Retailer’s experts curate exciting options to pair with seasonal dishes, all priced below $17 per bottle
AUSTIN, Texas, 2015-10-30 — /EPR Retail News/ — Whole Foods Market’s Top Ten Holiday Wines launch in stores today to take the guesswork out of gatherings and gifts this holiday season. Every bottle is priced between $9.99 and $16.99, and was selected by the retailer’s global team of experts to pair perfectly with seasonal flavors.
These distinctive, interesting and wallet-friendly wines were chosen to please a crowd, and most of them are hard to find anywhere else. The Apremont from Domaine Bernard et Cristophe Richel is a particularly rare and exciting variety that is hard to find in the U.S., yet offers broad appeal and over-delivers for the $14.99 price point.
“The Whole Foods Market wine team is on a mission to help customers find sensational wines that fit your budget and your interests. We tasted hundreds of options to curate these Top Ten Wines, bringing our shoppers foolproof bottles to make holiday entertaining easier,” said Doug Bell, global beverage buyer for Whole Foods Market. “As always, our holiday wines have options for everyone, from those looking for classic varietals like the Cave de Lugny Chardonnay to folks seeking adventurous choices like the Bula Montsant, a rich and balanced red.”
This collection of 10 wines and one bubbly were hand-picked by Whole Foods Market’s 11 regional wine buyers and two global buyers, Doug Bell and Devon Broglie, who is one of only 230 Master Sommeliers in the world. Visit wfm.com/wine for more information on these holiday wines from Whole Foods Market:
Domaine Bernard et Cristophe Richel, Apremont
Try a sip off the beaten path with this citrusy French White. Aromas of white flowers. Minerality and grapefruit notes.
Pairs with Mons Meule de Savoie cheese, seafood, oysters, fondue, charcuterie, ham, Hot Crab and Artichoke Dip.
Casas del Bosque, Sauvignon Blanc
Wafts of pear and jalapeño pepper. Fresh green melon flavors, grapefruit acidity. A nice plush heft in the body moves to a bright, clean finish.
Pairs with Vermont Creamery Bonne Bouche cheese, oysters, clams, pear and arugula salad, turkey and dressing, Hearty Turkey Noodle Soup.
Cave de Lugny, Chardonnay
Aromas of peach and apricot with a touch of citrus. Clean, crisp, nicely balanced with a just-sweet roundness. A food-loving wine!
Pairs with Mons Camembert cheese, seafood, chicken dishes, turkey, mushroom crepes, shrimp and grits, scalloped potatoes, Baked Camembert with Fresh Herbs.
The Stash, Pinot Noir
Ripe cherry and plum aromas. Stone fruit flavors then white pepper, blackberry, even hints of sassafras and cola. Mouthfilling yumminess.
Pairs with Cabot Clothbound Cheddar aged at Cellars at Jasper Hill, coq au vin, pork tenderloin, mushroom risotto, baby back ribs, squab, quail, turkey, Maple-Sage Cornish Hens with Roast Apples.
Squadra, Rosso
Wild herb and red berry aromas. Juicy ripe blackberry flavors, a touch of pepper and rustic minerality. The Sicilians know how to make a Red!
Pairs with Parmigiano Reggiano aged 24 months, pasta dishes with meat sauce, pork roast, beef rib roast, Roasted Leg of Lamb with Pomegranate Wine Sauce.
Michel Chapoutier, Marius Red Blend
A big, bold Red. Spicy black fruit aromas. A touch of earthiness. Hints of coffee and pepper balanced with a vanilla note. Full-bodied.
Pairs with Black Creek Vintage Cheddar aged 2 Years, hearty meats with sauce, chili, burgers, brisket sandwiches, wild mushroom lasagna, Homestyle Meatloaf.
Joel Gott, Grenache
Blackberry, strawberry, vanilla aromas. Blueberry and slight butterscotch flavors. Peppery acidity. Elegance for days.
Pairs with Petit Agour sheep’s milk cheese, lamb, venison, roasted veggies, Roasted Duck with Fig and Port Sauce.
Santa Julia Reserva, Mountain Blend
Aromas of red plum, violet and spice. Dark red fruit flavors, stewed berries and cobbler. Velvety mouthfeel. Full-bodied.
Pairs with Appleby’s Double Gloucester cheese, roast beef, brisket, Beef Tenderloin with Red Wine-Shallot Pan Sauce.
Sea Pines, Old Vine Petite Sirah
Deep plum and blueberry aromas. Warm spice notes. Generous roundness, silky tannins. Dark fruit flavors in the long finish. A rich, ripe California Red.
Pairs with Borough Market Stilton cheese, grilled meats, rich mushroom dishes, rosemary-roasted vegetables, coffee-rubbed meats, Garlic Roasted Beef Brisket.
Bula, Montsant
Attractive floral aromas. Layers of raspberry, rocky minerality and a subtle cherry sweetness. Richness in the finish, balanced by robust tannins.
Pairs with Mitica Mahón cheese, red meats, richer pasta dishes, pizza, paella, gumbo, Roasted Pimentón-Rubbed Pork Tenderloin with Romesco Sauce.
Madame Liberté, Brut
A bright golden bubbly, redolent with aromas of green apple, pear and a touch of toast. Baked apple flavors. Zippy acidity. Crisp and refreshing.
Pairs with Isigny Ste. Mère Bonhomme Brie, salmon, shellfish, brunch, cheese plates, Smoked Salmon Hash and Eggs.
Doug Bell
Global Beverage Buyer
Doug has acquired a rarefied view of the world of buying and selling wine from living in California wine country, traveling to every major wine region of the world, attending wine expositions, blending wines with winemakers, designing wine labels, sitting on wine panels, speaking at wine and beverage conferences, doing media interviews and connecting with our customers via social media and in stores.
Devon Broglie
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Devon Broglie, MS
Master Sommelier and Associate Global Beverage Buyer
Devon became a Master Sommelier in 2011.