The BevX Holiday Gift Guide 2024

Chances are that since you are a person of impeccable taste and curiosity that you have friends who share your passion for wine & spirits.

December has arrived and the clock is running. BevX has made it easy to make your holiday buying decisions today. Why procrastinate? Did you know that last-minute shoppers represented 36 percent of the overall total? There is no reason to wait until the final moments.

We have assembled a modest list of stellar wine & spirits ranging in price from $14 to $456. It will be hard to resist picking up a bottle or two for yourself so why try? End the year by being generous with yourself as well. Have a great holiday season.

Wine

Tongue Dancer Wines

Tongue Dancer Wines is the creation of James and Kerry MacPhail. If you are a California Pinot Noir lover you likely know James’ previous work with MacPhail Family Wines. James knows how to make amazing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and James knows a lot of people who grow spectacular Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. We have been reviewing the wines from Tongue Dancer for the better part of a decade and we have never seen a Tongue Dancer Wine fail to earn Four-Stars or better. Tongue Dancer is constantly innovating, releasing new wines every year while never missing a beat. Last year they surprised us with the release of a great, dry cider! This is a winery to watch. The wines are always in short supply so be swift. Visit their website and join their mailing list to get direct access to their wines.

Tongue Dancer Wines has updated their great “Foxes in Boxes” gift boxes: See The Foxes Here

We recommend you check out their large format (1.5 – and 3-liter) bottles for the holidays. These make a statement of good taste and holiday cheer! We Like Big Bottles (and we can’t deny it…)

Tongue Dancer Wines Pratt Vyd Irwin Lane Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2022 — $49, See the Featured Review
Tongue Dancer Wines Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2022 — $55, See the Featured Review
Tongue Dancer Wines Magnolia Montrachet Chardonnay Dry Creek Valley 2022 — $59, See the Featured Review
Tongue Dancer Wines Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2022 — $55, See the Featured Review
Tongue Dancer Wines Foxtrot Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2022 — $45, See the Featured Review
Tongue Dancer Wines Rambling Fox Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2021 — $45, See the Featured Review
Tongue Dancer Wines Rosé of Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2023 — $22, See the Featured Review
Tongue Dancer Bacigalupi Vineyard Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2022 — $55, See the Featured Review
Tongue Dancer Pratt Vine Hill Vineyard Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2022 — $59, See the Featured Review
Tongue Dancer Pinot de Ville Pinot Noir West Sonoma Coast 2022 — $69, See the Featured Review
Tongue Dancer Putnam Vineyard Pinot Noir West Sonoma Coast 2022 — $75, See the Featured Review

Troon Vineyard

Troon Vineyard started quietly over four decades ago when Dick Troon planted vineyards in Southern Oregon. He sold grapes to local wineries but soon discovered that the best business decision was to create his own wines. He converted his barn to a winery and slowly built the brand until he sold the winery to his friend Larry Martin in 2003. Today, Troon Vineyard is owned by Dr. Bryan White and Denise White. The Whites along with Craig Camp, general manager, and winemaker Nate Wall lead the innovative wine making efforts at Troon. Nate has extensive winemaking experience in the Willamette Valley and brings a nuanced, almost Pinot Noir approach to winemaking. Craig is a wine industry veteran with a sharp palate, encyclopedic knowledge of the wines of the world, and relentless energy. Troon offers a wonderfully diverse selection of varietal wines and blends ranging from Malbec to Grenache and Vermentino to name just a few. Beginning with the 2018 vintage the fruit utilized by Troon was farmed 100% organically and biodynamically. All Troon wines were crushed by foot, fermented with only native yeasts with no additives of any kind. If you are seeking unique wines with style and gusto you need to get acquainted with Troon Vineyard.

If you would like to sample some cool and innovative wines in 2024 Or share great wines with a friend we recommend that you consider Membership in one of Troon’s wine clubs.
http://www.troonvineyard.com/troon-membership/

Troon Vineyard Ascendant Rosé Applegate Valley 2023 — $40, See the Featured Review
Troon Vineyard Extended Lees Aged Grenache Blanc Applegate Valley 2022 — $40, See the Featured Review
Troon Vineyard Glou-Glou Applegate Valley 2023 — $25, See the Featured Review
Troon Vineyard Druid’s White Applegate Valley 2023 — $25, See the Featured Review
Troon Vineyard Druid’s Red Applegate Valley 2023 — $25, See the Featured Review
Troon Vineyard Druid’s Pink Applegate Valley 2023 — $25, See the Featured Review

Tablas Creek

Tablas Creek is a unique animal on the California wine scene. They are unquestioned pioneers in the movement of Rhône-styled wines in California and many consider them to be the absolute best-in-class. While many wineries in California make wines with classic Rhône varietals, Tablas Creek makes wines with the heart and soul of the Rhône. They were founded in 1989 by a collaboration between two iconic wine families – the Perin family of Chateau de Beaucastel and the Haas family of Vineyard Brands. Together they chose vineyard locations in Paso Robles, imported vine cuttings from the Rhône, and built vineyards and a winery from the dirt up. Their vineyard site in the Adelaida District of Paso Robles is a close match to climatic conditions and soils found at Chateau de Beaucastel. Their wines are not at all typically Californian in style. While they are not merely replicas of Rhône wines, they are rather a unique expression of Paso Robles fruit grown at elevation with the winemaking touch of an old Rhône master. I love how the Tablas Creek wines are always true to their respective vineyards and vintages. The wines convey a sense of being expertly managed rather than manipulated. Bravo!

The best way to get all of the Tablas Creek wines you see is to join their wine club.

Tablas Creek Patelin de Tablas Rosé Paso Robles 2023 — $28, See the Featured Review
Tablas Creek Cotes de Tablas Blanc Adelaida District 2023 — $40, See the Featured Review
Tablas Creek Syrah Adelaida District 2022 — $55, See the Featured Review
Tablas Creek Esprit de Tablas Adelaida District 2022 — $70, See the Featured Review

We Know Jack!

We Know Jack! — the humorous name has a deep double meaning. It all starts with the vineyard established by Jack Florence Sr. Florence Sr. developed this vineyard, among others, in the 1990s in what would become the Rockpile appellation (Sonoma County, CA). The Zinfandel clone was gathered from one of California’s oldest surviving vineyards in nearby Cloverdale at St. Peter’s Church. These Zinfandel vines were planted in the 1880’s and thrive to this day. Jack Florence Jr. took cuttings from this rare clone, grafted them to appropriate rootstock and planted them in their Rockpile vineyards. These were known as the St. Peter’s Church but many just call it the Rockpile clone. The wines are made by James MacPhail, an award-winning winemaker familiar to every BevX reader via Tongue Dancer Wines. This team with fruit from an elite vineyard conspire to create a phenomenal wine. Get it while it lasts.

We Know Jack! Jack Florence Sr. Vineyard Zinfandel Rockpile 2022 — $65, See the Featured Review

Clif Family Winery

Gary Erickson and Kit Crawford, co-creators of the famous Clif Bar, have created Clif Family Winery. They have built a 100-acre farm with an organic vineyard, vegetable garden, olive grove, and fruit orchard. The Clif Family Winery vineyards are located in the Howell Mountain and Oak Knoll District AVA’s of the Napa Valley. Their vineyards have been awarded Napa Green and CCOF certifications. The wines are made by Laura Barrett, who holds a Masters in Viticulture and Enology from UC Davis. Her wines are balanced and layered. At present Clif Family Winery offers dozens of wines with a focus on Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Clif Family Winery Rte Blanc Sauvignon Blanc Oak Knoll District 2023 — $30, See the Featured Review

Exprimere Wines

Exprimere is an emerging winery in the Santa Rita Hills of Santa Barbara County. To say it’s a “micro-winery” may be exaggerating its size. Just shy of 200 cases were made for their inaugural commercial release in early 2023. The second vintage their “twin” Pinots was released in the summer of 2024 and it shows an upward trajectory. The project is the creation of John Dimos, a molecular biologist who has previously worked on life-saving therapeutics. After years in the lab, John transitioned to an entrepreneurial role, supporting startups in biotech, medicine, healthcare, and agriculture. Needless to say he got the wine bug and went on to earn a Certificate in Winemaking from UC Davis. John is new to winemaking but he wisely built an all-pro team including veteran viticulturist Michael Anderson and famed winemaker James MacPhail (Tongue Dancer Wines). Exprimere will eventually add other varietals to their offerings while continuing the concept of creating two wines from the same vineyard source with differing winemaking techniques.

Exprimere Mia Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills 2022 — $96, See the Featured Review
Exprimere Persey Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills 2022 — $96, See the Featured Review

Valley View Winery

Valley View Winery has a deep history in Oregon’s Applegate Valley. Peter Britt established the estate winery in the 1850s. The winery closed in 1906 with Britt’s death. The name Valley View was restored by Frank and Ann Wisnovsky and family in 1972 and became Oregon’s first bonded winery since Prohibition in 1976. The Wisnovsky’s have lived and worked this land for more than 50 years. In 2021 the Wisnovsky’s hired veteran winemaker Michael Brunson. The marriage of tremendous fruit grown by the Wisnovsky’s in the diverse soil types and micro-climates of the Applegate Valley with Brunson’s obvious winemaking skills have created a force to be reckoned with in Oregon. Typically, when a winery offers such a wide range of varietals — some varietals thrive while others falter due to poor land choices and climate choices. Valley View (along with their reserve tier Domaine Rogue) are making wines of their place that feature spectacular fruit. We at BevX were introduced to a collection of 10 wines from their 2021 vintage. All wines earned marks of 92 points or better — a tremendous feat.

Valley View Tempranillo Applegate Valley 2021 — $26, See the Featured Review

Ola Sol

Ola Sol was born from the shared vision of two friends and successful entrepreneurs, Miles Beckett and Steve Seigel. As avid tequila lovers with active lifestyles, they sought a way to enjoy their favorite drinks throughout the day without the drawbacks of traditional spirits. Driven by their passion, Miles and Steve embarked on a mission to create a premium agave wine that was accessible, drinkable, and wouldn’t slow you down the next day.

When they got serious, they brought in industry powerhouse Alexis Beechen, founder of The Drop, a brand that was one of the first to put wine in a can. After countless experiments and a commitment to quality, Ola Sol was crafted to capture the essence of clean, light-toasted agave, providing a refreshing and versatile beverage for any occasion.

Ola Sol Agave Wine Mexico NV — $31.50, See the Featured Review

Spirits

Bacan

Bacan is the creation of Colombian entrepreneur and media personality Diana Espinosa March and her Italian/Spanish husband, brand architect Ricardo March. “Our aim was to elevate the Aguardiente experience and introduce Bacan to a discerning audience that may have never encountered this unique spirit. It is one of my most cherished traditions from Colombia, and I believe that it deserves to be appreciated globally,” says Diana. The couple insisted on the very best ingredients, and over a period of years, they have perfected the process to create the spirit that we see and taste today. We look forward to any future projects from the Bacan creators.

Bacan 24 & 29 Gift Set Guaro — $54.99, See the Featured Review

Shucked Bourbon

Shucked Bourbon is inspired by the Tony Award-winning musical comedy Shucked. Shucked played its final Broadway performance in January 2024, but it is hitting the road in the fall of 2024 and through 2025. The over 30-city tour in Providence, RI, kicks off in late October 2024. The Shucked Bourbon is slated to accompany the show in many of its USA engagements. We are hopeful that the team behind the Bourbon will offer us an encore in the form of any great Whiskey.

Shucked Lulu’s Blend 7 Years Old Bourbon Whiskey — $70, See the Featured Review

Hardhide

Sidewalk Side Spirits is a spirits brand incubator company founded in 2020 by spirits industry veteran John Eason and the owners of Cocktail & Son’s, Lauren Myerscough and Max Messier. Their first brand was a collaboration with the undisputed King of King Cakes, Gambino’s Bakery to create Gambino’s King Cake Rum Cream. This award-winning product was born out of their love of Carnival and all it means to the hundreds of thousands of revelers who celebrate it across the country and the world every year. This was followed up with Hardhide Ponchatoula Strawberry Flavored Whiskey in 2023 and Hardhide Chilton County Peach Flavored Whiskey — a flavored Whiskies that has not forgotten the Whiskey. Stay tuned to see what they create next.

Hardhide Chilton County Peach Flavored Whiskey — $29.99, See the Featured Review

Cooperstown Distillery

Cooperstown Distillery is a farm distillery in Cooperstown, N.Y., home to the iconic National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. They are a true grain to bottle distilled, having cultivated relationships with local farmers who supply them with select grains. The best materials, coupled with their pristine water source, conspire to create world-class spirits. Cooperstown Distillery produces a wide range of award-winning spirits, including Bourbon, Rye, Single Malt Whiskey, American Whiskey, Gin, Vodka, and Rum that are available in many states and stores across the nation. Their spirits, some in unique, sports-themed decanters, are sold in 29 states and through their website — www.cooperstowndistillery.com.

Saratoga Fenimore Gin — $33, See the Featured Review

Non-Liquid Beverage Toys

VinOice — wine chiller

When you need refreshment, there is nothing like a perfectly chilled glass of wine. You can opt for the traditional bottle in the ice bucket method but this comes with a soaked and dripping bottle. VinOice uses a steel rod that you place in your freezer at least 30 minutes before using. Sure, you probably don’t want to do this with your prized Montrachet but for cheerful Rosé and whites served on the patio this tool really works.

VinOice — wine chiller — $28, See the Link to Product

Tongue Dancer Wines — Swag and accessories

BevX Readers know that we love Tongue Dancer Wines. Perhaps, a great Pinot needs a great glass and maybe even a wine pourer… Take a look around their store, you might even need a t-shirt.

TDW Merchandise View it All