Partners
From Parties to Presents, Make Memorable Moments with Wines from the Italian Wine Mosaic
The holidays can be a whirlwind of festive bashes and intimate gatherings. As you navigate this season’s celebrations, there’s no better way to express gratitude to those who’ve made the past year unforgettable than with a bottle from the Italian Wine Mosaic. From expressive sparkling wines to full-bodied reds, there is something for every occasion and every person on your list.
For Cocktail Parties: Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio and Chianti Classico Riserva
One’s December schedule can quickly book up with dinners and parties—don’t show up to your important engagements empty-handed. Bottles of Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio and Chianti Classico Riserva make the perfect host gifts. Pinot Grigio is a perennial crowd-pleaser that delights with refreshing fruit notes of apple and citrus, plus enticing florals. It is ideal as an aperitif and pairs well with hors d’oeuvres. Meanwhile, when it’s time to gather around the dinner table, Chianti Classico Riserva stands out for its food pairing versatility. With a round body and flavors of juicy red berries and spice, it works with holiday favorites from braised meats to roasted vegetables.
tips
How to Survive the Holiday Season, According to Wine Enthusiast Staffers
Need some support in creating a happy holiday? Your friends at Wine Enthusiast are here to help with holiday hosting tips.
For Get-Togethers with Close Friends: Santa Margherita Rosé
Rosé wines may be released in the springtime, but the blush-hued offerings are actually excellent for year-round sipping—especially during those winter months, when one could use a little sunshine in a bottle. Many interesting rosés are, in fact, made from grapes grown in mountainous northern Italian, and these cool-climate rosés deliver higher acidity and a vibrant crunchiness. They’re great for cutting through rich, braised dishes popular when temperatures drop.
One such bottle is Santa Margherita Rosé, which offers fresh floral aromas and delightful strawberry flavors. Inspired by the Venetian sunset, it’s ideal for sipping alongside those friends with whom you’ve shared adventures in far-flung locales. It may even inspire plans for future reunions, like that long-awaited trip to Italy you've always talked about.
For the Midnight Toast: Santa Margherita Prosecco Superiore or Santa Margherita Sparkling Rosé
With a new year approaching, it is only natural to think about all the exciting moments that are on the horizon. To that friend who has an upcoming wedding, milestone anniversary or major promotion in the works, gift a bottle of Santa Margherita Prosecco Superiore, which has led the way for high-quality Prosecco sparkling wine in the Veneto region. It is renowned for its lively bubbles and flavors of ripe pineapple and peach. Or toast to all the good times with Santa Margherita Sparkling Rosé. Scintillating and vibrant, with red berry and floral notes and a round texture enlivened by bubbles, the wine is perfect for celebrating every achievement, big and small.
Recipe
A ‘No-Bake’ Chocolate Dessert for Your Holiday Table
Chocolate silk pie is a cocoa-spiked, velvety-textured classic. It also features an unexpected addition: espresso powder.
For Festive Dinner Parties: Masi Costasera Amarone
For the gourmand in your life—or anyone with an appreciation for good food, really— Masi Costasera Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG will intrigue. Hailing from the Valpolicella Classico appellation in the Veneto region of Northern Italy, this blend of Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara shows Amarone’s trademark depth and complexity. During the traditional Amarone winemaking process, grapes are harvested and laid out to dry for several months until they lose about 35% of their weight, resulting in concentrated flavors and aromas. Aging in French and Slovenian oak barrels adds further complexity to the wine’s delectable character, as well as polished tannins. This full-bodied, dry red entices with its interplay of ripe fruit and savory notes, such as plum, fig and coffee. When your friend brings dinner to the table, this wine is a fitting accompaniment to their well-orchestrated menu.
For a Romantic Night for Two: Masi Campofiorin
Show your significant other how much they mean to you with a bottle of Masi Campofiorin Rosso del Veronese IGT. This is no garden-variety wine. Campofiorin earned the nickname “Supervenetian” thanks to its ingenious winemaking process. Freshly harvested Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara are first vinified, then 30% of semi-dried grapes are added back to the base wine for a second fermentation. After, it is aged for 18 months in a variety of barrels. Ripe cherry and plum notes immediately jump out of the glass, but as the wine evolves, nuanced flavors and aromas, such as mushroom and sweet spices, reveal themselves. Robust and elegant, the wine is an ideal gift for a romantic dinner for two.
Recipe
Carmelina’s Christmas Fish Salad
This bright seafood salad is a staple of many an Italian Christmas feast.
Want to learn more about Italy’s unique, terroir-driven wines? The Italian Wine Mosaic includes bottlings ideal not only for fall, but also spring, summer and fall.