The Nice List: WineHug

THE NICE LIST

Item: WineHug

Category: Stocking Stuffers

Cost: $20

Where to Buy: WineHug.com

You've probably seen me write (or talk) about giving my wines big hugs - and I mean that literally and figurativley - at various times across our journey of wine exploration. So, as a personal favorite product I thought those of you treking to dinner or wine-n-cheese parties, like me (long-live "Wine Down Wednedays"), might find use in this fun little product called, WineHug.

WineHug is a self-inflating protective pouch that is lightweight, compact and adapts to hold a 750mL bottle of wine. It has a simple velcro seam that helps keep the bottle snug so you bypass any breakage (which we all know can ruin delicate white blouses when packed in a suitcase). And the best part... its re-usable! Simply collapse the WineHug when its not in use and re-inflate it for your next trip.

If you're looking for something even less costly ($10), you can get a similar item that actually keeps your wine chilled at Crate & Barrel.

The Nice List: Wine Gift Cards

THE NICE LIST

Item: Wine Gift Cards

Category: Stocking Stuffer (or Gift)

Price: Whatever you'd like!

Where to Buy: Wine.com

Some of you are probably thinking we're crazy for wanting to put an ENTIRE bottle of wine into a holiday stocking. Won't it weight it down? What if it breaks? Ok, if you're conscious about it, we have the perfect solution for you... wine in the form a gift card!

If you can swipe a Visa, you might as well be able to swipe a gift card that can do the same specifically for a bottle of good wine. And the folks at Wine.com have done just that for us! You get to choose the dollar amount for your gift and the recipient can choose any item they want from the website. I've got my eye on a nice Brunello (seasons greetings to me!) E-giftcards are also available.

Nice List: Pommery POP Earth

THE "NICE" LIST

Item: Pommery POP Earth Champagne

Category: Stocking Stuffers

Cost: $49.99

Where to Buy: Vinquire.com

Everyone already knows that I'm a sucker for a little champagne, and I'm sure a good chunk of the drinking population would side along with me. That's why it's only appropriate we add some bubbly to our "nice" Stocking Stuffer picks.

Now, it's also pretty known that I'm a big fan of Pommery and their mini POP Champagne bottles (which I've given props to more than once on this blog). But, now I adore them even more because they launched POP Earth, a champagne produced from sustainably farmed grapes packaged in a 100% recycled bottle (which is lighter in turn yielding less freight and pollution) and made with a recycled paper label printed with water-based inks. It's a drink you can feel good about throwing back, so stuff it in the stocking and uncork it for New Years!

Nice List: Lola Custom Wine Glasses

THE "NICE" LIST

Item: Lulu Custom Painted Wine Glasses

Category: Stocking Stuffers

Cost: $6.99/each

Where to Buy: HomeGoods

Take a look at this picture and tell me how you could ever pass up this festive drinkware? These Lulu hand painted wine glasses by 2 Saints Inc. are flirty, fun and fabulous, and not only are they great "drinking glasses," they are sure to be conversation starters too.

The company produces a wide range of whimsically themed martini and wine glasses, perfect for whatever personality you are looking for - the Shopaholic, the Diva, or even a Bachelorette. But my eyes were immediately drawn to this "Chubby Santa" (as I like to call him) as I was combing through my neighborhood HomeGoods store the other day. I bought two - one for myself to showboat at my Wine Down Holiday Party this weekend, and one for a good friend who I'm secretly hoping doesn't see this post. "We wasted the good surprise on you!"

Nice List: ONEHOPE Merlot

THE "NICE" LIST

Item: ONEHOPE Merlot

Category: Stocking Stuffers

Cost: $18.99

Where to Buy: ONEHOPEWine.com

We're big ambassadors for anything tied to a cause, so it's no wonder that ONEHOPE wine makes the top of our "nice" list for the Stocking Stuffer category. And clearly there was no better day to share this find with you than today, World AIDS Day.

We discovered ONEHOPE Chardonnay a few months back as a tie into our Breast Cancer PINKTOBER round-up only to uncover that the company works with several other initiatives, particularly this California-grown Merlot with 50% of proceeds benefiting charities that fund AIDS research. Just as Merlot is one of the most popular varietals in the world, AIDS is arguably the biggest world epidemic claiming over 25 million lives in the past 25 years - see the connection?

Knowing how much I enjoyed their Chardonnay, the kind folks with ONEHOPE offered to send me a sample bottle of this Merlot to try out, and being a sucker for philanthropy and an avid fan of the brand already, I easily said yes. Afterall, it's more fun to drink with purpose!

On the nose, this wine doesn't exude any distinct character. The smell of alcohol overpowers any other aromas, however the minute you allow it to breathe in your mouth (swirl, swirl) you'll see all its flavorful attributes come alive, particularly dark fruits like black cherry, plums and figs. What I like about this Merlot is that its not overtly "New World." It still has some earthy flare that balances out to a smooth finish. Even my roommate who is an avid white wine drinker enjoyed this wine - I think that says enough! My only suggestion, don't decant it and drink it right away. The more it sits and breathes, the faster its taste attributes change. I left mine sit for about 5 minutes and noticed the fruit was less powerful, and more mineralistic characteristics came about.

On a sidenote, between and December 31st, ONEHOPE will donate $1 to charity for every new fan on their Facebook fan page.

2009 "Naughty or Nice" List

Today kicks off the month of December, which means that Santa Clause and the Hanukkah Armadillo are on their way to pay each of us a little visit... well, at least all of us who made the "nice" list. And just as we "play nice in the sandbox," it's only be appropriate that we hold our vino to the same expectations.

Behold, WinoBee's 2009 "Naughty or Nice" list. Over the course of the month, we're going to do all the checking, re-checking and X-ing off of the best and worst stocking stuffers, wines for the party table, and gifts for the avid wino. Hopefully we'll help you uncover a few items to package up for friends and family along the way. After all, the experience of a great wine is even better when surrounded by great people.

Check back soon as we kick off the 2009 "Naughty or Nice" list!

Thanksgiving Wines: St. Supery Barrel Fermented Chardonnay

In reading back through prior "Thanksgiving Wines" posts, I noticed that I've moderatley favored red wines. And to be honest, its likely because I'm more of a red wine drinker as the weather shifts from warm to cool. Afterall, nothing compliments the Fall and Winter months quite like a fuller bodied wine with hints of spice. But that doesn't mean we can't discover white wines with the same attributes. In fact, there are many white wines out their with the same complexity, that are comparably approachable. So, let's pay some omage to our dear white wines this Turkey Day, too!

Nothing brings in Autumn quite like St. Supery's Barrel Fermented Chardonnay. Normally I'm not a Chardonnay drinker, I'll admit, but having the opportunity to visit St. Supery back in September, I exposed my pallette to varietals I might not otherwise purchase on my own and was surprisingly pleased with the outcome, particularly on this Chardonnay.

Sustainably farmed (we love anything that helps the enviornment!), this wine bodes aromas of toast and cantaloupe on the nose, with flavors that are reminiscent of baked apple pie (a Turkey Day must), ripe pears and some hints of Earth. It offers a light texture that is balanced with spice. It's like Autumn in a glass! Oh, if you don't like oak hints, they also have Oak-Free Chardonnay!

Cost: $30/bottle
Where to Buy: StSupery.com