With the winter holidays in full swing, Frisco residents are planning Christmas parties, Hanukkah get-togethers, and New Year’s blowouts in the city. This is a time to stuff not only stockings with goodies, but ourselves, too! For many, it’s also a time to enjoy the last free moments of the old year before putting aside all naughtiness as we embark on our desired New Year’s resolutions.
Before we put away all the sugar and bring out the old gym shoes, though, what’s a better way to celebrate than with a great bottle of wine? I recently visited the Wine Cellar, a warm and inviting little space in Starwood Center, to put together a list of the five best wines for your Frisco festivities (or, just for watching Netflix with your significant other), all for under $25. With Starwood’s owner, David Denham, at my side to answer my multitude of questions, I learned the difference between merlot and pinot noir, what happens if you mix berries during the aging process, and most importantly, of course, how to choose among the ten or more brands which, while all labeled “pinot grigio”, must be differentiated somehow. I mean right?
Durigutti Malbec
Type: Malbec
Red or White: Red
Place of Origin: Argentina
Characteristics: Juicy, Jammy, Pure
When I first asked my question “what are some of the best wines you would recommend under $25?,” this was the first wine that came to Denham’s mind. This wine, made from the Malbec grapes that inspired its name, is a dark, juicy red wine from the mountains of Argentina. Malbec is a fruity wine, described as jammy and juicy. Malbec wines, it is said, are easy both on the palate and beside nearly any plate. Durigutti Malbec is a great overall choice for the modest wine connoisseur.
Carpene’ Malvolti Prosecco
Type: Prosecco
Red or White: White and bubbly
Place of Origin: Italy
Chracteristics: Dry, Crisp, Delicate
Carpene’ wines have a history of excellence dating back to 1868, with the brand’s forefather, Antonio Carpene’, being among the first winemakers to incorporate a study of biology into the wine production process. “Prosecco” wines are characterized as Italian wines that are white and sparkling, with a crisp, bubbly taste. Recommended for light dishes, especially seafood.
Italo Cescon Veneto
Type: Pinot Grigio
Red or White: White
Place of Origin: Italy
Characteristics: Full, Bold, Fruity
Another Italian wine, perhaps for the more experienced wine connoisseur, is the Italo Cescon Veneto Pinot Grigio. Pinot Grigio wines come from the pinot gris grape, which some believe is a mutated version of the dark grape from which the red wine Pinot Noir blossoms. Pinot Grigio, however, is a fruity, full-flavored wine, with a taste described as “lengthy,” sitting on the tongue even after it’s gone. With its blonde coloring, and accents of nutmeg, vanilla, and acacia blossom, Cescon Veneto Pinot Grigio is a wine meant for the bold at heart.
Queen of Hearts
Type: Pinot Noir
Red or White: Red
Place of Origin: USA
Characteristics: Sweet, Full, Smooth
Queen of Hearts, with its playful label, is a child brand of Lucas & Lewellen, a privately owned winery in California better known for its Bourdeaux and Burgundy varietal (i.e, “mixed grape”) wines. Affectionately called the “fun side of Lucas & Lewellen,” Queen of Hearts is a robust and fruity wine made from pinot noir grapes. It is accented with flavors of black cherry, plum, and cola, and has been marketed as an easy everyday wine that’s fun and flirty for the average wine lover.
Silver Palm
Type: Cabernet Sauvignon Varietal
Red or White: Red
Place of Origin: USA
Characteristics: Tart, Strong, Silky
Silver Palm Cabernet Sauvignon is another Varietal wine, which Denham explains is a popular trend among wine makers in recent years. By mixing the delicate flavors of different types of grapes, Varietals gain the best features of each, creating wines that are often decadent, and almost always smooth in flavor. Silver Palm is a mix of Sauvignon, Merlot, and Franc wine grapes. It’s taste has been described as being fairly acidic, but smooth, rich, with strong hints of tart berries.
BONUS: The Other
Type: Varietal
Red or White: Red and White
Place of Origin: USA
Characteristics: Smoky, Smooth, Spicy
The Other is a smallish wine company that creates both red and white wines. This red is a Varietal mixture of mostly Sauvignon, with Merlot and Syrah wine grapes completing the mix. Both the flavor of this wine, as well as the bottle, have been described as seductive, with tastes of boysenberry and black cherry as well as oak and cedar. A classic, tongue-in-cheek notion is a great addition to any dinner party, and this bottle definitely has a place in the center of the table.
Whether red or white, from the USA or abroad, these five (wait, six!) wines, all under $25, are guaranteed to liven up not only your guests this holiday season, but your permanent wine shelf as well. Get them now, and hold on to them all year long! You can also check out dozens more brands by visiting David Denham at the Wine Cellar at Starwood in Frisco.
