Three small batch City Winery wines, chosen to carry a dinner party from the first pour to the last. Open with the 2023 Montgomery Mills Dry Riesling from Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes, with lemon lime, honeysuckle, and bright acidity that stands up to crudo, sushi, or a spicy first course. Move to the 2023 KNIT Syrah from Castelero Vineyard in Lake County, where black cherry, cocoa, and black truffle meet rosemary lamb chops or wild mushroom risotto. Close with the 2021 Cabernet Franc Reserve from Alder Springs Vineyard in Mendocino. Only 89 cases were made, aged 25 months in French oak and bottled unfined and unfiltered, for braised short ribs or a pear, walnut, and blue cheese course. It drinks well tonight and will cellar for five to seven years, so the trio also works as a holiday wine gift. $101 for all three, and it ships for $9 with our holiday rate of $3 per bottle on orders over $100.

Two sparkling wines, two regions, one method. The Holiday Sparkling Duo pairs our Methode Champenoise Blanc de Blancs 2023 from California’s Carmel Valley with our City Winery Bubbles Cava from Spain’s Penedès region, both made the traditional way with a second fermentation in the bottle. Open the Blanc de Blancs first, while everyone is paying attention. Notes of honeycrisp apple, almond croissant and white peach, a rich mousse, and a flinty finish that settles on lemon tart citrus make it a match for the opening spread: a board of aged cheddar and creamy camembert, or grilled prawns. Then pour the Cava. Its blend of Macabeo, Xarel·lo and Parellada spends 12 months on the lees, and its bright citrus keeps glasses full through tapas, small plates and something sweet to close the night. Together they carry a holiday evening from the first toast to the last course, whether you’re hosting at home or bringing a gift worth opening at the table.

Six small batch City Winery wines, built for a full season of holiday hosting. Two whites and a rosé open the table. The 2025 Rooster Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc from Lake County is crisp with passionfruit and pomelo for ceviche or a raw bar. The 2024 Rosé is a Rosé, a custom blend from the Luberon in the South of France, brings wild strawberry and rose petal to a goat cheese board. The 2025 Skin-Contact Albariño from Lodi is an orange wine fermented on its skins like a red, with orange peel and coriander for duck à l’orange or a clove spiced pork loin. Three reds carry the main course. The 2023 Grenache Reserve from Alder Springs Vineyard in Mendocino offers frankincense, muddled berries, and fine tannin for pepper crusted tuna. The 2023 KNIT Syrah from Castelero Vineyard layers black cherry and black truffle for lamb or wild mushroom risotto. The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Cuvée Silverado from Yountville was aged 27 months in French oak, with only 149 cases made. It’s built for prime rib and will cellar for five to seven years. $206 for the half case, and it ships for $18 with our holiday rate of $3 per bottle on orders over $100.