Justin Hall is a busy boy this time of year.
The winemaker from Nk'Mip Cellars in Osoyoos is popping red wines in the fridge, sloshing wine from glass to glass, singing the praises of sage, giving gifts of wine and already making plans for those turkey leftovers.
Hall, who is also a member of the Osoyoos Indian Band, likes his Christmas to be family-oriented, social, tasty, traditional, Indigenous-inspired and stress-free.
So, he's developed a top 5 list of holiday hacks that work and are oh-so simple.
.jpg)
Photo credit: Tania VeitchOne of Nk'Mip winemaker Justin Hall's holiday hacks — decanting red wine by pouring back and forth between glasses.
1. Red from the fridge
The 22C room temperature you have in your house is not the 15C room temperature red wines are recommended to be served at.
So, Hall is a fan of slipping reds — like his Nk'Mip 2020 Qwam Qwmt Merlot ($34) — into the fridge for 10 minutes before serving.
Too-warm reds can taste heavy and alcoholic, whereas just-right red can be fresh and bright and bold, all at the same time.
2. No decanter? No problem
You don't need one of those big, fancy numbers to decant your red wine.
In a pinch, just decant the red into a pitcher to let it breathe before pouring into glasses.
Or, in a real pinch, simply transfer the wine from glass to glass a few times to decant.
3. Secret-weapon sage
Sage — either fresh or dried — is a herb sacred in Indigenous traditions.
Not only is it aromatic and calming, but it adds warmth and depth and deliciousness to roast meats, root vegetables and butter for bread.
So, how about the Nk'Mip 2022 Qwam Qwmt Chardonnay ($33) with the Christmas roast turkey and sage stuffing.
Serve the Nk'Mip 2022 Riesling Icewine ($76) with dessert after Christmas dinner.
Photo credit: Tania VeitchChardonnay with crusty bread and sage butter or with Christmas turkey dinner and sage stuffing.
4. Transformative leftovers
Upgrade your Christmas dinner leftovers to cranberry sauce-topped turkey sliders with a glass of the same 2022 Qwam Qwmt Chardonnay you served the night before.
5. Wine-word gifts
When you gift a bottle of wine, include a handwritten card explaining why the wine is special and why you chose it for them.
"A wine gift becomes more meaningful when you add your own story to it," said Hall.
Stock up for the holidays
They're coming.
Friends, family, neighbours, coworkers and acquaintances.
And when they show up — for a holiday drop-in, happy hour, a party, a dinner or a quick catch-up — they'll want a glass (or two) of wine.
So stock up for the festive season with this cross-section of wines — sparkling, red, white and rose — to make sure everyone gets what they want.
– Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut ($17) from Spain
Sparkling wine made by the Champagne method in Spain is called cava.
This cava from massive Spanish producer Freixenet is fresh, tasty and affordable and it comes in a sharp, black matte bottle.
– Blue Mountain 2022 Brut Rose ($35) from Okanagan Falls
Blue Mountain does Champagne-method sparkling so well.
And this pink bubbly is both seriously well-made and flirty at the same time.
– Tierra Rica Sauvignon Blanc 2023 Organic ($20.50) from Chile
Affordable and approachable Sauv Blanc to serve at any holiday happening.
– Fort Berens Small Lot 2024 Pinot Gris ($24) from Lillooet
While many wineries had no 2024 harvest after the January 2024 extreme cold, Fort Berens had a 30% crop.
So, enough grapes to make the Small Lot Pinot Gris — an elegant, fresh and textured white made of fruit that benefited from Lillooet's hot days and cool nights throughout the growing season.
– Domaine Artema 2024 Village Rose ($29)
Made by the Oliver winery from imported Pinot Noir and Gamay grapes due to the January 2024 frigid snap.
Classic rose strawberries-and-cream aromas and flavours with a nice touch of rhubarb tartness.
– Free Form 2020 Vin Gris ($30) from Summerland
Red grape Pinot Noir made in a white-wine style that comes out looking like a rose.
– Sandhill 2022 Syrah ($27) from Kelowna
Full-bodied and silky for winter sipping and pairing with hearty party canapes.
– Haywire 2022 Pinot Noir ($35) from Summerland
Light-bodied and fresh, also for winter sipping and pairing with charcuterie.
Steve MacNaull is a NowMedia Group reporter, Okanagan wine lover and Canadian wine scholar. Reach him at smacnaull@nowmediagroup.ca. His wine column appears every Friday in this space.
