What I’m Drinking
December is the “king” of the holiday months with celebrations and parties galore! No matter what or how you celebrate this month, between Heidelberg Ohio and Kentucky (Ohio Valley and Wine Trends too), we’ve got you covered! Our experts once again are here to lend a hand and offer up their favorite beverages for all your celebrations this month and to ring in 2022!
MARY HORN – Vice President of Wine Sales & Education
“It’s always hard to decide what to drink, especially since I am an equal-opportunity drinker and I pretty much love everything. But since it’s the holiday season, I know I have to make some decisions, so here goes…”
Champagne Laurent Perrier ‘La Cuvee’ Brut, Tours-sur-Marne
“If you want to be invited back to a party, be sure to bring the bubbles. There is no greater pleasure to me than true Champagne and when I celebrate I want it to be the real stuff. I love the history of this winery almost as much as I love the wine itself. Whether I am celebrating the new year or just the fact that its Tuesday, LP makes the celebration meaningful and it makes everyone more charming!”
M. Chapoutier Belleruche Cotes-du-Rhone Rosé, Rhone Valley
“This is such a refreshing, dry and fruity rose. It’s perfect for those occasions when I am struggling to decide what to drink next. It goes with everything, including fresh air, makes me think of warm weather while I am wearing a black turtleneck, and no-one ever says no to a second glass! It makes me feel very smart that I am drinking a wine from a gentlemen who’s name is synonymous with greatness in the Rhone Valley. This is my peacekeeper in the holiday season!”
Round Pond Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
“This delicious Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is made by a wonderful family with three generations living right on the estate. I adore that it is so complex with its dark fruits, spice and cocoa notes. It expresses so clearly where the grapes were grown with its balanced intensity along with its layered and textured finish. The wine’s harmony makes it much easier to tolerate the chaos of the Holiday season especially when it is being enjoyed with family and friends. It’s the gift that keeps on giving!”
Chris Emmons – Vice President Sales, Craft Beer
Spoiler Alert! Our craft beer guru, gives you a sneek peak at some of the choices on our “12 Beers of Christmas” list. The good news is he’s drinking what he recommends. So if nothing else, he’s honest and consistent!
Rhinegeist Dad – Hoppy Holiday Ale
This hoppy red ale balances crisp hops with juicy malts like a well worn flannel embraces the cold early dark days of winter.
Sierra Nevada Celebration– Fresh Hop IPA
Once Sierra Nevada picks fresh hops, the clock starts ticking. Each year, they visit the Pacific Northwest to hand-select the best Cascade and Centennial hops, race the harvest home, and brew immediately to capture citrus, pine, and floral notes at their absolute peak – aromas and flavors for the perfect winter beer. It’s a magical time at the brewery – has been for 40 years now! – when the brewers huddle around the fermentation tanks, toasting the start of a special season. Wrapped in red, consider Celebration IPA your first present of the holidays.
Great Lakes Christmas Ale
A Yuletide’s worth of holiday spices and sweet honey to keep you a-wassailing all season long. Do not open ‘til Christmas? Whoever coined that phrase obviously hasn’t tasted Christmas Ale’s fresh honey, cinnamon, and ginger flavors.
Ian Husk – GSM Beer, Heidelberg Lorain
“This year we get back to spending the holidays with some family! We have my parents and siblings traveling in from Illinois and Florida, so we will have a full house and want to make sure we have everyone’s favorites on hand.
Our first priority is to feature some of Cleveland’s best locals, so we need to be stocked with Great Lakes Christmas Ale (see above), Thirsty Dog 12 Dogs of Christmas and Saucy Brew Works Three Hos. Not only are these great beers, they will also help those traveling up from Florida stay warm during the cold Cleveland nights.”
“The second priority is to take care of our seltzer drinkers, which there are plenty of in this group. We are very lucky to represent a lot of the top seltzers around, so the majority of the fridge at our house will be filled with Truly Punch and White Claw Mango. Lastly, I’m sure we will be watching a healthy amount of football during this visit, so it’s probably not a bad idea to keep some Fireball on hand. That’s always a good option when either celebrating a win or drowning sorrows with a loss.
Cheers to spending some quality time with friends and family this year!”
