I wanted something new to share for this holiday article and I thought of all of the holiday events we get invited to is there ever a favorite? But adding this to the mix: it has to be a memorable holiday event that also included wine and/or spirits. I posed the question on social media to do this roundup article. Below are their answers, and last is mine. Hopefully it will give you some ideas of events you can hold or seek out and attend!
A two-event memory from a wine distributor:
Michael F., “It’s been a moment so I’m not sure they still do it. The two Holiday Food & Wine Tastings that The Cave in Ventura did every year. The first one in November was for all the wines featured at their store. The second was in December featuring Champagne and sparklers for Christmas and New Years. Amazing selections with equally good food.
Caviar and Champagne, from a sommelier:
Maria V., “I held a Caviar and Sparkling wine tasting during the holidays with Caspian Caviar and it was really fun. The table decor was gorgeous and we served a variety of sparkling wine. Everything from Piper Sonoma Blanc de Blanc to a Giesen non-alcohol Sparkling Brut. We also had an Alta Lange Rosé Sparkling from Fenoglio Matteo, the JCB Caviar Blanc de Blanc from Burgundy, and Aubry Champagne Rosé. All paired with these caviars from Caspian:
Royal Osetra – rich, buttery, classic elegance.
Golden Osetra – naturally golden pearls, refined, aromatic, rare.
Kaluga Hybrid – larger pearls, creamy and full-bodied.
Kaluga Hybrid Golden – the pinnacle selection; golden, luxurious, deeply velvety.”
A silly one:
Scott K., “A free tasting at Trader Joe’s in Novato.”
One with promise, from a wine collector:
Jonelle G., recently back from an extended vacation in South Africa, where she and her husband purchased a few cases of wine, “Having a South African wine tasting – as soon as we get it all!”
Fancy, from a fellow wine writer:
Michael C., “Bracebridge Dinners at the Ahwahnee in Yosemite. The best holiday event I’ve ever attended in my life. Period.” This one I looked up on the Bracebridge Dinners website to learn that “The 99th Bracebridge Dinner at The Ahwahnee Hotel invites guests to experience a cherished American tradition amid the breathtaking beauty of Yosemite National Park. Since 1927, this iconic Christmas pageant has transformed The Ahwahnee Dining Room into the grand manor of Washington Irving’s legendary Squire Bracebridge, offering an evening of elegance, music, and festive cheer.”
For me, it had to be the annual holiday wine tasting event that Guy Lelarge from Valencia Wine Company created. The event sometimes was small and held with his best suppliers at the wine bar on Town Center Drive, other times, and most often, it was held on a grander scale at the Oaks Grille at TPC (TPC is now called The Oaks Club at Valencia). I covered it for different news outlets for at least nine years. Here is an excerpt: One year I called it “300 Wines Paired Outstandingly With 300 Guests” just to show people how much we had to taste, another year my title boldly stated guests were going to be “Seduced” by the range of wines served from Argentina to France and New Zealand, and one of my favorites, where the tasting was delayed a full week because of a fire that closed our main artery, the 5 freeway, and guests chomped at the bits until “Our Tasting Arrived.”
The event was not only orchestrated to ring in the holidays with amazing wines, food, and people, but also as a holiday shopping experience. I thought at the time – and still do today – that it was the perfect local holiday wine tasting.
Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in the first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Proof Awards since 2022 (submit via https://proofawards.com) Cellarmasters, LA Wine Competition, Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits. Follow on Instagram and Facebook.
