Wine Choices in Time for the Holidays

Looking for a special wine to make holiday feasts and gatherings pop this year? With wine-growing regions spreading across the globe, there’s a seemingly endless range of choices on the market today.

For a person with the time and inclination, that means plenty of opportunity to be adventurous, discover something new and attractive to your tastes. But for those who simply want a decent bottle of wine to share with friends or family - i.e., the rest of us - it could mean a perplexing visit to the wine department of a local liquor store.

Fortunately for Lindenhurst residents, local merchants are willing to help guide the way.

At , at 111 West Hoffman Avenue, Elaine is on hand to provide advice. So is Danny at , which recently moved to spacious quarters at 84 East Sunrise Highway across the street from its old location at 55 Sunrise. There, a wide array of wines on racks and in crates testifies to the choices available.

“I’ve been doing this a long time, and I personally drink wine,” said Danny at J and M this week, taking a moment from advising a customer to talk about his place. “So I know what to buy, and how to answer questions from customers.”

There are products on the market today that look right for the season, of course. At Elaine prominently displays an assortment of bottles with holiday decorations - Christmas trees, Santa Claus and the like - including a very popular line of chardonnay, cabernet, white zinfandel and riesling.

She’s also been busy making gift baskets, too, with a bottle of a fashionable and not over-expensive wine paired with festive glasses.

At J and M Danny’s pointing people to a variety of lines, but especially the California wines. “I believe in California wines,” he simply said.

An example of this is 181 Merlot, from Lodi, a product that was brought in from Europe and, grown in California. It's become "even better than what they grow in France,” he remarked.

Danny also recommends J. Lohr cabernet from Paso Robles, “one of the best blends. It’s smooth, [and] doesn’t have a bitter taste.”

When it comes to the all-important choice of wine to go with a holiday feast, Lindenhurst’s merchants have plenty of advice, too.

“A lot of people do white wine with Turkey, but red zinfandel works well, too,” Elaine said. And Danny agreed with that choice.

Other recommendations? “For fish try something like a sauvignon blanc,“ said Danny. "We have something crisp, out of New Zealand. And a very cheap item from Chile, Santa Rita Reserve. That’s one of the best wines for the money.”

There are a range of choices for the holiday ham - one which he help could residents navigate - but when it comes to prime rib, another popular holiday meal choice, he recommends a robust red.

“There’s Apothic, a wine makers blend, from Lodi,” Danny said.

The bottom line, as both Elaine and Danny agree, is that there are good choices to be made without busting your budget.

“People are having a rough time, with the economy these days,“ said Danny. “So we work very hard to find something that works for them. We do the best we can for them.”

Editor's Note: Be sure to check out the Lindenhurst Patch directory for more local shops, and click and for even more information about the Village's BID Bux coupon.

Be sure to also check the for opportunities to give back, and the column - along with the weekly roundup - for a look at celebrating the holidays in Lindenhurst, plus a look at other pertinent information residents need to know this season.

In addition, if you're having or know of an event or fundraiser this holiday season, then please e-mail barbara.loehr@patch.com and/or post it in events on Lindenhurst Patch.