Retailers are already preparing for the dizzying run-up to the holidays. This make-or-break season offers the potential to net most of the year’s annual sales in just one quarter—which is why it’s so important to order enough of those in-demand bottles at every price point to anticipate the holiday rush.
This is also the time of year when customers are most often looking for staff picks or seeking guidance, so having some new recommendations at the ready always helps with hand selling.
With that in mind, SevenFifty Daily asked nearly a dozen retailers around the country for their go-to holiday recommendations—whether that’s for gifting or taking to yet another festive party. (All bottles are listed with the retailer’s price per 750-milliliter bottle, unless otherwise indicated.)
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Wine
Cantina Bolzano ‘Huck am Bach’ Santa Maddalena Classico 2023, Alto Adige, Italy; $24
Selected by Ole Thompson, wine director, Esquin Wine & Spirits, Seattle
Santa Maddalena, a hillside subregion of Alto Adige, is known for its blends of Schiava and Lagrein, like this one from Cantina Bolzano. “The wines of Alto Adige are a little off the beaten path, but I love recommending them for the holidays because they are some of the best food wines in the world and great value,” says Ole Thompson, the wine director at Esquin Wine & Spirits, Washington state’s oldest wine store.
“Santa Maddalena is a lighter-bodied red with a balance of freshness, bright cherry fruit, and delicate spice that makes every glass vibrant yet comforting,” he says. “It’s perfect for large groups to enjoy and when paired with turkey, ham, or lasagna.”
Gaintza ‘Bixigu’ Txakolina 2023, Getariako Txakolina, Spain; $20
Selected by Oscar Garcia Moncada, wine and spirits buyer, 67 Wine, New York City
“Every holiday season I get tons of questions regarding a white wine to serve as an aperitif for a holiday dinner party,” says Oscar Garcia Moncada, the wine and spirits buyer at New York City’s 67 Wine. “My philosophy is to choose a wine that will enlighten the palate and serve as a precursor to what is to come.”
For Garcia Moncada that’s this Gaintza Txakoli, made from sustainably farmed Hondarrabi Zuri. “Packed with fresh citrus aromas and flavors, and layered with an unmistakable sea-breeze salinity, Bixigu Txakoli is sure to turn heads at any holiday gathering,” he says. “At just 12% ABV, [it’s] perfect to keep your guests happy and energized. The finish is refreshingly dry and thirst-quenching.”
Oakville Winegrowers Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, Oakville, California; $985 per 1.5-liter bottle
Selected by Karen Williams, founder, Acme Fine Wines, Napa Valley, California
Acme Fine Wines is a boutique wine merchant in Napa Valley, California, specializing in highly allocated or small-production wines from cult and classic producers, with a concierge-level of service. While founder Karen Williams’s large-format pick is high-end, it “speaks to our niche of having access to rare Napa Valley bottlings.”
A gift for the wine collector, this Cabernet Sauvignon is produced by Oakville Winegrowers, a collaborative group that bottles limited blends of select lots. “We always keep this rare bottle stocked,” says Williams. “Living in the Napa Valley community, we are always on the lookout for exceptional wines that aren’t widely available elsewhere.” She adds, “Magnums are perennially in high demand for holiday gatherings and special gifts.”
Raventós i Blanc Blanc de Blancs, Penedès, Spain; $22
Selected by Troy Revell, wine and beer director, Fearrington Village, Pittsboro, North Carolina
“Sparkling wines are of course a staple for holidays and occasions, and having a favorite selection that is delicious but does not break the bank is quite the useful tool,” says Troy Revell, the wine and beer director for Fearrington Village’s The Fearrington House Inn, Restaurant & Spa, Galloway’s Wine & Beer Bar, and Galloway’s Wine Shop in Pittsboro, North Carolina. For him that comes from the Raventós i Blanc estate in Penedès, Spain, where the Raventós family helped establish the Cava DO.
“Overuse of the Cava term has now led them to leave the official Designation of Origin, again establishing themselves as a trendsetter in Spanish bubbles,” says Revell. “Their wines are dry styles using Champagne methods, just like Cava still does, but the quality is a major step up with only a slight bump in price point.”
Spirits and Liqueurs
Ardnamurchan Sherry Cask, Western Highlands, Scotland; $80
Selected by Brendan Noble, spirits buyer, The Whisky Shop, San Francisco
Ardnamurchan is one of Scotland’s most remote and most sustainable distilleries, located on the rugged western Highlands coastline. Brendan Noble, the spirits buyer at San Francisco’s The Whisky Shop, calls out their Sherry Cask release as a go-to gifting recommendation. “Light peat and coastal minerality lend complexity to the rich sherry casking,” he says. “Red fruit, nuttiness, gentle spice and earthiness; it has depth and funk aplenty, while remaining readily approachable for all.”
Part of its appeal as a gift is its sleek bottle. “It wouldn’t look out-of-place in a grandfather’s cabinet,” he says. “A great whisky to share, and to introduce your friends to the world of Scotch.”
Jean Fillioux XO Grande Réserve Cognac, Grande Champagne, France; $170 per 700-milliliter bottle
Selected by Jacob Brower, spirits buyer, Amanti Vino, Montclair, New Jersey
For Jacob Brower, the spirits buyer at Amanti Vino in Montclair, New Jersey, a must-have when heading into the holidays is a great selection of Cognac. “There are some stunning indie Cognac producers out there making brandy that is both better and cheaper than the big houses and other ultra-aged spirits categories,” he says.
This year, he’s excited about Jean Fillioux XO Grande Réserve Cognac, a release from Jean Fillioux—an independent grower-producer with vineyards in the heart of Grande Champagne. “Containing brandy at least 32 years of age or older, it is a decadent, complex, wonderfully dry Cognac with outstanding rancio and no use of boisé or sugar syrup for adjustment,” he says. “It’s bottled a few points higher than the typical 80 proof for Cognac, adding wonderful texture. Most importantly, it’s a remarkable value compared to similarly aged single malts or lesser Cognacs from bigger producers.”
Fuenteseca Cosecha ‘Huerta Las Antenas’ Blanco Tequila 2018, Jalisco, Mexico; $131
Selected by Mike Moreno, Jr., co-owner, Moreno’s Liquors, Chicago
At Moreno’s Liquors, known to be one of the best agave retailers in the U.S., they’re big fans of Fuenteseca Cosecha. “It’s the kind of bottle that feels right at home during the holidays: something special to gift a true tequila lover or to pour when you’re hosting and want to share something unforgettable,” says co-owner Mike Moreno, Jr. “Plus the presentation is spectacular.”
A single-estate, small-batch tequila produced by master distiller Enrique Fonseca in Micohoacán, Moreno describes it as having “layers of baked agave, warm spice, a touch of herbal notes, and subtle sweetness.” “This vintage-dated tequila really captures the pure character of agave with a kind of elegance you don’t see every day,” he adds. “It may not be the cheapest bottle around [but] it will be a crowd pleaser.”
Cinco Sentidos Pechuga de Mole, Puebla, Mexico; $160
Selected by Steven Sadri, co-owner, Tahona Mercado, San Francisco
Tahona Mercado is a craft agave spirits and Mexican foods specialist store, with a small kitchen and a loyal following. As well as their curated cocktail gift boxes, co-owner Steven Sadri steers his customers towards the Cinco Sentidos Pechuga de Mole. “Holidays are about celebrating with family and friends and enjoying the bounty of traditional dishes that tend to be heartier and warming,” he says. “This expression is distilled with chicken, fruits, and spices which adds another dimension of flavors to your family gathering.”
Cinco Sentidos bottles agave spirits purchased directly from small-scale producers, such as this one from master distiller Delfino Tobón Mejia in Puebla. While pechuga mezcal is defined by the use of raw chicken during distillation, giving it a savory edge, here Tobón Mejia has added mole poblano to the mix, a fairly unique variation. “Pechugas are traditionally only made for celebratory events and nothing says that more than this expression of mezcal,” adds Sadri.
Chinola Mango Liqueur, Dominican Republic; $33
Selected by Rachel Malm, agave lead and shopkeeper, Bitters & Bottles, South San Francisco, California
“Chinola is one of those rare brands that we reach for time and time again, and especially around the holidays because it really does everything,” says Rachel Malm, the agave lead and shopkeeper associate at spirits speciality store Bitters & Bottles. Made from 100 percent fresh fruit and natural cane spirit, Chinola comes in three expressions, but the mango is Malm’s favorite. “It melds three distinct Dominican mango varieties (Kent, Keitt, Banilejo) to deliver a lush tropical punch balanced by bright acidity … That balance makes it an absolute crowd-pleaser and a perfect addition to any bar, particularly around the holidays when versatility is key.”
Malm recommends it to customers for both gifting or as an addition to a home bar ahead of holiday parties, when it can be used to top off a glass of Champagne or offer a fruit-forward twist on a Margarita.
Non-Alcoholic
Drømme Calm, San Diego, California; $39
Selected by Rob Theodorow, owner, Generation NA, Lafayette, Indiana
Generation NA in Lafayette, Indiana, has amassed a following for its curated selection of over 150 non-alcoholic options, ranging from adaptogenic slushies to microdosed beers on draft. Owner Rob Theodorow’s go-to holiday beverage recommendation—and personal drink of choice—is Drømme Calm. “I take this to all of my holiday gatherings and have had such a positive response,” he says. “I’ve even had family members switch over from traditional bourbon to Drømme because they preferred the taste and feeling.”
Drømme uses a blend of botanicals and adaptogens for the creation of zero-proof cocktails. “Calm is a unique combo of adaptogenics, including ginger, lemon balm, valerian root, turmeric, l-theanine, ashwagandha, and 5-HTP. It delivers a nice calming sensation without feeling too tired,” says Theodorow. “Flavor wise, it’s both sweet and spicy with a solid kick at the end, which I absolutely love.”
Mad Flora Ophelia, Brooklyn; $42 per 500-milliliter bottle
Selected by Alex Highsmith, general manager, Spirited Away, New York City
Spirited Away is the first non-alcoholic bottle shop in New York City and a destination for consumers to pick up booze-free alternatives for non-drinking guests around the festive season. General manager Alex Highsmith is planning to recommend Mad Flora, a spirit-free amaro that launched earlier this year. She’s especially fond of its hallmark Ophelia expression, with thyme, gentian, and angelica.
“She’s a super herbaceous amaro that both my wine enthusiast and non-drinking friends alike all enjoy,” says Highsmith. “[It] makes a great Negroni, or you can just add tonic and a sprig of rosemary for a simple but deeply complex cocktail. I also love that the founder Lauren [McGurrin], a private chef and food stylist, names each expression after a ‘mad’ woman from history who inspires the liquid.”
Dispatch
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Tyler Wetherall is a journalist and author, and the former senior editor for SevenFifty Daily. Her drinks journalism has appeared in Punch, The Guardian, Condé Nast Traveler, Thrillist, and The Spirits Business, which awarded her the Alan Lodge Young International Drinks Writer of the Year. Tyler is also the author of No Way Home: A Memoir of Life on the Run, and the novel Amphibian. Follow her on Instagram at @tylerwrites.
