There’s no denying that the holidays truly bring us all together, but it can be tough to impress everyone’s palates. That’s why choosing the perfect wine is such a challenge. Luckily, Brett Zimmerman of Boulder Wine Merchant is here to help. In this interview, he shares suggestions, local favorites, and exciting events that you won’t want to miss.
We love to give wine as a gift. Do you have any suggestions for wines that have the best chance of impressing the recipient?
Offer something you are passionate about or something that requires a bit of thought on a personal level. Perhaps you have visited a wine growing region during the year, or had a special bottle of wine during a great dining experience and can seek out that particular product. People enjoy receiving a gift with a personal connection or experience.
For a serious collector it is usually a good idea to stick with something blue chip and age worthy. Regions such as Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Tuscany, Piedmont, and Napa Valley all fall into this category. From there we can always help people find a great producer or vintage that will impress even the most discerning of collectors.
If you are feeling adventurous, you could consider a delicious bottle of wine from a lesser known region or producer as a fun gift. Have our sales people suggest something fun from Austria, Greece, Jura, or small region in Italy. We love turning people on to new and different wines that will hopefully broaden the scope of what people drink.
Tell us about your favorite locally-produced wines and spirits.
The local distilleries in Colorado have really taken off in the last five years. Stranahan’s, Breckenridge, Laws, and Leopold Brothers are a few regional distilleries that are producing top quality products that are on par with the finest spirits from around the world.
What are your top imported wine choices this holiday season?
We are generally focused on the wines of European countries at the Boulder Wine Merchant, but the 2015 vintage makes this even more of a reason to draw your attention to these products. All across the continent there are stunning wines from the fantastic 2015 vintage that are arriving. We have been enthusiastically selling the wines of Friuli, Austria, Germany, Burgundy, Rhône, and parts of Spain and Portugal. This vintage offers a wide range of products and prices – there is something for everyone. Don’t hesitate to ask our educated staff for a recommendation from a new area this holiday season.
What are some general tips for pairing wines with classic holiday dishes?
Don’t try to get too fancy. Keep things simple. When pairing with desserts or anything with sugar, the wine must always be sweeter than the dish to avoid having the wine taste lean and washed out. Fatty flavors like acidity in wine, and require some body to match the richness, as well. Tannin likes fat and salt – think of a salty steak and a big Cabernet Sauvignon. Acidic dishes call for something rounder and lower in acid.
I love to serve great Chenin Blanc from Vouvray during the holidays. The wines from Domaine Huet capture the purity and essence of this high-toned grape with outstanding depth and mineral power. The Tufa soils of this special region add to the complexity and earthy character, but in top vintages these wines are defined by the richness and purity of tart apricot, red apple, and yellow plum.
When considering red wines for the holidays I like to offer selections without too much oak, but full with fruit richness and flavor. The Southern Rhône offers brilliant wines in this category. Something from Southern Italy would be a fun alternative.
What is the best approach to providing an adequate wine selection to my holiday dinner party guests? One red, one white? A few of each? etc.
If you would like to keep things simple, go with one wine within each category. If you would like to do something different, try setting up some sort of a wine station that features a range of products. This way people can serve themselves and have fun trying different wines. If there is time, it is nice to have a small information card that corresponds with the wine that is being offered.
Do all wines need to “breathe” before a gathering? for how long?
Generally speaking I am a big fan of decanting most wines. There are certainly examples of young, fresh white and rose wines that don’t require this treatment, but most wines will benefit from time in a decanter – even if it is just a few minutes. I decant all of my White Burgundy and fuller bodied white wines, as well as the majority of red wines that I enjoy. It requires a small amount of effort for a big reward. Don’t feel like you need to buy some fancy decanter. Just get the Riedel Magnum Merlot or Cabernet decanter, one is for 750ml and the other will fit a 1.5l. These decanters are reasonably priced and are very easy to use and clean. Do yourself a favor and make the investment.
Can you offer a few champagne recommendations for this year, as well?
Here are a few outstanding grower produced Champagnes to consider for the holiday season.
- Robert Moncuit Brut Blanc de Blancs, Le-Mesnil-Sur-Oger $44.99
- We are fired up to offer this remarkable Chardonnay based Champagne sourced from the chalky soils of the Côte des Blancs at an unbelievable price! The estate has 8 hectares under vine in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Vines are tended without the use of pesticides and herbicides. Fruit is hand-harvested and sorted, with each parcel vinified separately to optimize the outcome of blending. All the wines are raised in tank, the goal being contact with lees. The latest disgorgement of the Brut Blanc de Blancs NV was July 15, 2015. The base vintage is 2012 but 20% of the blend is reserve wine from 2011. The dosage is 5 grams per liter, so the wine is definitely dry and precise. The winemaker uses a combination of neutral oak and stainless steel in order to preserve the minerality and focus that Chardonnay grown in chalk can have. This is our featured Champagne for the remainder of the holiday season. Stock up at $44.98; this is nearly 20% off the regular shelf price.
- Roses de Jeanne ‘Cote de Val Vilaine’ Blanc de Noirs Brut, Côtes des Bars $76.98
- Cedric Bouchard is the producer of these extraordinary wines from Champagne. They are all organically produced and selected from meticulously tended vines. Dry, pristine, and focused.
- Agrapart & Fils ‘Terroirs’ Extra Brut, Avize $91.98
- For anyone who loves the 100% Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs Champagne, this is the perfect offering. Agrapart produces wines from the best Grand Cru sites in the Cotes des Blancs. Crisp apple, brioche, toast, and nuts.
- Bérêche et Fils Reflet d’Antan Brut
- Raphael Bérêche is a super talented winemaker producing wines with profound complexity and depth. This Reflet d’Antan is a combination of vintage wine that is blended with a portion of juice that is aged in Solera similar to the way Sherry wines are produced. The style combines bright acidity with a voluptuous texture on the palate.
We noticed a map of acceptable shipping destinations on your website. If we want to order wine as gifts for people in those areas, is there a deadline for doing so? (or a date that you recommend in order for the gifts to arrive to the recipient on time)
We are allowed to ship to a few destinations around the country, as well as within Colorado. We are limited by the laws in most of the country, so this is generally not a major portion of our business. During the holidays, we are always happy to send product to people as a gift. The more time we have to process the order the better, especially with the busy holiday shipping schedule.
Do you have any exciting holiday wine events on the schedule this December?
Laudisio throwback! For those who remember the original Laudisio Ristorante Italiano in Boulder we are going to recreate the magic of this restaurant for one night only at Mateo Restaurant on December 7th. Chef Antonio Laudisio will be preparing some of the classic dishes from the wildly popular Laudisio menu. Some of the original service team will be taking care of guests that night, including: Brett Zimmerman, MS, Matthew Jansen, Tavio Laudisio, and Steve Lewis. We will be featuring special Giuliana Imports Italian wines for the evening, as well. This should be a super special evening and Antonio will donate a portion of proceeds to charity. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience Laudisio once again!
We will continue our Wine Wednesday events with some fun holiday inspired selections and products to taste. On the 12th of December, we will be launching Tender Belly products at the Boulder Wine Merchant. Take a break from your holiday planning to join us for delicious pork products paired with four delicious wines to accompany. As always, these tastings are every Wednesday from 5:30-7:00 and we offer 15% off bottle purchases.
We have some great new retail food products that complement our beverage inventory and serve as a perfect gift for the food lover in your life. Check out our Barred Woods Maple Syrup, a tiny producer from Vermont that is only available at BWM. If you like Spanish inspired cuisine, we have some unbelievable canned seafood products, rice, oils, and spices that will remind you of being in Spain. There is a new selection of chocolate, meats, cheese, and olive oil that should not be missed. Finally, in addition to Tender Belly, we will be launching Ozo Cofee products at the store. We hope you enjoy the new items!
Tell us about your monthly wine club programs and how people can get involved.
The monthly wine clubs are very popular this time of the year. We have a variety of clubs that should fit most budgets. If you are feeling like splurging and have a serious wine collector in the family you could consider signing up for Somm’s Locker. This is a small, select group of wine collectors that allow me to purchase wines for them on a monthly basis. The focus of the wines selected is rare, hard to acquire wines from the greatest producers around the world. We will consult with the customer and assess any current cellar that they may have. The goal is to help develop and enhance the collecting experience for people. We generally ask that people commit to $500 per month, but most of our members are at the $1000 mark.