The holiday season is a time to celebrate with family, friends and loved ones, and California Wines can help make those special occasions even more memorable. Whether you’re cooking up a traditional feast at home, planning a day out in California wine country or searching for unique gifts that will bring everyone together, we’ve got you covered with recipes, tips and inspiration with all the trimmings.
Eat, Sip and Be Merry
There’s nothing like gathering around a table laden with delicious food and California wines. To make holiday menu planning easy, California Wines created a free e-book, “Celebrate the Holidays with California Wines.” Available by visiting the Discover California Wines holiday landing page, the book features simple-to-prepare recipes inspired by California wine country. Each dish features California-grown ingredients and a Golden State wine to match.
Highlights include the Raspberry Port Sparkler cocktail — guaranteed to kick off your holiday fête in style — made with luscious California port, bright raspberries and sparkling wine; the Deviled Egg Trio, an elegant match for California rosé or sparkling wine featuring smoked trout, caviar and harissa fillings; a bright and tangy Winter Beet and Citrus Salad with Dates and Almonds, which pairs beautifully with California Chardonnay; and Turkey with Wild Rice and Kale Stuffing paired with California Zinfandel. For dessert, whip up a batch of No-Bake Mini Pumpkin Pie Cups, layered with silky pumpkin mousse and served alongside a lightly sweet California sparkler.
Head to California Wine Country for Holiday Events
Wineries across California are decking the halls for a sparkling season of holiday-themed events — and you won’t need to stick around afterward to help with the dishes. Check the calendar at DiscoverCaliforniaWines.com to find out what’s happening in wine regions across the state, from tree-lighting ceremonies and artisan gift markets to wreath-making workshops and special tastings and food pairing experiences. Holiday hint: These events are fun for group outings, and they make great pre-holiday gifts.
Give a California Wine Country Experience
Why wrap another tech gadget when you can treat a friend or loved one to a fun and memorable experience instead? Dozens of California wineries offer unforgettable excursions and events throughout the year, including horseback rides, yoga sessions, vineyard hikes, next-level food and wine pairings, wine blending workshops, adventurous ATV excursions and lots more. Best of all, a winery experience is something you can do together — and it will never be re-gifted.
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Ride the Vineyards in an ATV – Six Sigma Ranch in Lake County offers vineyard tours every Saturday (weather permitting) in a Pinzgauer ATV. Visit the winery’s high-elevation vineyard, then head back to the winery for a tasting.
Pair Wine + Dim Sum – On Saturdays and Sundays, taste wines matched with an array of dim sum at The Prisoner Wine Co. in Napa Valley.
e-Bike, Hike, Zip or Ride Among the Vines – Ancient Peaks Winery in San Luis Obispo County offers electric bicycle tours on its sprawling Santa Margarita Ranch and vineyard property, plus ziplining, wildlife tours and horseback adventures.
Blend Your Own Bottle – Bottaia Winery in Temecula invites guests to play winemaker for a day in the Wine Blending Lab. Each guest takes home a bottle of their very own creation.
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