From the Dec 15, 2020, issue
How should we mark the holidays in this most confusing year? We posed that question to our sommelier friends in the restaurant industry for our Bottles to Uncork, Bottles to Unwrap feature in
Wine Spectator s Dec. 15, 2020, issue.
So you re just having a small holiday at home all the more reason to drink better than ever! Beverage pros from
Wine Spectator Restaurant Award–winning spots around the country shared their favorite wine and spirits for spreading some cheer, from Pinot Noirs from Burgundy and California to amaro and aged Armagnac.
Able to safely have a socially distanced gathering? These somms also have advice for affordable, by-the-case pours that will still impress, as well as monster bottles and signature cocktails. Here’s what they’ll be serving up this season.
Best of Award of Excellence
I have fought off using any kind of gadget my entire career. I have always believed that a bottle, glass and corkscrew is the perfect triad for a great wine experience. Today, I eat those former words and use my Durand [wine opener] with pride. Wow, what a gadget! It has yet to fail … and I really wanted it to fail.
Amy Racine
On the more gimmicky, lighthearted and fun side, there’s a wineglass holder for the shower, just something to laugh about, playing on the “shower beer” thing. And something I use all the time, especially in the restaurants, is called Wine Away; it’s a spray bottle for any sort of red or white wine stain. It’s magical in terms of getting wine stains out of tablecloths and any sort of linens whenever a glass is knocked over, which happens all the time.