A special holiday post for those of you who are looking for treats to put out for Santa. While I'm sure Santa still enjoys snacking on the traditional milk and cookies, I'm sure he would love it if you "kicked it up a notch!" I'm not taking the cookies away, by all means keep the cookies out! There is nothing better than warm cookies or some type of chocolate dessert after a hard nights work. I'm talking about pairing that chocolate splendor with something a bit more grown up, after all most of my research indicates he was born somewhere in the 4th century, that makes him at least 1000...Right???
Before I make these recommendations and you have visions of Santa crashing his sleigh and Reindeer into a chalet in France or hacienda in Mexico after a night of drinking, remember we are in the 21st and that would suggest that Santa's sleigh much like our commercial planes is outfitted with state of the art auto pilot and lets also not forget who's at the helm leading his sleigh...Rudolph! So go on, make Santa a little more jolly this season, after this years economy, he probably needs it!
Santa's first stop from the North pole is Hungary where of course the kids may put out a one of the countries delicious chocolate mousse cakes(http://easteuropeanfood.about.com/od/hungariandesserts/r/rigojancsi.htm)for Santa to snack on. Layered with sponge cake and semisweet chocolate you may find yourself pouring him a glass of Royal Tokaji wine. This dessert wine has amazing scents of honey, orange and other ripe fruit. Great balance of acidty which makes it easy on the way down and can be good for several years if santa chooses to save the drink for later. Can be paired with all types of desserts from tasty chocolate mousse cake to a fruit tart. Makes sure not to put it out to early since it should be served around 50 degrees like most dessert wines.
Next Santa zips over to Italy where the variety of incredible desserts and wine is endless, no doubt one of his favorite spots! In this particular home they have chosen to put out a variety of cheese for Santa. Wonderful hard cheeses from the towns finest cheese shoppe and next to it a golden, copper colored drink of Vin Santo. The Vin Santo has beautiful aromas of tropical fruit and with its smooth velvety finish it fits perfect with the cheese.
Darting to another part of the world Santa heads for Canada where no doubt Ice Wine awaits. Ice wine grapes are picked from the vine once the frost hits. Made with Vidal grapes on the Niagra escarpment Ice wine can be paired with the fruits, tarts and even is perfect with Chinese food. Maybe when Santa gets to this destination he will enjoy his wine with a bowl of sesame chicken and a few crab rangoons. After all a man can't live on dessert alone!
Our last stop is anywhere, anywhere warm chocolate chip cookies maybe sitting and waiting for Santa. I can't resist but to pair this up with my favorite dessert wine Rosa Regale Brachetto. Yup we have already talked about Italy, but you can buy this in a number of places around the world and yes I have already written about brachetto but I cant help thinking about choco ship cookies with brachetto. With its floral notes and sweet effervescent finish the wine goes perfectly with chocolate and Santa will not be disappointed once he gets hit with flavors of raspberry, strawberries and roses. A perfect finish to his long journey and hard work.
Take a sip or have a glass of one of these 4 wines below and taste the delight of the holidays with Santa, you'll enjoy them just as much as he does!
Royal Tokaji Wine Red label 29.00 92 pts
Villa Puccini Vin santo 21.00 89 pts
Jackson-triggs vidal ice wine 20.00 85 pts
Banfi Rosa Regale Brachetto 25.00 95 pts
You can buy these or any other amazing dessert wines at my favorite wine shoppe in Brookline, Ma www.winestone.net
Happy Holidays,
- a
