Like it or not, the Winter holidays are upon us. That means office parties, Friendsgiving, Black Friday, Secret Santa, apartment parties, Lifetime movie marathons, gift exchanges, awkward family dinners, and more. Thankfully, we don’t have to brave the hustle and bustle of the holidays without a little liquid courage.
The experts from Bushwick’s newest specialty wine shop, Irving Bottle, gave us a list of ten wines and spirits, tailored to specific holiday and gift-giving occasions, to ease us through the “most wonderful time” of the year.
PS: To find out how to win a FREE four-pack of natural holiday wines from Irving Bottle, head to our Instagram.
Thanksgiving Dinner With Family: Bukolyi Kisfiam Red Cuvee 2015 ($19.99)
Country: Hungary
Region: Eger
Grape: kékfrankos (blaufränkisch)
Style: red
Nose: dried fruits (plums, raisins), spices (cinnamon, cardamom)
Palette: good acidity, cherry and plum fruit, spicy, very dry, medium body, good tannins
Notes: perfect with classic thanksgiving fare, fun alternative to pinot noir, organic, sustainable, vegan
Friendsgiving: Chateau Cadenette Costieres de Nimes 2015 ($12.99)
Country: France
Region: Rhone Valley
Sub-region: Costieres de Nimes
Grapes: 80% syrah, 20% grenache
Style: red
Nose: violets, dark fruits (blackberry)
Palette: plum, blackberry, spice, ripe fruits, balanced tannins and acidity, medium to full body
Notes: Fun label, versatile wine (if serving non-traditional food at friendsgiving), certified organic, minimal sulfites
Crowd Pleaser: Broc Cellars Love Red 2016 ($23.99)
Region: California
Sub-region: North Coast
Grapes: 54% carignan, 31% syrah, 15% valdiguié
Style: red
Nose: jammy fruit (strawberry, cherry), fresh picked fruit (blueberries)
Palette: juicy fruit (raspberry, strawberry, cherry), slightly funky, medium body, lively on the palette
Notes: fun label, fun color, fruity and easy to drink, similar to Rhone style blends, organic, biodynamic
Adventurous Christmas Dinner: Bloomer Creek Vineyard Edelzwicker Tanzen Dame 2015 ($26.99)
Country: USA
Region: New York
Sub-region: Finger Lakes
Grapes: riesling and cayuga white
Style: sparkling white, pet nat
Nose: plush white fruits, minerality
Palette: ripe peaches, sweet nectarines, a little minerality, very easy drinking
Notes: perfect pairing with Christmas ham (the fruitiness and slight sweetness contrast the salty, rich ham), organic, unfined and unfiltered, no added sulfites, a fun and adventurous pairing
Gift for your Roommate When You’re Broke: Ochoymedio Tinto Velasco 2016 ($11.99)
Country: Spain
Region: Castilla-La Mancha
Grape: tinto velasco
Style: red
Nose: ripe fruit, earthiness
Palette: ripe cherries, light earthiness, medium-light body, soft tannins
Notes: obscure grape variety, easy drinking, organic
Gift for Your Parents: Dunham Cellars …Pursued By Bear Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2013 ($89.99)
Country: USA
Region: Washington State
Sub-region: Columbia Valley
Grape: cabernet sauvignon
Style: red
Nose: milk chocolate, spice, herbs, cherries, vanilla
Palette: cherry, dates, oak, long finish, bracing tannins
Notes: made by Kyle MacLachlan (Twin Peaks, Sex and the City, Blue Velvet), given a rating of 92 points on Wine Enthusiast
Gift for your BFF or Significant Other: Movia Rebula Ribolla 2015 ($29.99)
Country: Slovenia
Region: Primorska
Grape: ribolla
Style: orange wine
Nose: floral (lavender, violets), soft fruits (peach skins), earth
Palette: soft, floral, ripe fruits, very dry, slightly tannic, not too funky
Notes: for your adventurous loved one, or as a gesture to help them branch out, pair with holiday dinners, organic, biodynamic
Gift For a Relative You See Only Once a Year: Little Wolf American Whiskey ($32.99)
Country: USA
Region: Kentucky
Made from: rye and malted barley
Style: whiskey
Nose: cherries, hints of honey, oak, wheat
Palette: gentle but rich and fruity, balanced with a hint of tobacco and woody char
Notes: founded by Brooklyn based tattoo artist Alex McWatt and media guru Jon Bier
Gift For Your Boss: ArteNOM Tequila Anejo 1146 ($88.99)
Country: Mexico
Region: Jalisco
Made from: agave
Nose: banana, oak, spices (cinnamon, clove)
Palette: soft, earthy, leather, smoke, tobacco, banana finish
Style: tequila
Nose: banana, oak, spices (cinnamon, clove)
Palette: soft, earthy, leather, smoke, tobacco, banana finish
Notes: comes in a beautiful wooden box, organic
Gift For Your Friend who Just Got into Wine – Domaine Vigneau-Chevreau Vouvray Sec Silex 2016 ($19.99)
Country: France
Region: Loire Valley
Sub-region: Vouvray
Grape: chenin blanc
Style: white
Nose: minerality, dry honey, peach
Palette: waxy texture, minerals, light fruits, elegant finish
Notes: the wine your local wine store employee wishes you would buy, organic, certified biodynamic
Profile
Irving Bottle
Irving Bottle is an approachable and affordable wine and liquor shop in Bushwick, Brooklyn, with a focus on natural wines and high-quality spirits that are delicious, unconventional and a good value.
155 Irving Ave, Bushwick (off the Dekalb stop in the L train)
Mon-Fri: 2pm – 10pm Sat: 12pm – 10pm / Sun: 12pm – 9pm
Irving Bottle will be open 12-5pm on Thanksgiving
(718) 366-1019
Follow the Irving Bottle on Instagram.
Shop online, download the free app or shop in store
Free delivery within 1.5 mi for orders over $20
Cover photo: courtesy of Irving Bottle. Other photos by Jose Alvarado Jr. for Bushwick Daily.