Champagne Cocktail Recipes

Here are some fun and easy recipes and ideas for various Champagne Cocktails. A splash of juice or liqueur here and there can add some pizzazz to a glass of bubbly, especially if you are working with a budget selection. My mother is particularly fond of Champagne Cocktails as she likes the idea of Champagne but she does not care for the tartness. The addition of something sweet and fruity mellows out the bitterness and allows her to enjoy her sparkling wine and to remain classy like her hero Alexis Carrington (as mentioned in a previous post).

The Bellini/Mimosa Bar

Set out various chilled fruit nectar and purees along with a bottle of sparkling wine (Prosecco works best) and have your guests mix the Bellini of their choice. Certain fruits work better than others, e.g. peach, guava, mango, passion fruit, orange and pineapple. You can also put out cut fruit as garnishes.

Poinsettia Cocktail

1/2 oz Cointreau or triple sec
Champagne
3 oz cranberry juice

Chill all three ingredients. Pour Cointreau and cranberry juice into flute, mix and then top with Champagne. Garnish with pomegranate seeds or orange twists if desired.

Sgroppino - Italian Lemon Cocktail

2 tablespoons vodka or limoncello
2 melon ball size scoops lemon sorbet (for a creamier cocktail use lemon gelato)
Prosecco
Mint sprigs or lemon twists for garnish

Pour vodka or limoncello into flute and then sorbet, top with prosecco and garnish, enjoy!

Chambord Kir Royale

1/2 oz Chambord or Raspberry liqueur
Champagne

Pour Chambord in flute, top with Champagne

Champagne Mojitos

1 1/2 oz white rum
Splash fresh lime juice (key lime is best)
Champagne
8-10 mint leaves
1 teaspoon sugar or 1/2 oz simple syrup
1 lime wedge
Ice

Muddle mint leaves, sugar, lime wedge and splash of lime juice in a large glass until mint leaves are crushed. Fill glass to the top with ice, pour rum over ice and finish with Champagne. Garnish with mint sprig. This is drier than a traditional mojito therefore you can add more sugar for a sweeter flavor.

Shameless Plug - Cafe-Ba-Ba-Reeba! New Year's Day Pajama Brunch

If you are planning on being hungover on New Year's day to the point where you can't even muster up the energy to get out of your pajamas then you should at least earn something for it. Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! (A Lettuce Entertain You Restaurant) is having a New Year's Day Pajama Brunch this Thursday from 10 am - 3 pm. Executive Chef, Tim Cottini features a special Spanish-style brunch menu with egg dishes, build your own Bloody Mary bar, complimentary churros con chocolate and orange juice. If you come in your pajamas, you will receive a gift certificate for a future meal equal to your price of the meal (excluding tax and gratuity).

Other upcoming events at CBBR:

Flamenco Dinner Show: January 11th @ 5 pm - $10 cover

Special live dinner performance. Limited reservations at 5 pm, show at 6 pm.

Paella Cooking Class - January 10th @ 10 am - $40

Join Chef Cottini for an informative and fun morning. Included is their paella cookbook and lunch with selected sherries and wines.

Bodega Ba-Ba-Reeba! Wine Tasting - Tuesday March 24th 6-8 pm - $35

Taste more than 30 Spanish wines, sherries and brandies. Tasting booklet, tapas and paellas are all included.

Cafe-Ba-Ba-Reeba!

2024 N. Halsted

Chicago, IL

For reservations call - 773-935-5000

Selections for a Sparkling New Year!

Whether you have decided to stay in or go out this New Year's Eve, you will definitely need something frothy and bubbly in your glass come midnight. Buying sparkling wines can get real expensive really fast especially if you are entertaining with it - after all, who ever says no to a glass of bubbly? The trick to finding a tasty yet affordable bottle is to select the unexpected and go for the unadvertised. I'd rather have a producer spend the cash in the vineyards and not in magazines. You also don't have to stick to just Champagne - there's plenty of sparkle to be found in Spain, Italy and here in the US. Here are my picks to help you ring in the New Year in style without spending the equivalent of your mortgage payment. And in the event you are serving Krug or Salon this year, I'm more than happy to stop by for a toast.

If you want more hands on attention, then I would suggest paying a visit to Mr. Champagne - Sir Charles Stanfield, the Champagne buyer at Sam's Wine and Spirits. He is one of the most knowledgeable experts I know when it comes to all things bubbly. Sir Charles was inducted into the prestigious L'Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne, the guild formed during the reign of King Louis XIV in the 17th century. He usually works out of the Marcy Street store on North and Clybourn but I would call ahead to make sure he is working.

Best Sparkler Under $10

Segura Viudas Brut Cava - Spain $8

Cava is Spain's answer to Champagne and Segura Viudas is our go to sparkler for entertaining larger groups as it is an easy and affordable way to add a touch of class to the evening before things get ugly and the doorman calls about the noise. Many of our friends mistake it for something far pricier.

Other Notable Selections Under $15

Charles de Fere Sparkling $8
Cristalino Blanc de Blancs or Rose $7
Francois Montand Blanc de Blancs or Rose $12

The Best of the French from California
Roederer Estate Brut - Anderson Valley $22

This is the California outpost of famed French Champagne house, Louis Roederer - makers of the uber luxe Cristal. They set up shop in Mendocino in 1988 and I have often preferred their California wines over their French selections. If you are looking for a splurge, the vintage Roederer L'Ermitage for around $47 is well worth price.

The Best of the French from New Mexico - yes New Mexico
Gruet Blanc de Noirs, Brut, Rose & Demi Sec - New Mexico $14

I just love Gruet for several reasons - it tastes great, it's affordable and it's from New Mexico. The property was founded in 1984 by French Champagne house Gruet after a family vacation to the Southwest. The vineyards, located 170 miles south of Albuquerque are some of the highest in the US at an elevation of 4,300 feet above sea level. That's dedication! Gruet comes in several varieties. The Blanc de Noirs is a touch more fruity and earthy than the Brut which is more toasty and nutty. They also make a dry rose as well as a Demi-Sec.

If Prosecco is your pleasure
Nino Franco Rustico $15

There was a nifty article about Prosecco taking over the bubbly market in the NY Times on Sunday. It's a bit of a long ready but perfectly illustrates the growing popularity of Prosecco especially in this difficult economy. Prosecco is less expensive to produce than Champagne since the second fermentation takes place in large vats and not time consuming single bottles. The resulting wine is fresher, lower in alcohol and fruity. Prosecco also lacks the toasty and nutty flavors of Champagne so it's perfect for making a Bellini. I'm highlighting the Nino Franco here but be sure to look out for Col Vetoraz, Villa Sandi and Bisol - especially their high end selection from the very much prized area of Cartizze.


Sparkling Wine from South Africa? Yes We Can!
Graham Beck NV Brut - $16

In 1994 Graham Beck Brut NV was chosen as the celebratory drink at the inauguration of South Africa's first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela. More recently, after declaring his intention to run for president in February this year, Barack Obama took his wife, Michelle, to one of their favourite restaurants in Chicago. The sommelier recommended two glasses of Graham Beck Brut NV. The Obamas were so impressed with this bubbly that they ordered six bottles for election day. The corks were then ceremoniously popped to celebrate the election of the 44th American president before Barack Obama addressed the world at Grant Park.

The Best Value in Champagne
Pierre Peters Blanc de Blancs Cuvee de Reserve $50
When it comes to Champagne houses, not all producers grow the fruit that is used to make their wines. Pierre Peters is part of a growing (no pun intended) movement of producers who grow AND produce everything they make. They don't have the budget to advertise and hip hop stars don't sing about their products but this is what keeps the price down. This is 100% Chardonnay from vineyards located in the grand cru village of Les Mesnil Sur Oger - an area which is a source of fruit for high ticket producers including Krug and Salon, both of which sell for hundreds of dollars. It is crisp and toasty with notes of hazelnuts and brioche. A real bargain for the price when you consider the pedigree of the vineyards. If you are looking for a real splurge, check out the Vintage 99 Pierre Peters for $70.

Don't forget the Rose

Rose wine may not have the best image but in Champagne, the best and most highly prized wines are pink. Regular Dom Perignon sells for $120 a bottle but their rose costs over $450 a bottle. I love Rose Sparkling wine and the two that I would recommend are Louis de Grenelle Saumur Rose from the Loire Valley for $20 a bottle and if you would like a splurge try the Rene Geoffroy Rose de Saignee Champagne from grower-producer Rene Geoffroy.

For Dessert
Banfi Brachetto d'Acqui $20

This is a sparkling wine made from Brachetto grapes grow in the Piedmont region of Italy. The fermentation is arrested around 5% alcohol leaving the wine partially fermented and sweet with residual sugar. The flavors of strawberries, raspberries and black cherries make this an ideal wine for chocolate desserts. It's one of my favorite dessert wines.

A Guide to Sparkling Terms:

NV or MV - Non vintage or multi vintage. Made from a blend of wines from different years or harvests. Does not mean the wine is inferior. Producers will often blend with wines from back vintages to create a consistent, house style.

Brut - refers to a dry sparkling wine even though some sugar was added before final corking to balance the acidity. Most of what we drink is Brut. The label Sauvage means no sugar was added. Confusingly, extra brut has more sugar than brut, don't ask me why this is.

Cuvee - a French term that means blend

Blanc de Noirs - a white wine made from red grapes (no skin contact)

Blanc de Blancs - a white wine made entirely from white grapes

Rose - rose or pink in color - does not mean the wine is sweet

Vintage - all the grapes came from one harvest or year - often a good one. Year will be indicated on the bottle.

Demi-Sec - a sweet sparkling wine. Again with the confusion as demi-sec means half dry. Often served as an aperitif or with cheese and light, golden desserts. The term Moelleux is definite dessert category.

Methode Champenoise - only wines that come from the Champagne region of France can be called Champagne - everything else is a sparkling wine or other given term based on the region. This term means the wine was made using the Champagne method meaning the second fermentation which creates the bubbles, took place in the bottle - just like it is done in Champagne.

Chivito - The National Dish of Uruguay

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If I have not convinced you of how great Uruguay is by now then let me introduce you to their national dish, a sandwich called a chivito. Legend and Wikipedia has it the word chivito can be translated as "little goat" or "baby goat". The reason for this name is because one night, during a blackout, an Argentine patron who was visiting a restaurant in Uruguay ordered baby goat meat like the one normally served in her region. But since the restaurant owner did not have this specialty, he served her toasted bread with ham, sliced filet mignon, seasoned it with different ingredients and the chivito was born! Today, you can find chivito stands throughout Uruguay and each will offer their own version. A typical chivito will include toasted bread, mayonnaise, filet mignon, tomatoes, mozarella cheese, bacon, ham, lettuce, olives, onions, a fried egg on top and french fries for a garnish. IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!

Eat one of these and you will certainly need to spend extra time in the gym. As a suggestion, you may want to check out this old school workout video from Greer Childers. I unfortunately remember her from my childhood as my mother used to buy all kinds of workout tapes and exercise gadgets in the 80's in order to keep slim, glamorous and fit like her Dynasty hero Alexis Morrell Carrington Colby Dexter Rowan. Being a bit of a pudgy child she would often make me exercise along side with her. Oh, there were hours spent infront of the TV grape-vining, hopping and plies-ing with Jane Fonda and Denise Austin. Here's another fond childhood memory: one time, I was playing around with my mother's Gut Buster (remember that?) and it slipped from my feet and hit me in the head. It's no surprise, I still hate exercising to this day but unfortunately it's a necessary evil in this business, especially if you want to include things like chivitos in your diet.

Cocktail Time with Peter Vestinos

Peter Vestinos, besides being an all around fantastic and charming guy, is the award winning resident mixologist at Sepia Restaurant in Chicago. Peter got his start in wine, working as a sommelier at The Tasting Room on Randolph. His background and experience in wine is one of the main reasons why I love Peter's cocktails as they are always perfectly balanced without being too sweet, tart or boozy. In other words, you can drink several in a row without feeling the burn! He is known for his seasonal approach to cocktails and often blurs the line between kitchen and bar as he makes his own bitters, infused liquors and liqueurs. Cocktail competitions have become a serious business in the US and Peter has become a formidable fixture on the circuit, most recently placing first in a national search for Bombay Sapphire's most inspired bartender. When he is not busy shaking up a cocktail, you can watch Peter perform with his three man sketch comedy group 37 Foxtrot or read his frequent contributions in Time Out Chicago. Despite his busy schedule, he was kind enough to share a holiday cocktail recipe with us.

Flippin' Holidays

A flip is a class of drinks similar to an egg nog but doesn't have any cream. This is Peter's modern take on a flip made with walnut liqueur.

1 oz Walnut Liqueur, such as Nux Alpina Walnut Liqueur
1 oz dark rum (Peter uses 15 year El Dorado Dark Rum from Guyana)

1/2 oz Benedictine

3/4 oz simple syrup

1/4 oz Cynar (an italian amaro made from artichokes)

1 whole egg

*If you can't find Nux Alpina try Nocello

Add all to cocktail shaker and shake without ice for 15 seconds, add ice and shake for another fifteen. Strain into rocks glass and grate nutmeg over the top.

The walnut liqueur plays center stage in this drink while the rum is a great dark foil for the walnut. The Benedictine adds spice while the sugar rounds out the rough edges. The Egg provides texture and holds everything together. The bitterness of the Cynar comes right at the finish and clears the palate. It cuts through everything and allows you to take the next sip without feeling you are drinking something sickly sweet.

Sandra Lee's Cocktail Christmas Tree

Wow! I'm absolutely speechless. How do you even come up with an idea like this? Next year, I'm going to decorate our holiday tree with corks, wine openers, screw caps and empty wine bottles.

Pablo Fallabrino - The Rock Star of Uruguay

What I love most about being in the wine business is you get to meet some of the most fascinating and thought provoking people in the world. Meeting Pablo Fallabrino from Vinedo de Los Vientos Winery in Uruguay reminded me exactly of why I do what I do. If anyone is capable of launching Uruguay onto the fine wine scene, Pablo is the one to do it. His Alcyone is quite possibly one of the best dessert wines I have ever had in my life! It tastes exactly like Hershey's chocolate kisses!! Pablo is the son of Italian immigrants and he inherited the winery after the passing of his father in 1995. This good natured surfer, Bob Marley loving and philosophy quoting man can best be described as the Randall Graham or Didier Dagueneau of Uruguay. Pablo confessed to me he often goes through the old family wine making logs and books for wine making inspiration. He does not over think the wine making process though, he just runs with his instincts, takes chances and does what naturally comes to him. It's a total zen approach but then again, what else would you expect from a surfing Rastafarian? Pablo runs the winery with his lovely wife, Marianna who is a fabulous chef and operates the winery kitchen.


Pablo and Marianna's winery is located in Atlantida, about a 30 minute drive from Montevideo. When we visited, he was making repairs to the winery which was damaged a few months earlier by heavy winds, a huge problem in this region and the source of the wineries' name. He was very calm about the whole thing and indicated the doors were just installed the day before while most of the roof was still missing. He took us through the vineyards which were planted with everything from Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay, Tannat and Cabernet Sauvignon. I never thought I would see Gewurztraminer planted next to Cabernet Sauvignon, but hey there is a first time for everything.


I also fell in love with their dog, Escobar. In case you are wondering what is wrong with Escobar, this otherwise healthy 13 year old pup has a basketball sized tumor on his back. Pablo said the tumor is benign but with Escobar's age, it would be too life risking to operate. Escobar is an extremely sweet dog and he definitely runs the show on the property. They have another cute dog named Puccini.


Pablo's wines are unique in style and reflect the his genuine, fun loving nature. Here are my tasting notes:

Estival White - an extremely intriguing blend of Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay and Moscato Bianco. Dry but floral with flavors of apricots, peaches and pears. Great wine for Asian or Indian food.

Tannat - very well structured yet drinkable. Reminds me of a hearty Malbec.

Eola Gran Reserva - blend of Tannat and Cabernet Sauvignon is named after the Greek God of the Winds. Dark red plums, with raisins, figs and spice.

Angel's Cuvee Blanc de Bianco - soft blend of Chardonnay, Viognier and Trebbiano. Ripe pears, peaches and slight jasmine floral note.

Angel's Cuvee Ripasso Tannat - Pablo and his team go through the vineyards and twist 8 rows worth of Tannat grapes bunches one by one in order to turn them into raisins. The Ripasso process is often used in the Veneto region of Italy where the pressed skins of Amarone wines are added to regular Valpolicella in order to add a slight raisiny, baby Amarone like character. Here the method helps tame Tannat's excessive richness. Flavors of figs, chocolate, star anise and spice.


Alcyone Dessert Wine - Pablo combines a method used to make Barolo Chinato, an aromatized wine with the method used to make Marsala. Tastes exactly like Hershey's Chocolate kisses. Quite possibly one of the best dessert wines I have ever had.

Who needs chocolate when you have Alycone?

Pablo's wines are brought into the US by T. Edward Wines and are distributed in Chicago by Pure Wine Company. I was able to locate the Tannat at Binny's for $16. Of course, I am already working on getting my hands on some Alcyone!

The Wines of Uruguay

The Republica Oriental del Uruguay is a small country located between it's larger neighbors, Argentina to the south and west and Brazil to the north. Uruguay was was once a Spanish colony and it was here in Uruguay that the Spanish first introduced the grapevine to South America. However, it was the Italian and Basque immigrants who followed, that started to establish the first commercial vineyards and wineries about 100 years ago. Uruguay's most famous wine is made from the Tannat grape, the origins of which can be found in the South West of France in the appellations of Cahors and Madiran. Tannat is to Uruguay what Malbec is to Argentina. Wines made from Tannat are powerfully colored, extremely rich, well structured and heavy on tannins - perfect for pairing with grass fed Uruguayan beef. There are 20,000 acres of land under vine planted to 72% red grapes, most of which is Tannat. The other main red grapes are Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Chardonnay is the most planted white grape followed closely by Sauvignon Blanc. There are 270 family owned wineries running boutique, small-time operations as the average estate holding is around 12 acres. Ninety million liters are produced every year, most of which gets consumed by Uruguayans who drink on average 32 liters per year. Only 3% of Uruguayan wines are exported, mostly to the US market.

Tannat Grape

I had an opportunity to visit with a number of wineries during my short two day visit. Uruguayans are extremely kind, generous and warm hearted people. The winery owners were very excited to have a US audience as they are eager to get the word out about the wines of Uruguay. We all know my love for Argentina but Uruguay has one significant advantage over Argentina and that is the close proximity of their vineyards and wineries to the capital of Montevideo, many of which are located within a half hours drive. To get to Mendoza from Buenos Aires, you would need to drive for 10 hours or take a plane. The combination of the beauty of Uruguay and the wine country is a multi-million dollar tourism based industry just waiting to happen. Meeting with the winemakers and visiting their vineyards made me think of what it must have been like to travel to San Francisco and visit Napa Valley wineries in the 60's and 70's. It's hard to believe now but California was not always known and respected for their wines. They were able to launch themselves onto the international wine scene with the now infamous Paris Tasting in 1976 when wines from Napa Valley beat highly regarded French wines in a blind tasting. They called it the shot that was heard around the world. Uruguay reminds me in many ways of a young California and I sincerely believe they too will have their shot at finding their rightful place amongst the greatest wine producing regions of the world.

Here my tasting notes

Juanico Winery - Juanico is by far the largest winery in Uruguay and is 100% family owned by the Deicas family. They make a variety of wines under different labels but my favorites were the Don Pascual Tannat Roble and Familia Deicas Preludio. The Juanico Estate is a great winery to visit as they have a first class operation that caters to group visits of all sizes.


Carlos Pizzorno Winery - a small boutique operation started in 1910 and now run by the very handsome couple, Carlos Pizzorno and Dra. Ana Laura Rodriguez. Dra. Ana and I bonded as she is a gastroenterologist as is my father-in-law. The Pizzorno wines are very modern in style. I particularly enjoyed the fresh and zippy Don Prospero Sauvignon Blanc, the rich and spicy Pizzorno Tinto Riserva, a blend of Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and the well structured Pizzorno Tannat Reserve. Carlos' Pinot Noir, although young, shows great promise.


Bouza Winery - This is another boutique run, family owned operation. The Monte Vide Eu was definitely one of my favorite wines that I tasted. The blend of Tannat, Merlot and Tempranillo was very silky, soft and extremely delicious.


Bodegas Carrau - Established in 1782, Bodegas Carrau is one of the oldest wineries in Uruguay. The estate is now run by the extremely intelligent and knowledgeable, Dr. Francisco Carrau who proved to be a great source of information regarding the Uruguayan wine industry. The wine making style is more traditional in nature with less wood and more expression of fruit. I was blown away by the nebbiolo which is released once every 10 years or so. It is the best nebbiolo I have had outside of examples from Italy.

Dr. Francisco M. Carrau sharing his knowledge of Uruguayan wines

Ariano - this winery is represented by a mother and daughter team. They were eager to receive feedback about their wines and how the US market may view the style. I was happy to inform them their Don Nelson Ariano Special Reserve would certainly have no problem with holding it's own against the big guns from California. This was a very extracted wine, full of rich tannins supported by American oak - very a modern style that would certainly be appreciated by US consumers.


Castillo Viejo Winery - What I remember most about this winery were two things: the Hasparren Espumoso Brut and the very tasty El Preciado Red. I'm always happy to see bubbles and the El Preciado was indeed a precious blend of Cab Franc, Merlot and Tannat. The packaging was really cool too!


Reinaldo De Lucca Winery - This winery was particularly interesting as they experiment with Rhone grapes like Marsanne and Syrah. The Tannat Syrah Reserva was very interesting as I never thought I would be able to taste a blend of these two varietals. I also enjoyed the Rio Colorado, a raisiny and elegant blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat and Merlot.


Santa Rosa Winery - Santa Rosa has been in business for over 100 years. They produce an impressive line of sparkling wines. General Manager Daniel Mutio is another exuberant spokesperson for the wines of Uruguay and he is looking forward to sharing the wines of his country with the rest of the world. For the still red wines, The Gran Reserva Juan Bautista Passadore and the Museo Tannat were my favorites from them.

Vinos Pisano - Pisano is one of Uruguay's most highly regarded and award winning wineries. It is owned and operated by the extremely amusing, charming and well mustached, Daniel Pisano. He had me in stitches with his stories about his Italian grandfather. Daniel is a great ambassador for Uruguayan wines and his winemaking skills is a clear indicator why. I pretty much enjoyed everything he makes but his Rio de los Pajaros Torrontes and Tannat and Reserve Arretxea were out of control delicious.

Me with my new Uruguayan buddies, Daniel Mutio and Daniel Pisano

Uruguay - The Best Kept Secret in the World

My recent trip to Argentina included a two day visit to Uruguay. I had some limited experience with their wines and wanted to further explore the country and check out a few wineries. Frankly, I was not sure what to expect since I did not know a thing about Uruguay and rarely encounter any of the wines here in the States. After a three hour Buquebus ferry ride from Buenos Aires we reached the port in Montevideo and I immediately sensed we were in for something special.


Montevideo is a vibrant city, green and beautiful with miles of beaches, parks and winding trails, similar to the Fort Mason area of San Francisco. The people of Uruguay are extremely fit and active and you will see many jogging along the coast, playing volleyball or relaxing near the seaside sipping from traditional gourds filled with mate. You can walk around almost anywhere and feel safe which unfortunately is not the case in Buenos Aires. A study conducted by Yale and C0lumbia Universities in 1997, declared Uruguay the third purest natural ecosystem in the world. Uruguay also has an effective education system as 98% of all Uruguayans are literate. A friend of mine described Uruguay as the Switzerland of South America, they are politically neutral, all the Swiss banks have offices in Montevideo and the government and economy are very stable. The exchange rate makes Uruguay extremely affordable. You can get a nice hotel room for around 70 US dollars and a meal for two persons at a fancy restaurant with wine is around 30 US dollars. In other words, it's a wonderful and affordable place for a vacation.

The day following our arrival, we took a drive to the upscale and scenic resort town of Punta del Este and I kept thinking to myself, how have I not heard about this place before and why are more people not down here? I was born and raised near Carmel, California and the beaches of Punta del Este made me think of what Carmel by the Sea must have looked like in the twenties before people discovered it and turned the city into a tourist attraction. Our guide told us you can purchase a beach side home in this gated community for around $200,000 US dollars.

We also took the opportunity to visit Casa Pueblo, this icon of Uruguay is a piece of art done by the eccentric Uruguayan artist Carlos Páez Vilaró. It looks like a giant Salvador Dali sculpture and took 36 years to be completed. Today it is a hotel where you can book a room for around $140 a night.


A forty five minute drive from Punta del Este is the discreet town of Jose Ignacio which is known as a secret playground for celebrities, the uber-wealthy and Brazilian models. As you can see the beauty of Uruguay is simply breathtaking and stunning and I can't wait to return to explore more of it.

Jose Ignacio

What to Drink for the Holidays, besides spiked Egg Nog.

Not that there is anything wrong with spiked egg nog although I do prefer an egg nog latte. It sounds really weird but it is tasty stuff. OK, I'm digressing, back to wine. Chances are you are having a few folks over for the holidays or you are attending holiday parties and need something to either drink or bring as a host/hostess present. The number one rule in entertaining with wine is to make sure you don't serve something that will indicate to your guests exactly how much you spent on them, i.e. save the Two Buck Chuck and Yellow Tail for quiet times at home. Try to select affordable options that are obscure and off the beaten path - selections that are exotic by virtue of their region of origin or grape variety. Say for example you serve a Nero D'Avola from Sicily and your guests say how tasty it is and ask you where you found it. You can respond with, "Oh, it's just a little something from Sicily, I'm glad you like it." They will be impressed by your international wine prowess and talk about what a great party you threw the next day with all their coworkers. You will be legendary!

Here are my picks for the Holidays! You can find them at your local wine shop. Please note that prices will vary depending on where you purchase them. Email me if you are on the hunt and don't have any luck - lettucewine@gmail.com

Sparkling - Gran Sarao Brut Cava $ 10

A great little sparkler from Spain. Crisp and toasty with green apple notes. Pop a bow on it and it's a great little hostess present. It's not Champagne but neither is Korbel.

Sweet Wine - Kung Fu Girl Riesling - Washington State $11

A perfect balance between not too sweet and fruity. I love the "Kill Bill-esque" label which also portrays a bowl of Asian food with chopsticks on the back. My husband's family is Jewish so I am very familiar with the tradition of Chinese food for Christmas and this would be a great wine to bring to an Asian BYOB.

Chardonnay - Buehler Russian River Valley $14

I taste many Chardonnays every year and I find that most of the value ones taste like a stick of margarine and smoked wood chips. This one caught me by surprise. Although $14 is not exactly bargain basement it is a deal when you consider the grapes come from the tony appellation of the Russian River and the the complexity of flavors on the palate - ripe pears, nice minerality, soft texture, not too oaky and the right amount of butter. Plus when you offer a round to your guests you can say, "Buehler, Buehler, Buehler anyone?"

Pinot Noir - Montoya, Monterey $15

Ever since Sideways came out, it has become increasingly difficult to find a great Pinot Noir for less than $20 per bottle. The increased demand for the varietal shot up grape prices which in turn resulted in higher priced wines. I've tried the $8 and $9 ones but they seem to lack a certain finesse that one would expect from a proper Pinot Noir. I tried this the other day, and I was immediately impressed by the sweet cherries on the nose and the balance on the palate. It's a really nice wine and sure to impress a Pinot Noir lover looking for a deal.

Cabernet Sauvignon - Hahn Estate Monterey $12

If you can get past the tacky label on the outside, there is plenty of good stuff inside. Monterey is not known for producing great Cabernet Sauvignon wines as the cooler climate is better for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir but the texture on this wine is great and exactly what you want from this grape. It's well structured with cassis and blackberry fruit notes. Great for prime rib and steak dinners or have a glass while opening gifts by the fireplace.

Spanish Red - Los Dos Garnacha-Syrah $10

I love wines from Spain because they taste great and you don't have to spend a ton to get a great bottle. If you like the spiciness of Cotes du Rhone wines, you will enjoy the spiciness of this selection.

Malbec -Pascual Toso Argentina $9

I could have listed about 100 Malbecs here as it is well documented by now that I am a big fan of the grape. I tried this one recently and really enjoyed the concentrated black berry notes although your local wine store can probably turn you on to something similar if you can't find this exact producer.