From Jungle Jim’s
Ed Vinson, beer and wine manager for Jungle Jim’s, located at 5440 Dixie Highway in Fairfield, recommends a tried and true favorite for his high-end selection: Dom Perignon.
“People who know ‘bubbles’ and know champagne, know Dom Perignon,” Vinson said.
Vinson said that 95 percent of all bubbles at Jungle Jim’s are sold in the month of December alone. The price: $169.99 includes the bottle of the prestigious bubbly and two champagne flutes.
For those a more budget conscious, Vinson recommends a Spanish wine called Garnacha de Fuego. Retailing for $8.99 a bottle and scoring a 92 out of 100 by international wine critic Robert Parker, “it’s a very good wine and very economical,” Vinson said. “Popularity of wines change from time to time. A while back it was merlot, then it was pinto noir, now Spanish wines have become quite popular.”
As for his outstanding holiday beer gift selection, Vinson recommends a seasonal favorite: Great Lakes Christmas Ale, retailing for $11.99 a six pack.
Arrow Wine
Mif Frank, part owner of Arrow Wine and Spirits, at 2950 Far Hills Ave. in Oakwood, offers two recommendations for high-end wines.
His first selection is a 2008 Joseph Phelps Insignia, retailing for $189.99 a bottle. “It’s a world-class red wine from Napa Valley,” Frank said.
For white wine lovers willing to pay more for an exquisite taste, he recommends a 2009 Chave L’ Hermitage, retailing for $275.99 a bottle. “Chave L’ Hermitage is a highly allotted, difficult to find white French wine,” Frank said. “Believe it or not, I will sell a good number of these.”
Frank also offers two selections — a red and a white — for those looking for a good quality wine at a reasonable price. For the red wine, he recommends a 2009 Chateau du Pin Bordeaux. Retailing at $9.99 a bottle, Frank calls it “a super-value red wine from a superior vintage.”
For his less expensive white wine selection, he recommends a 2011 Vino Pinot Grigio, retailing at $11.99 a bottle. Says Frank, “The Vino Pinot Grigio is a crowd-pleasing white for all levels of wine drinkers.”
As for his selection of a beer that would make a nice holiday gift, Frank recommends the Thirsty Dog Brewing Company’s Twelve Dogs of Christmas, retailing for $10.99 a six pack.
Perhaps though, the question of whether to give a red or a white wine still lingers? Frank offers some advice: “When people are entertaining, they can always use a red or a white to serve, so pick the best available value in your price range, regardless of whether it’s red or white.”
About the Author