RECESSION FRIENDLY WINES FOR THE HOLIDAYS ($15 OR UNDER)

Every year we visit Taylor’s family in Boston for Thanksgiving and she cooks the entire meal for 30+ people. It’s an insane day and we buy everything at the local grocery store in one big trip – including the wine. Since it’s a group of 30, it’s hard to splurge on the good stuff, so here are our “best bets” on easily accessible wines under $15:

2006 Lincourt Sauvignon Blanc ($15)

This crisp and fruity wine will pair perfectly with your turkey, salad, and any salty foods you might serve. And don’t be afraid to drink this during cool weather. The lingering aftertaste will have you longing for summer.

2005 Grans-Fassian Riesling ($12)

A quality Riesling for the price. Not only does it pair naturally with poultry and fish, but it’s a great example of how wine and food truly enhance one another.

2008 Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau ($14)

Beaujolais Nouveau is made specifically for the holidays. It’s purposely released on the third Thursday of November and it’s only good until just after the New Year. It’s soft, fruity, and goes with just about everything you would serve during the holidays.

2007 Francis Coppola Diamond Label Pinot Noir ($14)

For the price, this is a wonderful pinot noir. The wine is soft with red berry flavors and a smooth aftertaste. If you’re stuck on red, this wine will pair well with turkey, goose, duck and fish.

2006 Steele Zinfandel Pacini Vineyards Old Vines. ($14)

We love it for the price, the taste, and because it’s a wine you don’t have to think about. It’s a soft, fruit forward wine that adapts to any dish with medium to strong flavors.

2006 Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon ($15)

A Chilean wine that’s bold and has well-structured tannins. This means it’s going to taste smooth and silky with a roast, steak, or any other red meat you might serve.

Little Barrel Launch Party

Little Barrel officially launched with a celebration in New York City. Taylor’s parents (who live in Manhattan) were very generous to throw us a party in a loft in Chelsea. It was the first time we displayed our products in front of a massive group of strangers – including several journalists – and the enthusiasm was worth all the hard work over the last year to get this business off the ground.

As you know, the idea for Little Barrel came from our wedding (we made our first items for our guests) and many people from our wedding were there. It was fun to finally show them how our gifts have expanded into an actual business.

We couldn’t imagine celebrating our launch without serving great wine. So, we teamed up with one of our favorite wineries, Behrens & Hitchcock, and poured their 2003 Merlot and their 2003 Syrah Homage to Ed Oliviera. People were pretty pleased (and relieved) to finally be drinking great wine at a cocktail party.

Check out some of the great press we got from the party, including PAGE SIX!!

Page Six
The NY Observer
Women's Wear Daily
Variety's Stylephile