Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest For your extended Christmas get-togethers and New Year celebrations, be a good guest by bringing a bottle that can won’t burn a hole in your wallets. Eat, drink, and be merry with these wine suggestions from our local wine experts that won’t break the bank and keep the spirit of the holidays going. Eanglebert’ Eagle’ Guina is the Philippine Sommelier Competition 2018 Champion and founder of Wine Head Head Sommelier Philippines. Here are his picks for white wines and a few reds from around the world, plus food pairing suggestions perfect for holiday parties. Eanglebert’ Eagle’ Guina (Check out Eagle’ Guina’s recommendations on what glass to use for various wines on this link) WHITE WINE 1) 2016 Glenelly Estate Reserve Chardonnay, Stellenbosch, Africa Php1,250 The buttery Glenelly’ Estate Reserve’ Chardonnay’ Stellenbosch has vibrant notes of citrus and hints of vanilla with underlying minerality. It has a rich complexity and a long finish that’s great to pair with mild semi-soft cheeses like cheddar and gruyère (yellow Swiss cheese). 2) 2016 Domaine Daniel Dampt et Fils, Chablis, France Php1,200 Chablis, a region in Burgundy, France that produces wine traditionally made with stainless steel, concrete, or neutral oak. Often described as steely or flinty, Chablis wines do not have the butter-cream style; it is drier and fresher. The 2016 Domaine Daniel Dampt et Fils Chablis can be paired with crustaceans and shellfish. 3) 2017 Familia Zuccardi’ Zuccardi Serie A’ Torrontes, Argentina Php950 The aromatic and floral Torrontes wines from Argentina range in style from light and fresh to heady and intensely perfumed, often expressing spicy, soapy characters and aromas of white flowers. This wine can hold up well against chilies and spicy food. 4) 2016 Protos Verdejo, Spain Php776 Protos Verdejo from Spain, is fresh on the palate, fruity, well-balanced, complex, with a long finish. The multi-awarded Protos Verdejo is good to pair with white fish. 5) 2017 Bodegas As Laxas Albariño Rías Baixas D.O, Spain Php932 The 2017 Bodegas As Laxas from Spain is a medium-bodied wine with flavors of apple and grass. It is fresh with a short finish and is good to pair with shellfish and crustaceans like crab and lobster. RED WINE 1) 2014/2015 M. Chapoutier Crozes-Hermitage Les Meysonniers, France Php1,300 The rich and intense 2014/2015 M. Chapoutier Crozes-Hermitage Les Meysonniers is from the Rhone Valley in France. It has notes of vibrant lime and hints of vanilla and is good to pair with lamb. 2) 2013 Greenock Two Grenache-Shiraz-Mourvedre, Australia Php1,450 A rich and intense Grenache-Shiraz-Mourvedre (GSM) blend from the Barossa Valley region of Australia is an excellent accompaniment to red meat like beef and venison (deer meat). 3) 2013 Vinarte Castel Bolovanu Soare Cabernet Sauvignon, Samburesti, Romania Php1,250 The 2013 Vinarte Castel Bolovanu Soare is a classic savory wine from the picturesque Romanian countryside. It’s excellent with beautiful cuts of steak like filet mignon and ribeye. Gail Sotelo is a beverage and restaurant consultant, and an instructor for the WSET Program at Enderun Colleges. (Read more about her on our feature on women in the local drink world here) Here are her picks for the best bubblies on a budget and a few red wine recommendations. There is no Champagne on the list, as there is no Champagne on the market for less than Php 1.5k. BUBBLIES 1) Freixenet Cuvee Ds Brut Cava, Spain Php1,500 to Php1,790 This bottle is an easy and accessible Cava (a traditional method Spanish sparkling wine that is available below Php1,500 at Ralph’s Wines and Spirits outlets or for a bit more at Php 1,790 at manila-wine.com. The wine is rich in flavors with notes of dried herbs. It blooms as it opens, making its toasty and yeasty notes come out. 2) Zonin Prosecco Black, Italy Php1,149 It is a lovely French take on an Italian Prosecco classic with the addition of Pinot Noir grapes. It is well-structured with notes of fresh cherries and other red fruits. May be served as an aperitif or paired with sushi, chicken, or pasta with seafood. Zonin Prosecco Black is available at Landers and Cash & Carry or online via Boozy.ph. 3) Valdivieso Sparkling Brut NV, Chile Php975 to Php980 “Valdivieso is well-known in Chile as producers of good, local sparkling wine, and their Sparkling Brut NV is a solid choice for the holidays,” shares Gail. It has a pale yellow color appearance with green hues and has flavors of green apple, toasted almonds, and hints of floral notes. A bottle of this bubbly is good to pair with fresh oysters, salmon sashimi, canapés, or mango salad. This sparkling wine is available at manila-wine.com and winery.ph (take advantage of their promo of Php 882 per bottle when you buy six (6) or more. 4) Fasoli Gino La Corte del Pozzo Prosecco Spumante DOC, Italy Below Php1,500 This bottle of bubbly is bursting with floral aromas of white flowers such as jasmine and acacia and has notes of bitter almond and dried fruit on the palate. It is a good Prosecco with round notes. Fasoli Gino La Corte del Pozzo Prosecco Spumante DOC is available at Don Revy. RED WINE 1) Alegro Crianza Rioja Below Php1,500 “Alegro Crianza is a proper, well-thought-of Rioja, considering its price point. I admit because of our house’s proximity to a Rustan’s and the price point, I stock up on these at home,” Gail shares. It has classic aromas of red fruit and had good structure and tannins a good representative wine of the new Rioja style. Try it with Mediterranean dishes, whether pasta, rice and, with white meat. Get this Rioja bottle at any Rustan’s Supermarket. 2) 2015 Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon Php800 and above “I always gravitate towards a Chilean wine when someone asks me to recommend an inexpensive red. It’s from Concha Y Toro, a winery which is top of mind for vinos and Chilean wines in terms of quality,” Gail explains. Expect notes of ripe berries. It is medium-bodied with silky tannins. Pair it with red meats and aged cheeses such as Gruyère or blue cheeses. This bottle is available in any leading supermarkets or buy it online via manila-wine.com 2) M. Chapoutier Côtes du Rhône Belleruche Rouge Php 1,190 “I don’t think anyone can go wrong with a Rhône red. I’m also a fan of Chapoutier because of the quality and the story behind the label,” Gail says. “It’s less than Php1,500 on winery.ph, but they offer an additional discount for six bottles,” she adds. Bel S. Castro, a local wine expert, and the Assistant Dean at the College of Hospitality Management at Enderun Colleges. (Read more about her on our feature on women in the local drink world here) Her recent trip to Spain, where she earned her latest credential as a Certified Sherry Wine Educator, has her in a very ‘sherry’ frame of mind. Sherry is not your typical drink in the Philippines, but abroad, sherry is making a comeback in savvy wine circles. She’s looking to make something old, new again, so here are her sherry recommendations for the holidays. SHERRY 1) Bodegas M. Gil Luque Leyenda Cream Sherry Essentially an Oloroso sweetened with PX sherry, it can be drunk on its own, or delicious on the rocks garnished with an orange slice (the way they serve it in Jerez in southern Spain’s Andalusia region). If you want to serve a simple, uncomplicated, easy-to-prepare aperitif, this is one to try. Get this bottle at any Terry’s Selection stores. 2) Lustau’ Don Nuño’ Oloroso Sherry NV This bottle is a benchmark expression of an Oloroso. It’s a dry-style but has rich aromas of dried fruit, mixed spice, nuts, and toffee with enough acidity to keep it from getting boring. “Perfect for the season! It can be enjoyed lightly chilled on its own, but when paired with a braised or stewed meat dish like kaldereta, mechado, or callos..ah…makes both better,” Bel shares. Available at selected Ralph’s Wine and Spirits. 3) Gonzalez Byass Nectar PX It’s a dessert sherry. Thick, dense, gooey and tastes like lots of dried fruits, figs, dates, with touches of coffee, caramel, and chocolate. In short, it tastes like Christmas! A bit sweet to be drunk on own but is great poured over ice cream, or paired with strong blue cheeses. Gonzalez Byass Nectar PX is available at Barcino. You heard it from the experts. Have an enjoyable holiday season and indulge in any of these wines that will fit any mood and party situation, without going over budget. We are definitely stocking up on these babies for all-year drinking. Cheers!