As 2023 comes to a close, we reflect on the year that’s passed and look forward to the year to come. So far in 2023 we’ve published 80 articles and over 111k words, and I asked my fellow Wine Predator Sue Hill to share with us some of her favorite wines or posts from 2023. As usual, it’s not just the wine for Sue, but the pairing AND the experience of creating the menu to go with the wines. So Sue went through each post we did in the previous 12 months to chose her favorites from each month. Some months she could narrow it to one post, and a couple months she had two or three to total 21 standout posts in for 2023.
Domaine Bousquet Organic Red Wines with Argentine Christmas cuisine
If it seems like we’ve been on a Domaine Bousquet organic wine kick lately, well, we have! Why? Well, the wines are certifiably affordable, accessible, and awesome for the planet and people because they are actually certified organic, certified regenerative agriculture, and a certified B Corp. All of that adds up to wines we want to share with friends and family this holiday season! Most of the wines are under $20 and as they are the number one organic Argentine winery exported, you should be able to find them, too.
As the days finally get longer in North America, there’s lots to celebrate and we have ideas– for wines, pairings, and subjects with a focus today on three of Domaine Bousquet’s organic sparkling wines with Argentinean Christmas cuisine and tomorrow with three red wines! Plus scroll down for links to more articles about South American sparklers from the World Wine Travel writers. First, a toast to the sun!
From the beginning, Argentina’s Domaine Bousquet committed to growing grapes organically in the 4000′ high altitude, arid area of Gualtallary near Tupungato in Mendoza’s Eco Valley. This month, they celebrate 25 years as the number one organic and regenerative winery from Argentina. Continue reading →
3 Bottles of Bubbly from France for #Winophile Wintry Wonders
Yes you can get fine French sparkling wine grown organically and even biodynamically without breaking the bank if you shop carefully, do some research, buy in advance, and consider Crémant! After all, Crémant is made in the same process as Champagne — the grapes just come from other regions of France. So what are those regional differences? We compare three classic French bottles of bubbles–Crémant from Loire and Jura plus a Champagne from Verzy with yummy pairings that are perfect for holiday gatherings large or small. Continue reading →
Vegan? Check. USDA-certified organic? Check. Kosher? Check. Ecocert-approved? Check. Tasty Malbec that over delivers for the price for holiday meals that makes everyone happy? Check, check, check, check! Domaine Bousquet’s Alavida from Argentina is one of only a few wines worldwide that CHECKS ALL THE BOXES. Oh, and it’s gluten-free, too. (Okay that one isn’t too unusual– wine is commonly considered to be gluten-free.)
So if you’re looking for a holiday red wine that checks all the boxes (except being bubbly; stay tuned for next week’s Domain Bousquet’s dazzling organic sparklers), you’ve come to the right place, look no more! And we have menu ideas too!
4 US Sparkling Surprises: Sonoma’s SEPPI, Paso’s Halter Ranch, WA Gorge + Fav Festive Finger Foods #WinePW
Here at Wine Predator, we love love love sparking wine! We likely drink more sparkling wine than anything else, and Sue is even a Wine Club member at Scharffenberger. While there’s always something to celebrate, the reason is more simple: sparkling wines pair really well with foods we enjoy like salads and seafood, and so we both always try to have in the fridge a bottle of bubbles ready to pop.
We’re also fans of finger food and what better time than the holidays to focus on festive finger foods paired with bottles of bubbles? But not just any appetizers: Finger foods can be fancy, elegant, and special to go with elegant and special sparklers.
Cantina Ottella art above the vineyards — amidst the community!
As we drive through small vineyards dotted with small and large homes in Lombardy’s Lugana DOC beside large glacial Lake Garda, we suddenly and surprisingly arrive at Cantina Ottella which looks more like a Frank Lloyd Wright home complete with modern sculptures on manicured lawns and beautiful, colorful vines than a contemporary winery with productive vineyards. Continue reading →
wine predator.............. gwendolyn alley 