The best wines for your next Christmas meeting at work

During the Christmas season, it is essential to think about the toast: with family, friends, co-workers and your partner. Toast manifests a celebration together, the wish for good vibes and intentions materializes and shares this illusion by clinking glasses before drinking the wine.

According to historical documents, the origin of the term “cheers” dates back to the 18th century, on the old French, the word “Chiere” mean “face” or “head”, however by the 18th century it adquired another meaning, “gladness” to be specific, and was used to express support and encouragement.

1. Have fun and socialize with your co-workers

Whatever the traditional beginning of these festivities, it is true that the essence is to share our best wishes with those we love the most. In this context, a Christmas meeting or party with co-workers is very important, since they’re usually the ones you spend most time with at the offices, so it is a perfect time for sharing your experiences and anecdotes, both good and not so good.

As Christmas is the ideal time to strengthen ties of friendship and heal some quarrels that may have arisen in the environment of our work, we have to take the opportunity to settle those disputes or disagreements and in this way, start a new work year with all duties fulfilled.

2. Suggestions for toasting and serving attendees

• Choice of good wines for the occasion. Choosing a wine for special occasions can be difficult. Quality sparkling wines such as champagne, cava and draft are infallible options, which ensure the satisfaction and compliance of the majority of attendees.

• Attention and care when serving. The ideal temperature for sparkling wines goes from 43 to 46ºF. To cool them, put them in an ice bucket with water. It is important to tilt the bottle, making sure it is completely covered and wait at least 20 minutes. When uncorking (at a formal dinner), prevent the cork from flying out onto the guests.

• Serve sparkling wines in flute glasses to appreciate the line of bubbles and aroma. The wine should only cover ¾ parts of the glass. Avoid filling it entirely and spilling the foam.

• Short words to thank the assistance and initial toast. This ritual can be done before starting dinner or before serving dessert. The host addresses a few words to the group: it is recommended to not talk too long, it is not a speech!

• A common practice is to clink glasses for good luck, since the sound of the good glass is part of the ritual. However, in very formal dinners the right thing to do is just raise the glass to eye level.

• It is not correct to walk away from the group, nor to toast with an empty glass, nor interrupt the host or not drink the wine for the toast. Although the rule is to toast with the right hand, others point out that it should be done with the left too.

Now we’re going to recommend you a series of wines so you can toast like a pro in your incoming Christmas parties!

Pinot Noir

This wine has a special luminosity and its color varies depending on the age, going from a ruby ​​red or violet tone when it is young to an ocher orange when it is aged for 8 to 10 years. As for its flavor, in the mouth it has a low amount of tannins and acidity, which allows the flavors of strawberries, blueberries, plums, cherries and roses to be appreciated in a clearer way.

Pinot Grigio

This type of wine stands out from the rest because it does not have much taste or smell. In fact, it offers a certain citrus and fruity flavor, slightly spicy with some hints of almonds.

As for the smell, it usually has a fruity aroma, with notes of pear and apple. They can be found from light wines to full-bodied wines and their color can vary from a typical lemon yellow of the French Pinot Grigio, to the straw yellow of the Pinot Grigio produced in Italy.

Rosé

Rosé wine is one of the most elegant and versatile kinds of wines that usually stands out for its freshness, sumptuousness and lightness (it should be noted that these characteristics are decisive when choosing a proper pairing). Those of color darker, they convey to the palate fruitier flavors of which banana, lemon, mandarin, pomegranate, watermelon or melon are distinguished, as well as subtle nuances of blackberries, cherries, strawberries or blueberries.

Zinfandel

These wines are characterized by their fruity aromas and their alcoholic content, since this strain is high in tannins and its alcoholic strength of 17%, which makes it a quite strong wine.

It has a fruity flavor, aromas of apple and tobacco are perceived on the nose; if it is ripe enough, it can vary to strawberries, blackberries, and cherries. In addition, due to its high alcoholic sensation, it is recommended to let this wine oxygen for at least an hour before serving it, so the attendees can enjoy it at its peak point.

Sparkling wine

This type of wine is a great option if you are looking for inexpensive wines for a toast. It is made mainly with Chardonnay (white grape), Pinot Noir (red grape with white pulp) and Pinot Meunier (a red with white pulp) grapes. And remember, not all sparkling wines are champagnes.

Champagne

It is a sparkling wine that is processed according to the Champenoise method in the Champagne region (northeast of France) and is protected by a Controlled Designation of Origin. It is a sparkling wine of pink or white color from a combination of the varietals of Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, Arbanne and Petit Meslier. It is an alternative with a slightly higher price, but its flavor and texture is perfect for any toast.

Cabernet Sauvignon

It has a lot of body, structure and strong tannins, as well as a clear acidity and medium to high alcohol levels. Its color is deep, mostly opaque with a bluish or purple hue. The aromas of this wine convey floral touches with violets, fruity with notes of blueberries, black currant (cassis), raspberries, blackberries and vegetables, resulting in an exquisite essence of green pepper and unroasted coffee.

Chardonnay

This type of wine is distinguished by its flavor of berries and citrus. Ripe fruits leave a flavor on the palate with a mixture of tropical fruits such as pineapple, guava and mango; on the other hand, the younger ones leave an apple and lemon flavor. Some may even have added flavors, known as oak flavors, that are added to wine when it is aged in wood or oak barrels.

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