By Kara Sweet

I don’t personally believe in saving the best of anything only for a special occasion. Life is too short to only live for what some consider extraordinary moments. These moments should be created every day. To do this, wear fun shoes to work. Eat the good chocolate every day after lunch. Use the fine stemware every evening. And drink the good bottle of wine with an average meal.

Yes, every day can be—and should be—made extraordinary in some way.

However, if every day has something spectacular about it, how can one make the truly special occasions even better? With wine…of course! Philosopher Plautus once stated, “Let us celebrate the occasion with wine and sweet words.”

Here are some unique ways to celebrate the many upcoming holiday occasions with wine. The sweet words? Those are up to each of you.

 

Thanksgiving Mulled Wine

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When I was a kid, I always loved spiced cider at Halloween. No need to buy many different kinds of expensive spices to get an adult version of this childhood goodie. There is a trick for easy mulled wine as a great adult treat for a Thanksgiving get-together. Serve this as a before-dinner drink while the turkey is baking. Use the same recipe with apple cider for younger members of the family.

Ingredients:

– 1 bottle red wine

– 4 chai tea bags (if using loose leaf chai tea, use 3 tablespoons tied in cheese cloth)

– 4 orange slices with peel

– ¼ to ½ cup honey (add the ½ if a sweeter mulled wine is desired)

Directions:

– Add wine, tea bags, orange slices, and honey in pan; stir well for honey to be dissolved.

– Heat on medium-high just until boiling.

– Continue to stir and lower heat.

– Simmer on low for 15-20 minutes.

– Serve in mugs. Garnish with a cinnamon stick if desired.

Use your favorite red wine as the base. I usually go mid-price here—not too cheap but not too expensive; it can be sweet or dry—the sweeter the wine the sweeter the end product.

Local favorite: Naked Winery’s Fifty Shades of Red

 

With Turkey

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Thanksgiving food is my ultimate favorite. I love the turkey…the dressing…the cranberry sauce…the sweet potatoes…I think my point is made. However, all of these different flavor profiles can be difficult with which to pair one single wine. Problem solved: pinot noir!

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Find an American pinot noir that says Sonoma, Sonoma Coast, Russian River Valley, or Oregon on the label.

Favorites include: Sean Minor Carneros, Davis Bynum Jane’s Vineyard, and Sivas Sonoma (all from Sonoma) or Sean Minor Point North and King Estate Signature Collection (both from Oregon).

Local favorite: Belle Joli Winery’s Marquette (a pinot noir-style wine).

 

With Ham

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Ham is a very versatile holiday meal. It works well at both Thanksgiving and Christmas. A great wine to have with it is also a versatile wine—my favorite white grape—a Riesling.

Great Riesling wines are made all over the world. The key to a good holiday pairing is to find a dry style. If looking at Rieslings produced in Germany, where many excellent examples are made, look for the word “kabinett” on the label. (Spatlese and auslese styles are sweeter German versions.) American bottles will generally say dry on the front label.

Favorites include: Dr. Konstantin Frank Dry Riesling, Firesteed Oregon Riesling, Chateau St. Michelle Columbia Valley Dry Riesling, Kung Fu Girl Riesling, and Jones of Washington Estate Grown Riesling.

Local favorite: Prairie Berry Winery’s Anna Pesa Riesling

 

With Prime Rib

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As a ranch kid from Wyoming, a medium rare prime is the ultimate Christmas dinner. (It makes a great New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day meal, as well.) The big, bold, flavorful beef needs a big, bold, flavorful red wine. Something that matches the elegance of the meal, such as an American Cabernet Sauvignon or petite syrah.

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Favorites include: J Lohr Seven Oaks (read about this great producer here) or Stags Leap Wine Cellars Artemis for cabs and Mettler Family Vineyards or McManis Family for petite syrahs.

Local favorite: Firehouse Wine Cellars’ Cabernet Sauvignon

 

Christmas Morning Mimosa

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Nothing is better than Christmas morning with the family in jammies looking over the treasures Santa left the night before. Nothing, unless a mimosa is in hand. Make this treat with a special Yuletide twist to enjoy that morning or any other time during the holiday season.

Ingredients:

– 1 bottle sparkling wine—dry to sweet, depending on preference

– 1 half gallon orange juice

– 1 bag fresh cranberries, frozen

– 1 cup cranberry juice

Directions:

Fill champagne flutes three-quarters full of sparkling wine. I prefer a dry sparkling wine, but if sweeter is desired, go sweeter. Top off glass with one-quarter orange juice. Carefully add a splash of cranberry juice (1 tablespoon-ish) and three fresh-frozen cranberries. Can use a sparkling grape juice for the younger crowd.

Favorites include: Friexenet Cordon Negro Brut Cava, Astoria Prosecco (dry style), or Luccio Moscato d’ Asti (sweet style).

Local favorite: Naked Winery’s Cougar Semi-Sparkling White (semi-sweet style).

 

New Year’s Eve

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Time to celebrate! There is only one wine for a celebration, and that is a sparkling wine! From the bubbles to the flavor, bubbly wines are an absolute must for all special occasions. Because the price can be anywhere from very reasonable to quite pricey, pick and choose what bubbles work best for the particular budget you have, but just make sure sparkling wine in a glass when the clock strikes twelve on January 1, 2016!

The key to a good sparkling wine is temperature…keep it cool! Leave the bottle of sparkling in the fridge until just before serving. The colder the better is the rule when it comes to bubbles.

Very carefully open the bottle by covering the cork and cage with a towel. Open the bottle underneath the towel by first loosening the cage. Then firmly grip the cork and cage with the thumb, index, and middle fingers. Gently turn the bottom of the bottle until the cork begins to loosen. Then patiently continue turning until the cork releases. A bottle of sparkling wine is actually not supposed to pop and spray wine everywhere. It is supposed to make a slight hiss after a very slow opening so no one gets hurt.

Favorites include: the Friexenet Cordon Negro Cava (from the mimosas), Campo Viejo Brut Cava, or Gruet Brut, all good sparkling wines at good prices. A little more expensive is Shramsberg Blanc de Noir or Vueve Clicquot Brut.

Local favorite: Belle Joli’s Estate Reserve Sparkling

 

From Thanksgiving, to Christmas, to New Year’s—and every occasion in between—wine helps to celebrate these special times. Wine can be a healthy part of everyday living, but it also makes holidays even better. Spend time with your favorite people. Enjoy special moments. Share sweet words. Celebrate in style. Then get ready to start the New Year with wine as part of making every day spectacular!

 

Related:

Legends of the Fall: Grape Harvest in the Black Hills

By Its Cover: Trends in Wine Labeling 

Jerry Lohr Brings South Dakota Value to California Wine Making 

Sweet Sommelier Summer Vacation: No Whining in Wine Travel

Summer, Summertime! Top Ten Black Hills Patios

Serious Side of South Dakota Wine

Celebrate Yourself! Wine and Chocolate Pairings for Valentine’s Day

 

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