Did you leave someone off your holiday gift list? Here are three gift ideas that are guaranteed to delight.
UPSHOT is a new release from Rodney Strong Vineyards, one of our favorite California winemakers. Head winemaker Justin Seidenfeld has sourced grapes exclusively from vineyards in northern Sonoma County to create this blend of Zinfandel, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Riesling. Bursting with blackberry and dark cherries and hints of spice is both nuanced and a crowd pleaser. In Justin’s words: “This wine was made to enhance the enjoyment of life in a fun and inviting way. The Zinfandel that comes off one of our estate vineyards, called Hubbard Ranch, starts as the foundation of the wine and gives it a great sense of place. The Merlot adds a sense of sensuality and softness that invites you in to the heart of the wine. The Malbec is the flesh and soul of the wine. It adds beautiful blue and red fruit and contributes to the mouth feel with depth and texture. The Petite Verdot is the confidence of the blend and adds intensity and complexity. Lastly, because the wine is about enjoyment, I added a splash of Riesling for the fun. It adds a floral high note.” $28 at shop.rodneystrong.com.
L.A. Mexicano: Recipes, People & Places is a loving celebration of Los Angeles’ rich and vibrant Mexican-food culture. Author Bill Esparza, who won a James Beard award for his food and restaurant coverage in Los Angeles Magazine and is the founder of LA’s annual and beloved Tacolandia festival, is a lively and reliable guide. Even if you never cooked a single recipe from this collection, you’d be enriched by reading the profiles of chefs, cocktail makers, restaruranters, bakers and vendors. But at the very least, you—or the book’s lucky recipient—will want to try a hand at making a simple margarita and some salsa to accompany it. $20.36 at amazon.com.
Casio’s G-Shock line of watches have long been known for their indestructibility. The perfect watch for someone who regularly does hard-hat tours, or spends time on constructive sites, the timepieces are designed to be shock resistant, water resistant, and resistant to gravity and extreme temperatures. The new GMAS130 women’s collection adds an automatic step climber to the features and a redesigned face in four solid matte colors: mint, pink, classic black and white. $130 at retailers and shopcasio.com.
