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The 2008 Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Moscato, $8, from California is fresh and light with a delicate floral sweetness in each sip. The aromas jump right out of the glass, with hints of honeysuckle and melon carrying nicely over into flavors of ripe summer fruit. Each sip is like fresh fruit from a farmers market without being artificial in taste. It's overall fruit-forward and lightly sweet. If your holiday guests prefer a sweeter wine or you are preparing a spicy alternative entree, this wine will be a winner.
If you want classic sauvignon blanc for a bargain price, try the 2008 Beringer Founders' Estate Sauvignon Blanc, $10, from California. Aromas of green grass and grapefruit develop nicely into a round, lush, crisp white. You'll detect notes of melon and lemon zest in addition to subtle cream. It has lots of citrus to balance out the other fruit notes. If your guests don't want a sweeter wine or you are thinking about having seafood at your feast, this is a good alternative to chardonnay.
Another winner for less than $10 is the 2007 Pepperwood Grove Chardonnay, $7, from California. It has loads of flavors and style. It is a terrific buy for every day or for holiday gatherings. Aromas of apricots and nuts are balanced with flavors of pears and yellow apples, complemented with subtle oak and vanilla notes. Citrus and creaminess are present in each sip, making it a nice chardonnay for the money. If you are having turkey or a fuller-flavored meal or if your guests love the flavor of big whites, this will win over their hearts.
BEER
Sam Adams Winter Ale, Boston; six-pack, $8
This is a great beer now that the weather has turned colder. It displays a nice, dark amber color. You can tell the flavors are going to be deep as soon as you pour it into the glass. It smells like a kitchen during a holiday baking session. There are layers of nutmeg, ginger, allspice and cinnamon. These aromas flow into the flavors and are balanced with a sweet roasted coffee malt note and a hoppy bitterness. The finish holds the flavors nicely and lets dried citrus slowly emerge. This is a real treat with ham or roast beef, or is fantastic as dessert.
SPIRIT
Tanqueray Rangpur Gin; $22
This is a terrific twist on the classic Tanqueray flavor. Rangpur limes add a distinctive and elegant flavor to this timeless classic. Aromas of soft juniper and a clean, almost peppermint citrus zest fill the nose as soon as the gin hits ice. The flavors are out of this world -- layers of herbs and botanical sweetness complemented by a roundness of fresh lime notes. If you enjoy gin and tonic, this is a winner. It also would add depth to a martini or as I enjoyed it: simply on the rocks. This is not your father's gin -- this is a new breed.
Lain Bradford of Beaufort is a wine writer and reviewer who has achieved his first level master sommelier certificate and is working toward his Certified Wine Educator degree. He only writes about beverages that are available in South Carolina and Georgia. Follow him on Twitter under the name "winereview."
