Holiday Wines

Red, White, & Bubbly

The correct selection of wine adds a joyful flavor to any holiday celebration.

If, as Christmas approaches, great questions are stirring about what wines to be serving, then I give you to know there is nothing to dread.

For simply said, there’s much pleasure ahead, and generous pours of joy to be spread.

Sparkling Wines: It goes without saying, no celebration is complete without some bubbles.

For the Traditionalist: from Champagne, France, from whence it all started, the iconic Laurent Perrier Brut, elegant and lively with scents of peach and warm biscuits.

A Terrific Value: A refreshing Chenin Blanc based wine and sure to bring a smile is the Sparkling Champalou Vouvray Brut.

White Wines: My rather eclectic list of wines that I think will add interest to the holiday table and brighten up the festive season through their unique personality.

Burgundy for the Chardonnay Fan: Henri Perrusset Macon Villages is a superb Macon with lovely honeysuckle fruit and zesty acidity, and the Louis Michel Chablis is brilliantly citric and mineral.

For the Not-Chardonnay Lover: The Planeta Etna Bianco, from Sicily has enough richness to satisfy the chardonnay lover and brightness to satisfy everyone else.

A Full-Bodied White Destined to Shine: From the Central Coast of California, the Treana Blanc is fabulously textured and unctuous with good acidity.

Red Wines: A brief compilation of some compelling wines certain to intrigue and delight.

From a Revered Producer: the Ridge Three Valleys Red. Certainly, nothing could be cozier than sipping a glass of this zinfandel-based blend by the fireside.

For Old and New World Wine Lovers Alike: the Vietti Barbera d’Asti Tre Vigne is spicy and savory with notes of plum, raspberry and violet.

The Crowd Pleaser: The Adelsheim Pinot Noir Willamette Valley gives up aromas of fresh cranberries and peppercorn.

And for Dessert: Fonseca Late Bottled Vintage Port is an ideal pairing with bleu cheese or chocolate. These and similar wines can be found in Highlands at The Wine Shoppe, Bryson’s and Mountain Fresh Grocery and in Cashiers at the Wine & Provisions Shop at Hotel Cashiers and The Wine Cellar of Cashiers at 130 US 64.

And finally some advice for collectors from my friend Danny Haas, of Vineyard Brands Selection. Because the 2020 vintage was subject to small yields due to frost and other conditions, prices are likely to escalate dramatically, so buyers should seek to stock up on the 2019 vintage now.

by Marlene Osteen

Just in time for the holiday season, the owners of the sleek new Hotel Cashiers have opened The Wine and Provisions Shop in the hotel lobby.

Clearly, the shop owners have done their homework, stocking their place with some real finds – employing their shopping expertise to stack the shelves with delightful and handy items for the home, entertaining, and gift-giving. Among them are an array of offerings from companies built by women – craft bitters and sodas ideal for mixing or simply sipping on their own from The Bitter Housewife, wearable art created by two Highlanders for the Outsider Supply brand, and relaxing luxurious bath soaks from Daughter of the Land. Other treasures to be discovered in the shop’s curated collection are playful hats and socks and vibrantly patterned towels from the Mollusk Surfshop.

With the holidays comes travel, and the search for a unique hostess gift can be a frustrating experience. Just the thing might be an heirloom quality fragrance, candle, or blanket from Los Angelesbased former musician Neil Bardon – a “designer’s designer.” Other enchanting gift ideas are handmade leather bracelets and accessories from Lifetime Leather and organic soaps from Bell Mountain Natural.

The wine shop has a definite point of view and an individual characteristic – comforting indicators that you are in the hands of knowledgeable staff. As in all good wine shops, there is an assortment of distinctive bottles, and the selection of wines is kept relatively small to exemplify the best of a region, grape, or style. Specializing in small production family wineries, the buyers have managed to get a hold of some of the most off-the-beaten-path bottles on the market, and the inventory is constantly shifting.

Also represented are the wineries favored by the locals, from California’s Davis Family Vineyards and Penner Ash in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Now that we’re well into cold weather, it’s time to drink some big reds – perhaps the Pozos Family Mendoza Malbec, from a winery owned by a family that lives in Cashiers seasonally, or the highly acclaimed Darioush Caravan Red. Wine drinkers will be delighted to find among the wine racks two great values – the award-winning Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon and a Rhone Valley blend, the Domaine Galevan Parole La Femme. Bubbles from iconic Champagne houses Laurent Perrier and Veuve Clicquot are also featured, as is an intelligent list of white wines. To pair with the wines is a range of artisan cheeses and savory snacks.

The staff is eager to chat with guests, whether to find a new favorite wine or to advise on assembling a fun and festive gift basket. The store also hosts wine tastings and educational events with local Sommeliers and wine aficionados where they introduce new and exciting pours and wine gift sets. The Wine & Provisions Shop at the Hotel Cashiers is open to the public at 45 Slabtown Road in Cashiers (next to Chili Loco).The store is open 7 days a week from 9am to 9pm, with longer hours during the season, and is the only non-grocery store on the Plateau offering wine purchases in the evening!

For the most updated store hours, wine tasting events and for more information visit www.hotelcashiers.com or call (828) 743-7706.

It’s Time to Wine

Cashiers Hotel’s The Wine and Provisions Shop magnifies the hotel’s concierge level of service with its wisely-curated inventory of wines and its shelves of unique items. For more information, visit hotelcashiers.com or call (828) 743-7066.

by Marlene Osteen

Pause for Some Yum

Rebecca Lang

Just in time for holiday entertaining, this month’s column features recipes from two celebrated cookbook authors – both of whom will soon be visiting Highlands at hosted events at HalfMile Farm. Mary Martha Greene is the author of The Cheese Biscuit Queen Tells All.

Rebecca Lang has authored eight cookbooks, her most recent, from which this recipe is excerpted is Y’All Come Over.

Rebecca Lang’s Cava-Mint-Pomegranate Sippers

From Rebeccca Lang: I’ve had a love for anything with bubbles my entire adult life. If you come to my house, your chances of a sparkly drink are pretty good. Most recipes call for making bubbly cocktails by the glass and that can be time-consuming. Making a batch in a pitcher and giving yourself a small window to chill makes life easier. Combine the juice and honey in the pitcher in advance and just add the other ingredients before serving. Nothing made with bubbles should ever cause any stress.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups Pomegranate Juice 1/4 cup Honey 2 (750-milliliter) bottles chilled Cava 1 Lemon, sliced 2 tablespoons Pomegranate Seeds Fresh Mint Sprigs

Directions

1. Combine the juice and honey in a pitcher, stirring until the honey dissolves. Add the Cava and sliced lemons. This yields 7 3/4 cups. Chill until ready to serve (but no more than 30 minutes so bubbles hang around). 2. In the Champagne glasses, divide the pomegranate seeds and a sprig of mint. Top with the Cava mixture, and serve immediately.

Mary Greene’s Christmas Chicken Recipe

From Mary Greene: This dish makes a colorful presentation to serve for a holiday dinner—especially if you are expecting a multitude of guests at your manger. Serve it with wild rice and steamed or roasted broccoli to make a beautiful plate. If you’re planning a holiday party, substitute chicken tenders for the chicken breasts, cut them into large bite-size pieces, cook as directed, and serve in a chafing dish with toothpicks. You can also use the sauce with a large bag of pre-made meatballs.

Ingredients

6 boneless skinless Chicken Breasts 1/3 cup all-purpose Flour 1 teaspoon Salt 4 tablespoons (½ stick) Unsalted Butter 1½ cups Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce ¾ cup freshly squeezed Orange Juice ¾ cup granulated Sugar ½ cup finely Chopped Onions Finely grated zest of 1 Orange ¼ teaspoon Ground Cinnamon ¼ teaspoon Ground Ginger Cooked Wild Rice for serving

Directions

1. Pound out the chicken breasts to a ½-inch thickness. 2. Combine the flour and salt in a wide, shallow bowl and dredge each chicken breast in the flour mixture. 3. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add a few pieces of the chicken and cook for 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until light golden brown in color. 4. While the chicken is cooking, combine the remaining ingredients except the wild rice in a small saucepan with a lid. Place over low heat and bring to a boil, stirring often, until the sugar dissolves. 5. Pour sauce over the chicken. Cover, reduce the heat to low and cook 35 to 40 minutes or until chicken is tender. Serve over wild rice.

Mary Greene

thelaurelmagazine.com/lodging

Plateau Lodging

Accommodations on the Highlands Cashiers Plateau

HOTELS / MOTELS / BED & BREAKFASTS

On Site Restaurant On Site Bar/Lounge Pool Whirlpool Rooms Exercise Facility In Room Microwave/Fridge Cable/Satellite TV Banquet Facilities Wireless Internet Pet Policy Ad On Page

Black Bear Lodge of Sapphire 19386 Rosman Hwy | Sapphire blackbearlodgeofsapphire.com | (828) 553-6535 n n n n 119

Fire Mountain 700 Happy Hill Rd | Scaly Mountain firemt.com | (800) 775-4446 n n n n n n 15

Greystone Inn 220 Greystone Ln | Lake Toxaway thegreystoneinn.com | (828) 966-4700 n n n n n n 4

Hotel Cashiers 7 Slab Town Road | Cashiers hotelcashiers.com | (828) 743-7706 n n n n n 34

Old Edwards Inn and Spa 445 Main St | Highlands oldedwardsinn.com | (866) 526-8008 n n n n n n n n n 49

Skyline Lodge 470 Skyline Lodge Rd | Highlands skyline-lodge.com n n n n n n 86

VACATION RENTAL AGENCIES

Berkshire Realty Vacation Rentals 488 Main Street | Highlands meadowsmountainrealty.com | (828) 526-1717

Chambers Realty & Vacation Rentals 401 N 5th St | Highlands highlandsiscalling.com | (828) 526-3717

Landmark Vacation Rentals 17 US Hwy 64 E | Cashiers landmarkvacations.com | (877) 926-1780 41

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Rent in Highlands - CCP 507 Main Street | Highlands rentinhighlands.com | (800) 684-2171 x 302 55

Silver Creek Vacation Rentals 341 Hwy 64 W, Ste 102 | Cashiers ncliving.com | (828) 743-1999 64

CASHIERS, NC: High Hampton Resort - (800) 648-4252 Hotel Cashiers - (828) 743-7706 The Lakehouse - (904) 753-0247 Landmark Vacation Rentals- (877) 926-1780 Mountain Vacation Rentals - (828) 743-0258 The Orchard Guest Cottage - (828) 743-7614 Pebble Creek Village - (828) 743-0623 Reid Resort Rentals - (828) 743-5955 Silver Creek Vacation Rentals - (828) 743-1999 The Wells Hotel A Cashiers Experience - (828) 761-6289

GLENVILLE, NC: Innisfree Bed & Breakfast - (828) 743-2946 Mountain Lake Rentals - (828) 743-6875 Prime Property Rentals - (828) 743-3482

HIGHLANDS, NC 200 Main - (855) 271-2809 Berkshire Realty Vacation Rentals - (828) 526-1717 Chambers Realty & Vacation Rentals - (828) 526-3717 The Chateau - (561) 613-1496 Fairview House - (866) 526-8008 Half Mile Farm - (855) 271-7246 Highlander Mountain House - (828) 526-2590 Highlands House Bed and Breakfast - (828) 787-1186 Highlands Inn - (828) 526-9380 Highlands Inn Lodge - (828) 526-5899 Highlands Resort Rentals - (828) 526-5839 The Inn at Mill Creek - 828-526-9999 The Lodge at Old Edwards - (828) 787-2560 Lullwater House - (423) 488-2799 Mitchell’s Lodge & Cottages - (828) 526-2267 Old Edwards Inn and Spa - (866) 526-8008 Park on Main - (800) 221-5078 Ray’s Roost - (678) 534-6870 Rent in Highlands - CCP - (800) 684-2171 x 302 Rockwood Lodge - (828) 526-8919 The Wells Hotel - (828) 482-7736 Whiteside Cove Cottages - (828) 526-2222 SAPPHIRE, NC Black Bear Lodge of Sapphire - (828) 553-6535 Club Wyndham Resort at Fairfield Sapphire Valley - (828) 743-3441 Foxhunt At Sapphire Valley - (828) 743-7667 Hampton Inn & Suites - Cashiers-Sapphire Valley - (828) 743-4545 Mt Toxaway Lodge & Motel - (828) 966-4582 Sapphire Run at Whisper Lake - (863) 412-5734 Whispering Falls - (352) 470-4085 Woods at Buc - (770) 714-9211

SCALY MOUNTAIN, NC: Fire Mountain - (800) 775-4446 The Vineyard at 37 High Holly - (828) 505-6190

LAKE TOXAWAY, NC Cabins at Seven Foxes - (828) 877-6333 Greystone Inn - (828) 966-4700 Lake Toxaway Realty Company - (828) 508-9141

DILLARD, GA: Julep Farms - (706) 960-9600

SHOPPING

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