The holiday season is here! As the dark and chilly days settle in, find an antidote in the warmth and light of celebrating with good food in good company (or let’s be honest, staging a private wine tasting for yourself is perfectly fine too.)
Here is a list of natural wines and local spirits that perfectly complement all such occasions, courtesy of the experts at neighborhood wine and spirits shop Irving Bottle. Follow them on Instagram to hear about upcoming holiday promotions!
To Have on Hand for Parties:
Price $12.99
Mosel (Germany)
Grape: Elbling
Type: White
Notes: Spritzy, sprightly and native to Germany, Elbling is a joyful wine with lip-smacking acidity, green herbs and bright fruit. Light in body and low in alcohol, this is a “sessionable” white that goes down easy – plus it’s a liter of wine, so you get about 2 more glasses than your typical bottle. Cheers to that!
German Gilabert Cava Brut Nature Reserva
Price: $16.99
Alt Penedes, Catalonia (Spain)
Grapes: Macabeu, xarel-lo, parellada
Type: Sparkling
Notes: Cava is the prosecco of Spain, made using the Champagne method. This organic bubbly is crisp, citrusy, buoyant and blessedly dry since no sugar is added, meaning you can drink more with less of a hangover! For boozy brunching, add a splash of your favorite fresh citrus juice (ours is pink grapefruit).
Price: $13.99
Luberon, Provence (France)
Grapes: Grenache, syrah, mourvedre
Type: Rose
Notes: Rosé isn’t just for summer anymore – people are drinking the pink stuff year round these days. Irving Bottle’s own private label rosé features delicate fruit, flowers and minerals; it’s the dry, easy-drinking perfection from Provence that has become so de rigueur.
Le Coste ‘Le Primeur pour Les Filles’
Price: $31.99
Lazio (Italy)
Grape: Aleatico
Type: Red
Notes: Ultra fragrant and vivacious, even a little carbonically active on the tongue at first; an uplifting mix of rose petals, geranium and Valencia orange, which lingers into the finish. A chewy, yeasty character creates depth and interest under the fresh botanicals. ‘Le Primeur’ is also a great food wine, pairing well with spicy dishes.
Holiday Dinner Wines:
Alessandro Viola ‘Note di bianco’
Price: $25.99
Sicily (Italy)
Grape: Grillo
Type: White
Notes: Dried apricot, Seckel pear, wet stone and a hint of spice decorate this dynamic medium-bodied white, finishing with an abundance of minerality. The nature-loving methodology of the winemaker also shines on the cheerful label, which presents well on the table. Excellent with fish, light meats and vegetable dishes.
Andrea Bragagni ‘Rio Bagno’ Bianco
Price: $17.99
Italy (vino da tavola)
Grapes: Malvasia, Albana
Type: Skin contact
Notes: Produced in Emiliga Romagna without apellation status, this is a great example of why we should all be drinking natural “table wine”. This voluptuous, orange-toned wine, bursting with citrus and stone fruit, has pungent honey and apple cider aromas that entice the nose; velveteen tannins seal the deal for a perfectly autumnal winner. Lovely when paired with hearty salads, cheese and charcuterie.
Price: $27.99
Tecate (Mexico)
Grapes: Mystery—possibly carinena or dolcetto
Type: Red
Notes: Let’s support our North American neighbors and their phenomenal winemaking, which is rapidly ascending toward cult status! Medium to full-bodied, concentrated and bold with crunchy dark fruit, creosote, brilliant acidity and appealing complexity, all while remaining rather approachable. Serve with roasted or grilled meat (or meat alternatives) and root vegetables.
Roger Coulon Heri Hodie Premier Cru Brut
Price: $47.99
Champagne (France)
Grapes: Pinot meunier, pinot noir, chardonnay
Type: Sparkling
Notes: The deep golden hue of this beauty shimmers with fine bubbles, sending buttery, toasty aromas up the flute. Round nuttiness on the palate, along with subtle fruit, florality and lively acidity. Marzipan notes play on the long finish. A fascinating aside: the Champagne maker takes wine from each new vintage year and tops off a solera, which is half full of an assemblage of every previous vintage since the 1990s for a continuity much like sherry; what you get in the bottle is a mix of that collective magic and the 2014 vintage.
This is some next level Champagne! Treat yourself.
Spirit-lifting Spirits
Price: $44.99
The Italians know what they’re doing when it comes to celebrating with rich food over the course of many hours… so what’s their secret? Amaro, of course! Greenpoint-based St. Agrestis makes a regional digestivo and it is one of our favorites! Warm, woody herbs and sarsaparilla harmonize with a cleansing spearmint note, while a touch of bitter gentian root suggests medicinal qualities, beautifully balanced by organic cane sugar. Drink straight, on ice or in cocktails.
Kings County Distillery Spiced Whiskey
Price: $20.99
Need a little “me” time in the midst of all the parties but still want something to warm you up and chill you out? Grab a bottle of Brooklyn’s finest spiced whiskey and make a hot toddy or spike some apple cider! It’s bone dry and lightly infused with cardamom, clove, black peppercorn, star anise, cinnamon and allspice. At only 200 mL, it makes a special stocking stuffer, host gift or personal-sized portion that you can tuck into your jacket for parties and ice-skating adventures. Bottoms up!
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
+1 (718) 366-1019
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Free delivery within 1.5 mi for orders over $20