‘Tis the season to spend quality time with friends, family, and loved ones. Whether you’re making Christmas dinner this year or plan to attend a more casual gathering with cocktails and appetizers, you will want to make sure the wine cellars is fully stocked so that the wine and laughter can flow freely. To take the guesswork out of choosing the best varietal, we have put together a list of our top Rio Vista choices to help make selecting and serving this holiday must-have easier. Even if you aren’t attending a party this year, these bottles will be a perfect way to send regards for your absence!
2019 Estate Wild Rose Rosẽ
We think joyful and playful wine is a great respite from the holiday hustle so we nominate our Estate Wild Rose Rosẽ for this job. Created from 60% Barbera and 40% Tempranillo, who wouldn’t be in the Christmas spirit with this captivating wine? With a nose of sweet cherry and wild berries and notes of caramelized blood orange, this wine is a palate pleaser. The 1.5% residual sugar adds that pop of sweetness that keeps this Rose on the nice list this year.
2018 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
The holidays are the time to open really special bottles, and with the cold chill in the air, we think a beautifully aged Cabernet Sauvignon is perfect. Our Cab is a gorgeous dense purple and opens with aromas of ripe dark fruit and all-spice. On the palate, intense flavors of huckleberry, elderberry and plum mingle with lingering notes of sage, licorice and molasses. No one grape variety grows better in Rio Vista’s glacial soils than that of the Cabernet Sauvignon. We recommend sharing this wine with your loved ones to keep any Grinchy feelings at bay!
2018 Estate Syrah
If you’re new around here, we will clue you in to a well-known fact. The wine world is losing their mind over Washington Syrah. It’s true—we have the perfect terroir for growing Syrah grapes, and Rio Vista’s first vintage of Syrah is no exception. Savory aromas of crushed peppercorn, fresh thyme and a hint of tobacco overwhelm the senses while preparing your palate to dive into intense flavors of boysenberry, juniper, ripened black fruit, smoked meat, iron & cocoa. It’s the perfect winter red. With a limited case production, we encourage you to take the plunge with this wholly dry red and indulge your senses before it’s too late.
2015 Estate Smoky Owl Port
Rio Vista Port is a dazzlingly rich, robust, and sweet Cab-Merlot blend. Few things go better with winter staples like chocolate, pecan pie, toasted nuts, and freezing outdoor temperatures. Due to its fortification, this port provides a soul-warming amount of alcohol making it the perfect after-dinner treat for you and your loved ones to sip by the fire. We also suggest our Port as a thoughtful Christmas gift for the wine lovers in your life!
