With just a little over a week until Thanksgiving, we are about to be catapulted into the holiday season. Before you know it, your in-laws are going to be pouring into your house like locusts on the eve of the apocalypse. And like those bugs, they are going to decimate everything in their path: The perfectly plated hor d’oeurves, blink and they’re gone. The berry pie that took 16 hours to make, looks like a crumbly murder scene within 5 minutes. The ham you meticulously brushed honey on, carved into inedible scraps of meat and shattered dreams. So do not waste the energy putting together signature cocktails. You and I both know that you will just end up behind the bar all night, frantically taking drink orders like a mixologist at Mardi Gras without a tip jar. Instead, stock up on Georges Duboeuf 2016 Beaujolais Nouveau, create a gorgeous ice holder for display, and let your guests have at it. And because we are in this together, I am going to help. Below I have included a super easy step-by-step tutorial to make the ice wine holder, as well as information about some choice Georges Duboeuf bottles. Take my hand, we can do this.
Ice wine holders are ridiculously easy to make. The simplest way is to order a ‘ice wine holder’ mold (like I did!). Once you have the mold, you literally just fill it with distilled water, leaving 1/2 an inch or so at the top. Then, you can put practically anything you can imagine in the mold. To make this particular mold, I used about 1 cup of fresh cranberries, 1 cup of mini pine cones, 1/3 cup of cinnamon bark, 1/4 cup of Red Hypericum Berries, and a handful of ornaments. Then you place the mold in the freezer overnight or until it is completely solid. Place the mold out on the counter to thaw for about 30 minutes, run lukewarm water over the container, and then the ice will slip out gently. Place it on a cake stand or decorative bowl, put the wine bottle in the center to chill, and you have a stunning conversation piece for your holiday party. Note: If you do not want to buy an ice wine holder, simply place a 3 liter plastic take-out container in a standard bucket and then repeat the steps above.
Now for your wine selection! Let’s start with Georges Duboeuf 2016 Beaujolais Nouveau. Beaujolais wines are fermented for just a few weeks before release for sale on the third Thursday of November, making it an annual tradition that also ushers in the start of the holiday season. That’s this Thursday! In particular the Georges Duboeuf 2016 Beaujolais Nouveau is the first wine of the harvest, the first taste of the new vintage, and an indicator for the quality of that year’s vintage. With a fruity flavor hinting at strawberry jam and peach, it is a nice compliment to any holiday table.
The Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais-Villages 2016 is a great introduction to Beaujolais if you are new to the scene. Pairing well with anything from casual dining to a complex entree, it is a easy choice for a holiday potluck. Specifically, the wine’s subtle tannins, lower alcohol content, and high acidity will appeal to fans of the popular Pinot Noir.
Voila! A simple way to spruce up your holiday party and saitiate your guests. Special thanks to Georges Duboeuf for teaming up with me on this post. Make sure to learn more about their wines and where you can find them here.
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
