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Hotel Spotlights

Hotel Sommeliers Share Their Wine Selections For the Holiday Season

As we settle in for the holidays, we’re gearing up to eat, drink and be merry. That’s why we asked six celebrated sommeliers to share with us their wine recommendations for the festive menus we’re serving up at home. See what the experts at Brunelleschi HotelCastel HoertenbergParagon 700 Boutique Hotel & SPABorgo San FeliceThe Breakers Palm Beach and Hotel Savoy suggest pouring this holiday season.

For a charcuterie board

Brunelleschi Hotel: Lambrusco Spumante from Cantina della Volta 

A sparkling wine, red-purple in color with good fruit and persistence, emblematic of Italian viticulture.

Castel Hoertenberg: Pinot Noir Riserva 2015 from St. Michael Eppan Winery

A brilliant ruby red wine with small forest fruits, blackberry and blackcurrant, and ripe cherries, with impressive structure and length, serve in a grand balloon glass.

Paragon 700: Mammarè Bianco from Pierfabio Mastronardi Vignaiolo

A pale yellow color with shades of green, a perfect match for a charcuterie board with its distinct acidity, sapidity and freshness, served in a Chardonnay glass.

Borgo San Felice: Chianti Classico Il Grigio DOCG 2017 from San Felice

Made from the finest Sangiovese grapes carefully selected from the estate Chianti Classico vineyards, it’s the perfect blend of traditional and modern—a beautiful frame for cold cuts and cheese, with succulent tannins and fresh acidity.

The Breakers Palm Beach: La Bernardine from M. Chapoutier

Earthy and meaty notes enhance the flavors of cured meats, such as Jamon-Serrano, prosciutto and salami. While the ripe tannins complement a variety of cheeses, including Manchego, Brie and Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Hotel Savoy: Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG 2017 from Azienda Agricola Poliziano

Broad bouquet and refined tannins, excellent quality to accompany a selection of cold cuts, full and powerful taste, fabulous with wild boar salami.

For a festive dinner

Brunelleschi Hotel: Manna from Franz Haas

A very interesting white of aromatic and semi-aromatic grapes with small passages in cask, a great pair with a fish-based menu.

Castel Hoertenberg: Merlot from Colterenzio Winery

Full, vivid ruby in color, the nose shows plum, spice and forest berry fruits. On the palate it’s full-bodied, elegant, medium-rich, round and ripe with the smooth tannins typical of the Merlot grape, moving on to a long, full finish.

Paragon 700: Aglianico IGT Puglia from Antica Enotria Winery

An organic ruby red with a fascinating fragrance and taste. The aromas are intense and complex of ripe fruit, berries, vanilla and other spices. In the mouth, it is soft, warm and full.

Borgo San Felice: Poggio Rosso Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2016

Intense ruby red color, highly pronounced bouquet with notes of plum, blackberry and raspberry. The maximum expression of longevity and full flavor, perfect with important meals and truffle or mushroom dishes.

The Breakers Palm Beach: Avni Pinot Noir from Lingua Franca

A medium-bodied selection containing silky tannins that blend effortlessly with the juicy texture of a roasted holiday turkey. Additionally, the aromas of red and ripe fruit are a clean match for the sweet and zesty flavors of cranberry sauce.

Hotel Savoy: Chianti Gran Selezione Vigna Il Corno 2015 DOCG from Castello di Radda

Intense and deep aromas, with an elegant and enveloping tannin, it will transport you to the land of Dante with every sip. Ideal for dishes based on red meats and game, but also with aged cheeses and a red onion mustard as accompaniment.

For a chocolate-forward dessert

Brunelleschi Hotel: Aleatico Passito from Arrighi

Best for that crunchy, crumbly chocolate Christmas cake. For those who want to dare a little, even a stout beer that balances the palate such as Xyauyù Birra Da Divano by Baladin.

Castel Hoertenberg: Moscato Rosa from Franz Haas

A ruby red color, with a lively freshness and intense aromatic bouquet of rose, cloves, cinnamon and orange peel. The wine fascinates with a complex and elegant structure and an enchanting interplay between acidity, sweetness and tannins.

Paragon 700: Primitivo Dolce Naturale DOCG from Agricola Attanasio

A Deep, dense red garnet color. The nose is elegant and rich, with full, enveloping notes of dried figs, licorice and cherry jam. Enveloping taste with powerful tannins, both warm and persistent. The Finish is elegant, revolving around the bitter flavors.

Borgo San Felice: Bell’aja Bolgheri Superiore DOC 2017 from San Felice

A Bolgheri that loves to drive your palate to chocolate desserts, with spicy notes of licorice and cocoa, a superb wine for a superb finish.

The Breakers: Rosa Regale from Banfi Winery

This is a sweet, semi-spumante wine with hints of strawberry, cherry and cranberry. The natural and refreshing acidity is a beautiful contrast to the rich and luscious flavors of any chocolate dessert.

Hotel Savoy: Colli di Conegliano Refrontolo Passito DOCG

Ideal for a chocolate and dried fruit tart, or a Sacher cake. Another excellent dessert wine with chocolate is a Casotto del Merlo Recioto della Valpolicella Classico DOCG.

FOR NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATIONS

Brunellschi: Trentodoc Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore from Ferrari Perlé

Great complexity and freshness, very fine and elegant perlage. The wine of the holidays.

Castel Hoertenberg: Champagne from Vazart -Coquart

A pale yellow color with light green hints and fine and light bubbles, this Champagne displays aromas of lemon, chalk, iodine, grapefruit and acacia.

Paragon 700: D’Arapri Gran Cuvée DOCG 2014 from d’Arapri Winery

A bright yellow wine with golden reflections and fine bubbles. Elegant and balanced, the aromas are tobacco, honey, apricots and citrus. In the mouth, a pleasantly creamy flavor with a lively acidity supports its complex structure.

Borgo San Felice: Trentodoc Vintage Sparkling Wine from Ferrari Perlé

Unmistakable fruity, aromatic sensations that are typical of Chardonnay. These are followed by a slight almond finish, the result of long aging on the yeasts. Not a Champagne, not a Cava, not a Franciacorta—Ferrari has his own identity of Trentodoc.

The Breakers: Grand Rosé Brut form Champagne Paul Bara

This expressive rosé is made from a blend of 80 percent Pinot Noir and 20 percent Chardonnay. The fresh aromas of cranberry and raspberry are accompanied by a crisp minerality on the finish.

Hotel Savoy: Belle Epoque from Brut Perrier Jouët

Great vintages were 2008 and 2012. At the end of the celebration, a beautiful bottle with the work of Émile Gallé depicting anemones will remain as a souvenir, an indistinguishable sign for this vintage version of the Maison since 1964.

A gift for wine lovers

Brunelleschi Hotel: Wine Refridgerator

To better the wine experience, the place where it is kept is very important, in addition to the glass. In the absence of a natural cellar, there are many refrigerators with controlled temperatures, which allow us to keep it at its best.

Borgo San Felice: Personalized Pulltex Wine Pump

A wine pump is an accessory that not only seals the bottle but also extracts the oxygen in the bottle to preserve it. Pulltex makes wine accessories for professionals and wine lovers alike. 

The Breakers Palm Beach: Gift Basket

Consider a selection of wine by the half-bottle (perhaps a Champagne or sparkling, white and red), and then add in a few accessories, such as an opener, glasses and a festive stopper. Top it off with a small selection of cheeses and cured meats.

Hotel Savoy: Wine Thermometer

Drinking the wine at the perfect temperature allows you to perceive every nuance, aroma and flavor. You will discover the importance of the right serving temperature from the first sip.

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SOMMELIERS

Brunelleschi Hotel: Maitre Sommelier Alessandro Fè

Castel Hoertenberg: Giuseppe Inguscio

Paragon 700: Giordano Sabato

Borgo San Felice: Andrea Diolaiuti

The Breakers: Master Sommelier Juan Gomez

Hotel Savoy: Maitre Sommelier Paolo Piccardi