Last-minute gift ideas for holiday guests

Here are a few ideas for last-minute holiday gifts for friends who might drop by unexpectedly. A very informative book by Dan Jurafsky, titled “The Language of Food: A Linguist Reads the Menu,” would be a fine choice for your friends who enjoy food, wine, history and recipes, and are able to read a coherent English sentence without a lmao or lol added. Jurafsky is a professor at Stanford University and a MacArthur Fellow. He tracks the linguistic and recipe changes, in some cases from the Sumerian era, for our present foods and recipes. Sounds a bit pedantic. However, Jurafsky keeps it light. He uses some fine anecdotes to keep one’s interest. I enjoyed the chapters titled “Sex, Drugs and Sushi Rolls,” and “Does this name make me sound fat: Why ice cream and crackers have different names.” Anyone who writes menus or advertisements of any type can learn a great deal about word use and construction from Chapter 1, How to read a menu. Published by Norton and Co., recommended retail $26.

Another fine collection for parents and grandparents who wish to encourage reading is “The Child’s Christmas” by Evelyn Sharp, Children’s Classics. This book follows an English family through the Christian holiday season, from decorating through Twelfth Night. It is broken into stand-alone chapters. Especially written for very young children and those who enjoy a traditional holiday. OK, back to wine.

A case of Columbia Crest Horse Heaven Hills 2012 will set you back about $120. Reverse Wine Snob wrote: “Fit for a prince (they actually used king), priced for a pauper.” H3 is an AVA subset of the larger Columbia Valley AVA. It encompasses 25 percent of the wine-growing area of Washington and is located in the southeastern part of the state. The H3 label includes several varietal categories from Cab 2012, 92 points, to Chard 13, NR to Merlot 12, 89 points, to Les Cheveaux Red Wine 12, 90 points, ratings from WS. If you want Columbia Crest Chard go with the Grand Estates 2012, though I’m guessing you can buy a mixed case for less than $130.

Rainstorm Pinot Gris 2012, $14 is another Oregon food wine made for holiday fare. Produced by Nicolas Quille, whose extensive European training was followed as winemaker for J. Lohr and Hogue Cellars then capped by a stint as GM for Randall Grahm (Rhone Ranger) of Bonny Doon. Quille is currently with Banfi as overseer of Eufloria, Pacific Rim and Unparalleled.

Pale golden color, spends six months on lees to develop tropical aromas including lime, apple, and floral and yeast notes.

No oak, no malo! The palate follows the nose, add in orange peel supported by mineral acidity which also cleans up the long finish. Great with roast fowl, ham, creamy cheeses and seafood, garlic butter or cream sauces, 89 McD.

Last but far from least, take a drive up to Nassau Valley Vineyards where you can sample and buy their lovely wine. This is another excellent gift idea for the wino who already has everything.

Suzette and Peggy are always fun to chat up, and they enjoy talking about their wines. In addition to their case price discounts and a plethora of wine-specific gift items and tree ornaments, they have a really neat wine-tasting promo, 10 tickets for $45. You can use them all year. Great idea for those summer warriors on your list. I’m happy to report NVV won 46 medals for the 2014 contests. Three silvers and two bronzes at Sonoma Grand Harvest Awards were particularly noticeable as they were competing against mostly Cali wines. View the awards here: https://mlsvc01-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/78750497001/36f0ae00-1284-4fae-a013-982fb3ce0d41.pdf.

I’m unsure of our publishing schedule for Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa, so let me take this opportunity to wish all the very best of holidays.

Try to relax, be patient and show your goodwill by smiling. Say Happy Hanukkah or Merry Christmas or Happy Kwanzaa or Bah Humbug with a big smile.
Trust me, others will smile back, and both of you will feel much better. A smile is goodwill that keeps on giving.