{"id":3128,"date":"2012-12-01T09:22:00","date_gmt":"2012-12-01T09:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bostonzest.com\/?p=3128"},"modified":"2012-12-01T09:22:00","modified_gmt":"2012-12-01T09:22:00","slug":"toasting-a-sparkling-december","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/bostonzest.com\/?p=3128","title":{"rendered":"Toasting a Sparkling December!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Long ago, we decided that we weren’t waiting for New Years Eve to raise a glass of sparkling wine and toast a happy ending and new beginning. So we’ve started each month with a bottle of bubbles since 2007!  And, we’ve been sharing our bubbly selections with BostonZest readers since New Years Eve 2009. <\/p>\n

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That means we have amassed quite a collection of wine recommendations. They are all available any time you want them from the “Sparkling Wine & More”<\/a> tab at the top of each page.<\/p>\n

With a month of gift buying, parties, and holidays in front of us, we’ll say “Happy New Month,” sip a glass of Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco,<\/a> and link you to a few bottles you might add to your holiday shopping list. <\/p>\n

A Case of Sparkle<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ordering a case of a good, inexpensive, sparkling wine can be a great idea this time of year. Many shops will give you a case discount. If the store does not promote it, ask. You can also call ahead and have the wine merchant bring in the extra case of the wine you want. <\/p>\n

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We can suggest Dibon Cava<\/a>, Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs,<\/a> or the Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco<\/a> we’re opening this month.<\/p>\n

Pre-wrap a few bottles<\/a> and you will be prepared for hostess gifts, thank you gifts, client gifts, or something special to hand out with a holiday cash tip. <\/p>\n

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Gift Wines For Wine Lovers<\/strong><\/p>\n

For someone who loves wine and would like to try something that will expand their wine life list or add a new category of taste to their holdiay, we would splurge on a “Grower Champagne.”<\/a> <\/p>\n

Central Bottle<\/a> in Central Square Cambridge always seems to have a supply of these special bottles on hand. We recommend both the Champagne Chartogne-Taillet<\/a> and Pierre Peters<\/a> shown from ledgendary importer and wine educator Terry Theise<\/a>. His annual catalogs are available online<\/a> and provide a champagne education. <\/p>\n

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Pink for Romance! <\/strong><\/p>\n

Wrap up a romantic evening with the gift of a pink sparkler. It can be a value priced Louis Bouillot Ros\u00e9 <\/a>cremant. Or a splurge with a bottle of Delamotte Brut Rose<\/a> from the maker of Salon Champagne<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Other pinks that tickle our fancy are Argyle Brut Ros\u00e9<\/a> from Oregon, 3B Sparkling Ros\u00e9<\/a> from Portuguese winemaker Filipa Pato<\/a>, and for the utlimate fun evening try opening a bottle of Puro Ros\u00e9!<\/a> (We had to make a video to show you how to open this one.)<\/p>\n

Please add to our list by telling us about your favorite sparkling wine for the holidays. You can add a comment at the bottom of this post, sent it to @bostonzest<\/a> on twitter or send us an email<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Want to learn more about wine? Remember to click over to Amazon<\/a>\"\" from here to support this site! Here are three of our favorite wine books.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

The Food Lover’s Guide to Wine<\/a>\"\"
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The New Wine Lover’s Companion<\/a>\"\" <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

The Wine Bible<\/a>\"\" <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n