The Ultimate Holiday Wines, Vin Chicago Style!
Around the holidays we all find ourselves in need of wines that EVERYONE is going to love. Today we bring you three such wines, each of which:
Is sophisticated enough for you and your wine loving friends, yet friendly enough for the casual drinkers in your group.
- and -
Is priced just right for all sorts of holiday entertaining and parties.
Ranging from $12.99 to $18.99, today's red, white and sparkler are each produced in very small quantities and each delivers way beyond their price. Simply put, they are an ideal choice for celebrations big and small.
These are not "party" wines in the traditional sense. They are serious wines made by serious winemakers that just happen to be made in broadly appealing styles. Read on for the delectable details, then hit the Big Green Button to check one more item off your pre-holiday list!
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2024 Félix Lorenzo Cachazo "Carrasviñas" Verdejo
Rueda, Castilla y Léon, Spain
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Boasting bright orchard and citrus fruit notes with lifted minerality and a soft, easy drinkability, the 2024 Carrasviñas delivers a kind of texture, purity and goodness that is not normally found for thirteen bucks. It blows our mind that so many folks grab a bottle of Kim Crawford when they could be drinking this for the same price. Simply no comparison!
It's one of those magic wines that will intrigue the wine lovers in your group while drawing smiles of approval from your casual drinking friends. We are an enthusiastic 90+ points. Wine Advocate goes even higher...
“I find it remarkable how characterful and harmonious the 2024 Carrasviñas is, because it was only bottled one month before I tasted it; the wines bottled so early tend to show a reductive character, but this does not. Apparently, 2024 is going to be a legendary vintage in Rueda, and even if the nose is quite medicinal and not so expressive, the palate shows great intensity and balance, with ripeness but without excess, 13.3% alcohol and a pH of 3.15 with 5.8 grams of sugar. It's vibrant and pungent, with a classical bitter twist in the finish. 400,000 bottles produced. This was bottled after four months in tank with the lees. Drink Date: 2025 - 2029.”
- 91+ Points, Wine Advocate (6/19/2025)
That a wine this good is available for this price is simply fantastic. We could not find any other online listings. An absolute rockstar here!
Vin Chicago Price: 12.99
2023 Domaine la Cabotte "Colline" Côtes du Rhône
Southern Rhône, France
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A great party red is not about being the biggest, it is about being just-right in size with a soft familiarity that continues from the first sip through to the gentle, balanced finish. That is exactly what the 2023 Colline is all about.
This is the third consecutive vintage we've imported of this Rhône charmer from Marie-Pierre and Eric Plumet and it is as soft and yummy as ever. Juicy flavors of black raspberry, wild strawberry, olive, red flowers and red earth gently waft from the glass and continue on to the softly structured palate.
And as a bonus, there are just enough soft tannins here to allow a seamless transition from happy hour to the dinner table. Braised beef, lamb burgers, or even whole roasted salmon, bring it on!
Making things even more fun is that this $15.99 Côtes du Rhône comes from an impeccably farmed estate that is about as deep into biodynamics as you can get. Yes!
Vin Chicago Price: 15.99
Domaine de la Petite Roche Saumur Brut NV
Loire Valley, France
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If we had to pick a single sparkling wine to serve and enjoy all year round, this is our pick.
There's enough nuance, finesse and charm here to keep a lover of quality Champagne happy. Making it the perfect party selection is that it offers this sophistication while also being soft and accessible enough to serve to a crowd. And it does all this for under twenty bucks!
The Regnard family has been farming grapes in the Anjou-Saumur district since 1791. They make just a few hundred cases each year of this Champagne method blend of 80% Chenin Blanc and 20% Chardonnay, and we absolutely love it.
Leading with simple citrus fruit flavors, mineral tones, subtle herb notes, hints of honey and spring blossoms, their refined Loire Valley bubbly becomes even more enticing with a little bit of air. This over-delivering gem even showed well when we poured it next to a few $50+ Champagnes!
Vin Chicago Price: 18.99
