. The result is suprisingly coherent and delightfully flavorful. Well balanced, dry Alsatian goodness, this is another wine that comes in the 1 litre size bottle. About $15.

2006 Clos de Rochers Pinot Gris – While Alsace, France has long been the place for rich, but dry Pinot Gris, this Luxembourg beauty beats them at their own game. Ripe pears and yellow flowers abound on the nose and coat the palette while brisk minerality keeps things dry and balanced. This wine is absolutely worth the splurge – and certainly a great conversation topic if the family gets a bit unruly. (This one will also be on my own table!)  About $22.

2007 Anne Amie Cuvee A Mueller Thurgau -Leave it to the folks at well-known Anne Amie Vineyards to deliver an exceptional, if not lesser known, wine. The Cuvee A Mueller Thurgau’s tropical and floral aromas could very easily be bottled on their own and used by aroma therapists to rejuvenate clients. Pineapple, melon and white peach flavors comingle with a perky taste of fresh lemon juice. About $15.

SPARKLING FUN

Villa di Corlo NV Grasparossa Lambrusco – Versatile, slightly sparkling, fresh, fruity goodness. Lambrusco is pink – and the best are oh-so-dry. This is a wine for guests who deserve and enjoy a break from the norm. This particular offering shows ripe raspberry fruit backed by a coy minerality. Perfect simply when you want to dazzle without effort. About $17.

Poema NV Brut Cava - Today, if you look for it, exceptional Cava is available at a fraction of the price of Champagne. Case in point: the Poema makes drinking bubbly every day (or in a large party format) oh-so-easy and affordable! This is a fun and versatile bubbly with subtle flavors of peach, pear and warm, toasted bread. A bit of orange rind on the finish adds additional intrigue and nuance. Enjoy this one before, during or after your meal. About $11.

Which one of these is likely to grace your table? Is there another you have in mind for the big day??

Wow! This has been one heck of a week in wine news. The juiciest news comes by way of Wine & Spirits Daily regarding Amazon giving up their piece of the wine pie. It’s a longer read but I think it’s worth checking out!

Ever experienced a tin-foilesque aftertaste having paired red wine with fish? There is new information this week about why red wine and fish are not such a great pairing. Read more here.

Then, in case you missed this year’s Boston Globe Plonkapalooza, check out this year’s top wine picks!

For those of you looking to stretch your legs and travel the wine world a bit, consider joining Bon Vivant Wine Company (Randolph, MA) as they wine and dine with you at some of Long Island’s best vineyards on November 21. Tickets are available here.

What do you think of Amazon’s decision?

We’re keeping things closer to home and sticking to domestic hap’s in the wine world this week.

First up… it’s harvest time! And the reports from Napa are look’n good. Moderate summer temps have kept viticulturists and vintners happy with easy, early-ish picking. Not only are sugar levels lower (which is a constant struggle in California) but yields are manageable. (In a down economy, there’s always bound to be more juice available than consumers demand. This year there might actually be a fairly happy balance on that front!) Check out what some vintners are saying via Decanter’s recent article.

Next up… we have some new developments on the highly contested Massachusetts Direct Shipping Laws.  Check out this update via Wine Business!

Last, but certainly NOT least…. Here at Pour Favor we work with any wine shop that can supply the fine wines we select for a given wine tasting event. One of our favorites (and actually our first partner in crime) is Ball Square Fine Wines in Somerville. This Saturday, Oct. 17, they are hosting their annual Fall Grand Wine Tasting soiree. This is never an event to miss, but this year in particular you’ll want to get in on the fun: they’ve just expanded their shop! See how far along they are with the renovations at 716 Broadway while tasting 50+ wines.  The event will run from 2 – 5pm. Be warned! The early bird gets the worm…

Are you sick of the direct shipping madness in MA? What’s your take?