Pop the Champagne for Heart Health
From Wine Spectator, a new study published by the British Journal of Nutrition finds that regular drinking of Champagne can lead to improved arterial function.  I love it when the experts tell me to drink more.

Find Your Wine Style
This “quiz” from Food & Wine helps you better understand what types of wines you might prefer based on everyday foods and drinks you consume.  Not all that thorough of a quiz, but I was surprised how accurate it was to my preferences.

Last Minute Gift Ideas for Wine Lovers
Wine Peeps has some great gift ideas for wine lovers from books to gadgets.  Feel free to check out Uncorked Cincinnati’s gift ideas here.

Learning to Taste Wine
An easy to read but pretty comprehensive article from Wine for Newbies on learning to taste wine.  Gives you all the basics to get the most out of your next wine tasting.

Wines That Work for Your Holiday Party and Budget
Matthew Horbund of A Good Time with Wine writes about budget-friendly wines that work great for entertaining this Holiday season.

Magazine Subscriptions
Magazine subscriptions are great gifts that extend well beyond the Holiday season and are perfect for the wine lover looking to learn and explore.  Two of my favorites include:

• Wine Spectator – the quintessential wine magazine for people serious about wine and fine dining.  A bit stuffy at times, but still the best way to keep up on the latest and greatest in wine.
• Food & Wine – the perfect read for the wine lover just as passionate about fine food.  Travel, recipes, culinary trends and an overall energetic take on living.

Wine of the Month Clubs
What better way to let your wine lover explore and learn about new wines then through a Wine of the Month Club.  Locally The Wine Merchant in Oakley has some great options.

Vinturi Wine Aerator
The Vinturi Essential Wine Aerator continues to draw a lot of attention, and rightly so.  The unique and sleek design makes the aeration process fast and easy.  You’ll taste a noticeable difference in your wines.

Rustic Wine Bags
These charming wine bags are each branded with an antique corkscrew design and make a unique gift on their own or as gift wrap to a bottle of wine.  Just $16 for a set of 4 at wisteria.com.

Wine Movies
There aren’t a ton of movies out there with wine as a central part of the plot, but the ones that do exist are pretty darn good.  Two of the best:

• Bottle Shock – This docudrama is loosely based on the famous Paris Wine Tasting of 1976 (Judgement of Paris) which arguably put the Napa Valley on the map.  Stars Bill Pullman (Independence Day) and Chris Pine (Star Trek).
• Sideways – Struggling novelist and wine connoisseur Miles (Paul Giamatti) takes his best friend Jack (Thomas Haden Church) on a wine-tasting tour of California vineyards for a kind of extended bachelor party.  An Oscar win and several Oscar nominations for this one.

What else do you love that should be a must-buy for people this Holiday season?

UC: What should people think about when pulling together a wine selection for Thanksgiving?

TWM: There are a lot of flavors and a lot of different side dishes going on for Thanksgiving, so it is a challenge. In the end, though, you have to drink what you like. You can’t just say Sauvignon Blanc is a good choice if you hate Sauvignon Blanc.  It’s usually a family occasion so if Mom likes oaky Chardonnay then Mom should have her oaky Chardonnay!

UC:  What are some tips for Reds?

TWM:  If you’re having traditional turkey, then for Reds lighter, fruitier styles seem to work well. Pinot Noir is a great choice. If you want something with a little more body and complexity then Grenache and Syrah are great varietals to go with. If you like fruitier then Zinfandel is a great choice as it compliments cranberry, fruit and nut flavors in the meal. It’s great for people that want a heavier, fuller body wine.

UC:  What about Whites?

TWM:  For whites, crisp whites with a lot of acidity are good because they cut through all the heavy fats on Thanksgiving! The gravy, the creamy side dishes…lighter, high acidity wines are a nice compliment so that you’re not putting something heavy on top of something heavy.

UC: Could you give me a few high acidity wines that would be perfect?

TWM: Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris from Oregon or France, Pinot Blanc.  Gewürztraminer is great because it has a subtle spiciness in the scent and on the palate. It goes great with some of the fall flavors like yam or pumpkin, or other spicy flavors of Thanksgiving. It will really compliment cinnamon and nutmeg well.

UC:  How many different types of wine should someone have on the Thanksgiving table?

TWM: It really just depends on your family.  Some families are very much into wine while other families are more about beer and football and they’ll only have wine when they sit down to the table.

UC:  Can someone get some help on Thanksgiving wines just by stopping into The Wine Merchant?

TWM: We did a feature in our Newsletter suggesting wines for Thanksgiving, but the entire staff at The Wine Merchant has a lot of experience on what goes well with Thanksgiving. One of the simplest rules is to stay away from Cabernet and Merlot because they’re a bit heavy and more of a beef wine. And with whites you just want to stay away from oaky Chardonnays (unless Mom loves it!).

You can visit The Wine Merchant at 3972 Edwards Road in Oakley.  They are open Monday-Friday 10 AM-7 PM, Saturday 10 AM-6 PM, and Sunday 1PM-5PM.