Here are 5 great red wines just in time for the holidays! Don’t be intimidated, there’s a recommendation for any budget, from cheap to baller status!
Don’t show up for that holiday party empty-handed. Here are some great, easy-to-drink red wines that will work for any budget. You can also buy all of them online, meaning you can skip the overwhelming rows and rows of wine at your local liquor store – and picking something based on the label. Not that you do that.
For under $10: 2012 Louis Bernard Cotes du Rhone ($10). This earthy and sophisticated French wine is a total steal. Full of flavor with notes of berries, it goes well with red meat, poultry and cheese.
Buy it online.
For under $20: Fabio Viviani Signature Blend ($15). Of course Fabio, one of my favorites from Top Chef, would come out with an amazing red blend that is a great value for the price point. It’s easy to drink and has a nice long finish. Enjoy the notes of tobacco and spice with tomato-based dishes, white meat and charcuterie.
Buy it online.
For under $30: 2012 Subida di Monte Cabernet Franc ($28). This is a lovely wine with soft tannins and earthy notes. Very versatile, goes great with pasta.
Buy it online.
For under $100: 2012 Cultivar Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon ($72). I basically can’t stop raving about this wine. It was the star of my last wine post and even though it’s not cheap, it’s the holidays! Is there ever a better time to splurge on a really nice bottle of wine? 2012 was a great year in Napa, and the Howell Mountain Cab is a gem. Look for the deep red color with notes of blackberries and espresso. It goes great with meat dishes or just enjoy it on its own.
Buy it online. P.S. – Use the code ‘CultivarWineASideofSweet’ to enjoy 10% off your first order.
For the ballers: 2013 Hedges Family Estate CMS red blend 5 Litre ($120). Jaws will literally drop if you show up to the party with this bad boy. After a weekend getaway to the Hedged Family Estate in Red Mountain, Washington, I’m pretty much a Hedges expert (right?). With notes of berries, this medium bodies, smooth blend goes with pretty much anything. Which is great because you just bought 5 liters of it!
Buy it online.
photo via Barrel + Ink
If you’re looking for a really unique gift for the wine lover in your life, or an amazing bottle of wine with an equally beautiful label, you should check out Barrel & Ink. This awesome company was started by a coworker of mine and they work with well-known winemakers in the Napa region and talented illustrators to create custom wine blends that have a label that is practically a work of art.
How great is that? I also love that their wines come in sets of two, with the idea being one to drink now and one to put away to let age for a while. Like I said in my last wine post, starting a real wine collection has been a priority of ours too.
photo via Barrel + Ink
Thanks so much for reading A Side of Sweet! For more Sweet in your life, you can find me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube, Bloglovin’, Snapchat(@asideofsweet), or Twitter, or subscribe to receive a weekly email with new posts (see sidebar).
P.S. – Here are some great cocktail recipes for the holidays!
I don’t think you can go wrong giving wine as a gift for Christmas (unless they don’t drink).
My thoughts exactly! I feel like this needs an “any friend of mine who doesn’t like wine isn’t really a friend” joke added here. 🙂
This was a great post Kelly, I was struggling last week to pick a red that wasn’t from one of the wineries we get shipments from (my friends have all been gifted that way too much!). Great choice on the Fabio V. red!
Thanks Jill! Wine clubs a great way to ensure you always have a nice bottle on hand. I’m glad you found my recs helpful!