One of the best ways to get to know a country is through its food and beverage offerings. For the holiday season, check out these excellent wines from under-the-radar wine regions in different parts of the world (which we should be drinking more from!) for your wanderlust wine-loving friends who are eager to try something new. Note: All wines mentioned are available in the United States.
I was introduced to this Cypriot stunner at Margot Natural Wine Bar in Miami by wine director Mar Dalmau. It was “wow” at first sip—fragrant, savory and complex— highly enjoyable on its own but also with dishes like English pea and tahini, and salmon crudo, which I was enjoying at the time. “I respect and really enjoy Vouni Panayia as producers,” shares Dalmau, in reference to the country’s first privately owned winery in Paphos, founded by Andreas Kyriakidis in 1987, and is today, run by his sons Yiannis, Pavlos and Petros. “They are at the forefront of reviving the ‘lost and forgotten’ indigenous grapes of Cyprus. Their wines are quite unique and very well made, always under the ethos of sustainability This morokanella is a light yet complex white wine which shows some savory herbal tones and juicy stone fruit, with mouthwatering acidity.” Definitely one of my favorite recent wine discoveries.
Available in Miami at Margot Natural Wine Bar (dine-in and retail), and various retail outlets
If the number one restaurant in the world, Central in Lima, has it on their beverage program, you know that it’s an important representation of Peruvian culture and its ecosystem, in line with what chef-owner Virgilio Martinez and his team stand for. The good news is, this elegant, medium-bodied orange wine made from 85% quebranta (Peru’s sole indigenous grape, used to make pisco) and 15% mollar grape in the Pisco Valley—is now available in the US. “What makes this wine extremely special is the fact that there is not a reference to compare them with any other region or style,” shares Karina Iglesias, wine consultant at Julia and Henry’s in Miami, and who also represents Selections de la Viña, the US importer of Bodega Murga, locally. “Grapes are hand harvested, with skin contact maceration for 30 days, with spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel tanks. The wine production in South America is extending beyond Argentina and Chile and I think is very remarkable what young winemaker Pietra Possamai is accomplishing in the Pisco Valley.”
Available in Miami at Maty’s (dine-in); in New York City at Astor Wines ($42) and various retail outlets
The Moroccan rosé La Ferme Rouge Le Gris is another low-intervention gem I discovered at Miami’s Margot Natural Bar. “In Miami, rosé is a glass of comfort for most people— light, crisp
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Simply saying the word “spa” can conjure memories of pleasurable massages, relaxing music, candlelit soaks, rejuvenating smells, and renewing saunas. They’re places of sanctuary that delight the senses. Giving the spa enthusiast in your life a gift from one of their favorite spas can bring them joy and excitement during the holidays and throughout the coming year. There’s something for every spa lover on this list, so read on to find a last-minute gift for most gift-giving budgets.
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Skipping the buzz—and the calories – has gotten much more enjoyable. Even in the past six months, the non-alcoholic wine space has improved dramatically, with new offerings showing surprising complexity. My list this year includes a couple of debuts and some old favorites. I’ve noted how these beverages were made – some start with fermented grapes – actual wine—then use complex chemistry to remove the alcohol. These might hew closer to a traditional wine to many palates. Then there are beverages that use a mixture of teas, juices, spices or other elements to give the experience of wine – mouthfeel, complex nose and palate. These alternatives are generally not meant to emulate a particular varietal, but rather give the drinker a pleasing adult beverage to enjoy in situations where you’d normally drink wine. Here are this year’s top picks.
Gift one of these practical—yet pampering—products to a well-traveled loved one in your life. The following gift suggestions have a dual purpose, meaning your traveler can travel light, yet not skimp on those little luxuries while on the road.
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