Wine used to be something you put in a gift bag when you didn’t have time to shop. But now, with the variety and different price points, it requires a bit more concentration.
Wine expert Renée Sferrazza joined us this morning to tell us more about choosing the perfect wine this holiday season.
She says wine is a great gift for the holidays because there are so many different ways to enjoy it. Whether that be sharing it with friends and family or pairing with a meal, Sferrazza says every bottle comes with a story behind it.
“That’s what I always recommend that people look for when finding a great bottle to gift for the holidays,” said Sferrazza. “I have two bottles with me today that have very intriguing stories behind them.”
Bodega Norton 2016 Privada & Emiliana Organic Coyam. Both of these wines are from South America, with Privada from Argentina and Coyam from Chile.
Bodega Norton 2016 Privada
Starting with Bodega Norton Privada, Sferrazza says they have a long history within Argentina’s Mendoza area. It was founded in 1895 by Edmund Norton and later acquired by the Swarovski family in the 1980s.
She says the new owner, Gernot Langes Swarovski, started opening up bottles of wine from the cellar of Edmund Norton and he marked the ones he really liked “private” or “privada” on the label.
“To this day Norton carries on the tradition and the wine is a blend of Malbac, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from the oldest vineyards that Norton has,” said Sferrazza. “[The vineyards] are about 50 to 90-years-old.”
What you get from Privada is a deep purple colour with an aroma of black plums, blackberries, red cherries, red currants, blossom and forest floor.
The taste mirrors the nose and is dry, medium-plus bodied and balanced, rich, silky and elegant. The finish lingers thanks to the integration of the wine’s three varietals.
Emiliana Organic Coyam
Sferrazza says the name of the bottle, “Coyam”, connects the Emiliana vineyard to the land where it was made. This wine tells the story of the company’s endeavours in Chile, within the Aconcagua Valley.
Coyam means “oak forest” and comes from the language of the Mapuche people within the region.
“The wine is always made with Syrah and Carmenère but can be blended with up to seven other varietals,” said Sferrazza. “While the varietals change from year to year, this wine tells the story of Emiliana within the land in Chile in their organic and bio-dynamic fashion.”
Coyam gives you deep plum-red colours with violet hues. On the nose it is brimming with fruit such as red currants, strawberries and blackberries with additional notes of spices such as vanilla and licorice, accompanied by delicate violet touches.
The taste is juicy with a good volume and balance, ripe tannins and well-balanced acidity that lends an enjoyable freshness. The finish is long and persistent.
“These are very well-priced wines,” said Sferrazza. “We are looking at under $30 for a bottle.”
