Liqueur

  
Naughty Cow ‘Chocolate Milk for grown ups’
New Zealand, $22.95 (384941) 15% alcohol
This is buttery smooth, drenched in chocolate and udderly delicious. You’ll be over the moon when you serve straight from the bottle and over ice. You can also try one of the many easy, creamy recipes provided. Slip on a Jersey and follow the herd; pick up a couple. (Vic Harradine)

Wine

  
Carnivor Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
California $16.95 (392647) 13.8% alcohol
This full-bodied, California Cab is nicely structured, balanced and charming with excellent fruit, flavour and value-packed. Inky-purple-hued in the glass, aromas of dark cherry, balsamic and black licorice announce a delectable, creamy smooth wash of teeth-staining bramble berry, espresso roast and tangy black currant coating the palate, persisting through the extended aftertaste. Pour with burgers, steak or beef fajitas. (Vic Harradine)

   
Henry of Pelham ‘Cuvée Catharine’ Brut Non-Vintage
VQA Niagara Peninsula $29.95 (217521) 12.0% alcohol
This is made in a similar method to Champagne for ½ the price, with similar hand-harvested grapes—approx. 75% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir and left on lees 24 months; how good is that? Baking brioche, minerality and lemony aromas open up a racy river of delightful small-bead bubbles garnished with lemon curd, wisps of green apple and flecks of mineral notes. It’s quite creamy and very refreshing with a finish of racy lemon acidity and loads of charm. There’s good value here. (Vic Harradine)

   
Henry of Pelham ‘Cuvée Catharine’ Rosé Brut Non-Vintage
VQA Niagara Peninsula $29.95 (217505) 12.0% alcohol 
Here’s a stylish, traditional-method, value-laden gem that’s hitting the shelves just in time for the Holiday Season and, of course, beyond. Mousse froths in the glass adorned by aromas of red berry fruit, baking bread and spice. The fine-bead bubbles deliver a delectable, mouth-watering experience of strawberry and red currant flavour, balanced and charming. The lip-smacking finish layers on good acidity via wisps of blood orange. Keep a few bottles on hand. (Vic Harradine) 

   
Henry of Pelham ‘Special Select Late Harvest’ Vidal 2013
VQA Niagara Peninsula $17.95 (395228) 375 mL 10.0% alcohol
Aromas of apricot, honeyed peach and mango are harbingers of a rich and silky river of peel marmalade and apricot preserve interlaced with grilled pineapple and tangy Meyer lemon. This glides over the palate with balance, very good mouth feel and medium-bodied weight while finishing in a blaze of tropical fruit, wisps of spun sugar and lip-smacking tang. (Vic Harradine)

   
Henry of Pelham Baco Noir 2013
VQA Ontario $14.95 (270926) 13.0% alcohol
The price-quality balance here tips well in your favour. Cedar, dark toast and a sprig of herbs on the nose, it coats the palate with spicy, tangy waves of black currant, dark juicy cherry and espresso roast. It’s medium-plus bodied with creamy mouth feel and a monumentally long, bold finish and aftertaste—fruit forward, tang laden, amazingly balanced. (Vic Harradine)

   
Henry of Pelham ‘Sibling Rivalry Red’ 2013
VQA Niagara Peninsula $13.95 (126151) 13.0% alcohol
This Merlot/Cab Franc/Cab Sauv blend offers aromas of red berry fruit, graphite and spice before unleashing waves of racy red currant, red cherry and kirsch liqueur on the palate. This has creamy-smooth mouth feel with good texture and a warm, tang-laden finish of sour cherry and cranberry. Give this a go with pasta in tomato sauce or grilled burgers. (Vic Harradine)

   
Muskoka Lakes Winery Cranberry-Blueberry Wine 2013
Product of Canada $16.95 (609719) 10.5% alcohol
Equal portions of cranberries and local wild blueberries are fermented together to produce a tangy, off-dry wine that offers silky texture and fine berry aromas and flavours. It’s crisp and lively, the sweet fruit persisting on the palate, elusive notes of dried herbs and nut lingering on the finish. Slightly chilled, this wine is a pleasant sipper but also a great match for roast turkey or chicken. (Susan Desjardins)

   
Muskoka Lakes Winery Red Maple 2012
Product of Canada $23.95 (50039) (375ml) 15.0% alcohol 
This fortified dessert-wine treat adds maple syrup to the cranberry wine after fermentation. The fruit shines through, with interesting notes of smoke, earth and spice. It’s lush, sweet and fresh in texture; the purity of the cranberry and its zesty acidity shines through. This is a great marriage of the mouth-filling sweetness of maple and crisp tartness of cranberry. Enjoy with a chocolate dessert. (Susan Desjardins)

There is a $1.00 per bottle discount from price shown on the following Cranberry wine until January 4, 2015

   
Muskoka Lakes Winery Cranberry Wine 2013
Product of Canada $16.95 (609701) 9.5% alcohol
Off-dry and fruit forward, this wine is true to its source, with aromas and flavours of lively fresh cranberry. Fermented in stainless to showcase the fruit, it’s light-medium bodied, tangy in texture and zesty through the refreshing finish. With turkey, of course!! (Susan Desjardins)

   
Red House Wine Co. Cabernet-Shiraz 2013
VQA Niagara Peninsula $12.95 (219030) 13.0% alcohol 
A lifted, funky nose of gunflint, campfire smoke and cherry precedes a fresh, lively river of sour cherry, strawberry and charred toast. It’s medium bodied with good mouth feel, oodles of lip-smacking acidity and a balanced finish. There are wisps of tannin and racy pomegranate on the aftertaste. Give it a go with veal marsala. (Vic Harradine)

    
Silver Bay Cellars Riesling-Gewürztraminer 2013
VQA Niagara Peninsula $13.95 (372771) 12.0% alcohol 
Aromas of rosewater, tropical fruit and exotic spice leap from the glass. This is off-dry, full flavoured and fully textured with a gusher of spice-laden lychee fruit, sweet Golden Delicious apple and lemon acidity coating the palate. It finishes with that wonderful yin and yang, sweet and tang, that pairs so well with spicy Asian cuisine. (Vic Harradine)

  
Torres ‘Infinite Rojo’ 2012
DO Catalunya, Spain $12.95 (231795) 13.5% alcohol 
The striking new red and gold label stands out as do the spice-infused aromas of red cherry and roasted herbs. A tangy wash of cranberry and sour cherry melds with black plum compote and wisps of tannin on the palate. This Tempranillo is mid weight, nicely textured with a lingering finish that layers on a rustic aftertaste of passion fruit and pomegranate. (Vic Harradine)