The Glamorous Gourmet: The Wine Atelier's 2012 Holiday Wine Picks & a Very Special Offer!

"It is well to remember there are five reasons for drinking: the arrival of a friend, one's present or future thirst, the excellence of the wine, or any other reason." ~ Latin Proverb

The holidays are here and for those of us who love wine it's the prime time of year to indulge! On that note I am very happy to announce the 2012 Wine Atelier Holiday Wine Picks which I've selected with your vinous needs and desires in mind. Whether you're entertaining friends, neighbors and family; looking for the perfect gift; or just looking to explore the world of wine, this list has you covered, featuring wines from around the globe that suit many tastes at a variety of price points. As a special offer, the first five shoppers who spend $100 or more will receive one month of the Wine Atelier Club free - a $50 value!

In addition to the wines listed here, please feel free to inquire about any other favorites you enjoy. I have a wide selection of wine in my virtual boutique which you will be able to see shortly once my website is complete! Also, if you are looking for a fabulous gift for the wine lover in your life (or looking to treat yourself!) please consider The Wine Atelier Club which delivers a monthly wine experience right to your doorstep. For more information on The Club please click here and if you'd like to purchase any of the wines in this post, there is a shopping cart located at the bottom of the page. So without further ado, my fellow oenophiles, here are The Wine Atelier's 2012 Holiday picks:

2012 Holiday Wines

Pfaffl Grüner Veltliner Austrian Pepper 2008: The home of Mozart, Edelweiss and Lederhosen has a long rich tradition of winemaking. The vine has been cultivated in Austria since at least 700BC and nowadays Austria is considered a very dynamic wine producing region. Known for its wonderful whites, Grüner Veltliner is the region' s signature grape and this incarnation of 100% Grüner exhibits lovely aromas and flavors of citrus, minerals and herbs with a distinctive touch of white pepper, the calling card of this grape variety. Price: $16

King Estate Domaine Pinot Gris 2011: Founded in 1991 by the King family, King Estate is committed to producing Oregon wines of exceptional quality using organic and sustainable farming methods and time proven winemaking techniques. The King Estate Domaine wines represent the highest level of their portfolio and are made exclusively with organically grown grapes from their estate vineyard. This lovely incarnation of Pinot Gris is 100% stainless steel fermented and sur lie aged to produce a wine with lovely freshness and texture. Enticing notes of nectarine, white peach, citrus and star fruit accompany a delightful freshness and balance. Price: $24

Bodegas Palacio Cosme Palacio 1894 Blanco 2008: Bodegas Palacio was founded in 1864 by Don Cosme Palacio y Bermejillo and is located in the heart of Spain's Rioja Alavesa. This wine is a blend of 92% Viura and 8% Malvasia from 80 year old vines grown at high elevation on limestone based soils. The wine is then aged in new French oak barrels (50% new) for 14 days and the result is a very intriguing wine with a lot of personality! Notes of lime, stone fruit, almond and spice are accompanied by a lovely minerality and food friendly acidity. If you are looking for something a little off the beaten path, look no further! Price: $30

Joseph Drouhin Vaudon Chablis Premier Cru 2010:The Moulin de Vaudon, a property of Joseph Drouhin, is an 18th century watermill close to the Grand Cru vineyards of Chablis. Because of its unique location at the heart of their 38 hectare vineyard estate (95 acres), this historic mill is the headquarters of the Drouhin Domaine in Chablis. Here, the Kimmeridgian limestone soil of Chablis contains millions of tiny marine fossils once located at the bottom of a Jurassic seabed hundreds of millions of years ago. The marine origin of the soil gives the wines their unique flavor profile and brings to life the true concept of "terroir". This elegant wine has notes of apple, melon and grapefruit with a lovely minerality and food friendly acidity. Price: $37

De Bortoli Deen Vat 4 Petit Verdot 2010: Deen De Bortoli created his Vat Series to highlight traditional varietal wines and also wines made from interesting, newer varieties to Australia. He personally selected the blends and chalked the numbers on the vats to identify them. Petit Verdot is one of Bordeaux’s classic grape varieties which is enjoying a revival in Australia. This late-ripening varietal performs exceptionally well in Australia's warm climate which allows it to achieve heightened levels of ripeness compared to the cooler climates of France. This juicy, delicious wine has aromas of blackberries, cherries, and violets as well as flavors of rich dark fruit, chocolate and spice. Chewy but approachable tannins are imparted by oak ageing. Price: $12

Renato Ratti Barbera d'Alba 2010: Renato Ratti entered the world of winemaking free of ancestral ties or responsibilities and was able to face Barolo with unfettered freedom. He was a true pioneer in the region creating the first single-vineyard Barolos produced in the same tradition as Burgundy, France. Following his untimely passing, his unique wine making philosophy is able to live on through the passion and commitment of his son Pietro. This 100% Barbera is crafted from 20 year old vines located in the Torriglione vineyards in La Morra. The Tortonian soil creates wines that are approachable with marked fragrance, softness and elegance. This wine spent six months in French oak barriques creating a wine with an intense, ruby red color and aromas and flavors of ripe plum, cassis, violets and spice. Price: $20

Chateau Mont-Redon Chateauneuf du Pape 2010: Chateau Mont-Redon is the largest single-vineyard estate of Chateauneuf-du-Pape and one of only two in the entire appellation. It supports plantings of all 22 grape varieties authorized for this well known wine from the Southern Rhone. This particular offering is a blend of 7 of the 22 allowable grapes (60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 8% Mourvèdre, 2% Cinsault, Counoise, Muscardin and Vaccarèse) and each variety is fermented separately before blending occurs. Half of the wine is then transferred to barrels for 10-12 months after malolactic fermentation while the other half remains in vats. The result is a wine with elegant ripe black fruit offset by notes of spice, leather and pepper with a firm tannic structure and delightfully complex finish. Price: $44

Domaine Drouhin Dundee Hills Pinot Noir Laurène 2009: Véronique Drouhin is the "guardian" of the Drouhin style serving as Head Winemaker for Domaine Drouhin since its inception in Oregon in 1988 as well as Maison Joseph Drouhin in Burgundy. This very special wine is named after her elder daughter, Laurène and is the estate's flagship wine, produced entirely from Pinot Noir grown on the family's estate in the Dundee Hills. It is vibrant in color with aromatics of sweet red fruit, cherry and a hint of toast. On the palate, fresh red fruit flavors of cherry and cranberry mix easily with notes of vanilla and smoke. This elegant wine has soft, well-integrated tannins, a lovely minerality, and lengthy finish. It beautifully represents the Drouhin style applied in the New World. Price: $59

If you'd like to purchase wines from "The List" you can use the PayPal Shopping Cart and drop down list below to do so. If you have any difficulty using it, please call 561-317-6663 to place your order over the phone or e-mail everydaywinegirl@aol.com. If you live in South Florida please call or e-mail to arrange pickup or shipping and, as always, please feel free to call with any questions. For shipment outside of South Florida, please call us to make arrangements. Also, don't forget: the first five shoppers who spend $100 or more will receive one month of The Wine Atelier Club free - a $50 value. Thank you again for your continued interest and support and stay tuned for my next post: Holiday Sparklers!