Holly? Jolly? Well....

Normally this would be the time I'd write up a festive gift guide for wine and give you tips on what to bring to that next party.

Yeah. Well. So much for that.

How many ways can I say this Christmas and New Year's aren't going to look like every other, just like Easter and Passover and Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and Diwali were unlike every other. All I can say is please continue to be safe, please continue to protect the more vulnerable around you with masks and social distancing.

And I can offer some ideas on how to make your different smaller safer holiday celebrations a little more celebratory.

Bubbles make everything feel fancy, even if it's just pizza in your jammies. If your heart is set on Champagne, but your wallet isn't, check out half bottles such as those by Moet & Chandon or Billecart-Salmon. But there's far better values to be had if you look at other regions. Crémants are sparkling wines from France, often made the exact same way as Champagne. You can't call it Champagne though if it isn't actually from that region. Prices for crémants usually fall in the $20 range for full-size bottles. One of my favorites is C. Greffe Excellence Vouvray Brut, a sparkling chenin blanc. I can find it at Princeton Corkscrew for $19! And I haven't even talked about Italian prosecco or Spanish cava.

I haven't decided yet what I'm going to do for my Christmas dinner. Depending on how I feel, there's this recipe for beef Wellington for two I might give a try. Or I might go simple but fancy with a roast beef tenderloin. (It isn't cheap, but it couldn't be easier!) Either way, I've got some great bordeaux blends in my cellar that would be perfect.

Got any questions about what you might want to pair with your meal? Do hit me up!