Top Gifts for Wine Drinkers Merry Christmas! Two Blondes and Tim of Pine Ridge tour the cave. This is definitely the time of year to spread good cheer, so grab a favorite bottle and enjoy with those you love…or if it's really good, open it while you're wrapping gifts or writing out Christmas cards and savor it all to yourself! Come on, you deserve it. Whether you're crafting your own wish list, or buying a gift for others, we hope our suggestions help make this a Christmas to remember. To get some ideas of what to serve at your holiday party or dinner, check out the Raise Your Glass section. Cheers!

Oh Come All Ye Thirsty Door Hanger

This is the theme for our holiday guests! Melissa discovered the
Oh Come All Ye Thirsty pillow in a little boutique and they only had
one left (Santa's helper turned into a scrooge and kept it for herself)!
We were finally able to track down the manufacturer so you can order
one for your favorite diva. Available at www.leylas.com

Wine Preserver Pump

Not that it happens to us very often, but every once in a while we have a bottle we just cannot finish in one sitting. We've all pushed the cork back into the bottle and hoped for the best, only to be disappointed the next day by flat tasting wine that barely resembles the original taste. Have no fear! A wine pump will do the trick. Pumps normally come with two rubber corks. You push the rubber cork into the bottle and apply the pump. A few pumps will suck the air out of the bottle and preserve it for 1-3 days. To enhance the preservation process, place the pumped bottle (red or white) in the fridge until you can finish it. If it's a red, take it out of the fridge at least 15 minutes before you want to sip to take the chill off. They range in price from $10 to $50. The least expensive one is white plastic and it works just fine! You can find these guys in almost any wine store, department store or kitchen specialty shop Also available online at www.wineenthusiast.com

Decanter

A crystal decanter will add a touch of class to any table! Different shapes and sizes serve different purposes. A decanter with a very wide, shallow bottom is best for helping along a young wine that you just can't wait to drink. Those with a smaller base are best for older wines that you decant not to infuse air to accelerate the aging, but to prevent clumps of gunk (known to wine snobs as sediment) from getting into the glass. Decanters range in price from $10 upwards of several hundred dollars, so this gift fits any budget. One of our favorite was a gift and is shown here. It's available at www.wineenthusiast.com

Top Quality Wine Glasses

If you have a discriminating wine drinker on your list, some Riedel or Robert Mondavi by Waterford glasses are sure to please. You'll find they make one for nearly every type of wine, and we're not talking red versus white. They can be specific to the grape, meaning you'll find one glass for Cabernet/Bordeaux and another glass for Pinot Noir/Burgundy, etc. These high end glasses can be purchased at many department stores as well as various online stores. Prices start at $25 per glass, however, if if you live in Pennsylvania, visit the Reading Glass Company in Lancaster for amazing savings.

Wine Carrier

Perfect for the BYOB restaurant lover or those who fancy picnics. Wine carriers come in all types of materials: leather, wet suit material, rattan, and more. Some have shoulder straps, while others are met to be carried in hand. You can find carriers for one or two bottles. Of course, we prefer a two-bottle carrier, the more the merrier! It's rare to find these at a store, so we encourage you to shop online. Amazon.com provides several choices.

A Top 100 Wine

Who wouldn't want to receive one of the top rated wines of the year? Wine Spectator® recently announced their picks for the top 100 wines released in the past year. While the prices are all over the map, there are some easy-to-find wines under $30 on the list (Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, Gloria Ferrar champagne…). Purchase the current issue of Wine Spectator and bookmark the page with the wine you selected and we'll bet your gift will top the list!

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We're thrilled that so many of our favorite wines are on the Wine Spectator Top 100 list (but not surprised, after all, we have impeccable taste!) and have listed a few for you to seek out. Check out the rankings at www.winespecator.com. Here are some of our favorites that made the list:

	#4 Don Melchor Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile Rating: 96 points by Wine Spectator Release price: $47 (and worth every penny!) Two Blondes' Two Cents: We've been drinking past vintages of this wine and it is REALLY wonderful. We've seen bottles at various places, including the PA state store, but it's sure to sell out quickly. Grab a few bottles while you can.
	#40 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough, New Zealand 2006 Rating: 92 points by Wine Spectator Release price: $17 Two Blondes' Two Cents: We raved about the 2003 in the Two Blondes Spring 2005 issue, and the current vintage is great! This wine is ready to drink young, so grab a bottle to try…but we're so certain that you'll like it, you'll want to stock up while you can. It's a great sipping wine or serve with lighter fare like seafood, chicken or a crisp salad.
	#41 Duval-Leroy Brut Champagne NV, France Rating: 93 points by Wine Spectator Release price: $34 Two Blondes' Two Cents: We adore this champagne with the blue label, but it's a bit hard to find. If you're in the PA/DE/NJ area, go to Kreston Liquors (Total Wine probably has it as well). Definitely a great bubbly to toast in the new year!
	#49 Argyle Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Nuthouse 2003, Oregon Rating: 93 points by Wine Spectator Release Price: $45 Two Blondes' Two Cents: We raved about their sparkling wine in the November 2006 issue, but years ago, we originally fell in love with their Pinot before ever sipping their bubbly. This is a great wine that delivers the essence of Oregon's great Pinots.
	#65 Greg Norman Estates Cabernet-Merlot Limestone Coast Reserve 2003, Australia Rating: 91 points by Wine Spectator Release Price: $15 Two Blondes' Two Cents: In addition to his swing, this world-class golfer's' wine is something to be revered! The smooth taste of this red will win you over. If you drink now, decant it for at least 30 minutes, as it's still a young wine. Buy enough to hold a few bottles to enjoy in a few years. We applaud this and other great wines that are available at prices that are easy to swallow!

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If you're looking for a dish that is impressive enough to grace your holiday table, tantalize your taste buds and very easy to make, look no further! Granted, this isn't an inexpensive meal, but the holidays are a good time to splurge on dishes you don't eat every day. Ask your butcher to remove the meat from the bone, then tie the meat back onto the ribs (many thanks to our champagne sister Kim for this time-saving tip). This extra step allows you to gain all of the flavors from the bones while making carving a snap!

Primed to Please Prime Rib

• Prime rib roast
• 1 clove of garlic for every 2 ribs
• Shaved horseradish (not the sauce)
• Coarse Kosher salt
• Lots of pepper
• 1 cup of sour cream
• Fresh or dried dill
  
  

If you have a chance, prepare the rib the day before you plan to serve it to maximize the flavors. Then you can simply pop it into the oven on the day of your dinner.

Peel and slice the garlic.
Take a sharp knife and make slits throughout the meat.
Insert the slices of garlic into the slits.
Mix horseradish, salt, and lots of pepper in bowl making enough of a paste to cover the meat of the roast.
Brush the paste onto the meat.

Place the beef, rib side down, into a roasting pan. No need to use a roasting rack, as the rib rack of the roast serves this role).
If you are preparing a day ahead, insert a few toothpicks in the top of the roast to prevent the topping coming off onto the saran wrap or foil, cover and place beef in the fridge. Just remember to remove the toothpicks before cooking.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Place uncovered roast into oven.
Roast one hour regardless of the roast size.
Now, do the unthinkable: Turn off the oven and DO NOT OPEN the door for at 3-4 hours. As a precaution, tape the door closed or use your oven's lock mechanism.

For a medium rare prime rib, 45 minutes prior to dinner, turn the oven on to 375 degrees. If you prefer your meat to be more done, turn the oven on sooner.

Remove from oven and tent with aluminum foil for at least 15 minutes to make it easier to carve. In the meantime, in a small bowl, mix the sour cream and dill and place on the table for a prime rib topping that guests can apply themselves. Bon appetít!

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Past issues of Two Blondes are available for your reading pleasure.

Autumn 2004
How it all began/the inaugural issue
Ordering wine in a restaurant
Whitehall Lane Sauvignon Blanc 2002
Little Neck Clams in Spicy Broth Recipe

Holiday Issue 2004
Hosting a holiday dinner
Argyle 2003 Pinot Noir
Chandon Blanc de Noirs NV
Roasted leg of lamb recipe

Spring 2005
Understanding wine ratings
Kim Crawford 2003 Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough
Sebastiani 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley
Goat cheese Florentine appetizer recipe
Bacon wrapped dates recipe

Summer 2005
Pack your bags: Alsace
Dopff and Irion Les Murailles Riesling
Kenwood Sauvignon Blanc
Miner Sauvignon Blanc
Ferrari Carano Fumé Blanc 2004
Spicy shrimp skewers recipe
Tantalizing tuna tartar recipe

November 2005
Nouveau: Get it While it Lasts
Let’s Talk Turkey (wine pairing)
NV Gloria Ferrar Brut
Foxen 2001 Foothills Reserve
Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Cab
Pannaroz 2004
Ferrari-Carano Fume Blanc 2004
Hot Clams on the Half Shell Recipe
Say Cheese: A Wine Perfect Assortment

November 2006
Pack your bags: Willamette Valley
2004 Beaux Freres Pinot Noir Belles Soeurs
NV Argyle Sparkling Wine NV
2005 Whitehall Lane Chairman's Selection Cabernet Sauvignon
2004 Barnard Griffin Merlot
Smoked salmon appetizers recipe
Traditional turkey dressing recipe

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