Eight Crazy Nights: My Wine Menorah

By Saralyn Mehta, Sommelier

When I was little (and well into my teens), no holiday would get me more excited than Chanukah. Nothing tasted better than my Baba’s homemade potato pancakes. I looked forward to lighting the candles each night with my family, and, most importantly as a child, the promise of a gift every night for eight straight nights.

I would start considering my wish list in July. It was very carefully curated: each item was considered before it was deemed “list-worthy.” What did I want more than anything? A Barbie Dream House (1974)? The latest Kiss album (1978)? A perfectly snug pair of Jordache jeans (1980)? Would my parents actually entertain taking me for the very coveted spiral perm of 1984?

Now in my 50s, and with my son bordering on adulthood, we are long past the days of curating wish lists at our house. The excitement of Chanukah isn’t quite as shiny as it once was. I still like to light the candles, eat a potato pancake, even spin a Dreidel from time to time, but the glory days of Chanukah feel like they are in the past.

With Chanukah approaching, I find myself wondering how I can make this holiday exciting again. What would be on my wish list now? Then it struck me: Why not a bottle of wine for each night of Chanukah? Why not create the first ever Wine Menorah! Each night when we light the candles, we can unwrap a different bottle of wine.

I get to planning my list: I am going to start with Champagne, move on to Napa Cab and then round it all out with some White Burgundy. My listmaking giddiness creeps up … and then reality sets in. As a child, I did not have the burden of worrying about my parents’ budget, but now I have my son’s first year of university on the horizon. I can’t spend Max’s tuition on wine. Thankfully, over my 15 years at Banville & Jones I have found many great wines that do not break the bank.

So let’s begin the inaugural year of my new Chanukah family tradition, Saralyn’s Wine Menorah, with the lyrics of a beloved Chanukah song and dive into my list: “Put on your yarmulke, it’s time for Chanukah, it’s so much funnukah to celebrate Chanukah” (Adam Sandler).

Saralyn’s Wine Menorah (Budget Edition)

First Candle Oggi 2017 Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie, Italy: This top-selling, great-value white is dry and light with a crisp citrus finish. It is a cheerful sipping wine that pairs great with salads, light white fish, or creamy pastas. ($12.99)

Second Candle Aragonesas 2017 Solo Syrah Campo de Borja, Spain: Not just for sipping on your own! This crowd pleaser overdelivers for the price. Bursting with notes of deep, dark cherry, layers of violet, and a hint of spice. ($14.99)

Third Candle Quadri 2017 Sauvignon Blanc Trevenzie, Italy: All the zippy grapefruit notes that you expect from Sauvignon Blanc balanced by a hint of mineral that keeps the sometimes green notes of this grape at bay. ($13.99)

Fourth Candle A.A. Badenhorst Family Wines 2017 The Curator White Swartland, South Africa: Produced by the enigmatic Adi Badenhorst (see our interview on page 43), this Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay and Viognier blend has been a go-to wine over multiple vintages. Great with my Tuesday night dumpling dinner but complex enough to stand up to more sophisticated fair. ($16.99)

Fifth Candle Pikes 2017 White Mullet Clare Valley, Australia: Sometimes you need a little sweetness in your life to balance out the spice. This off dry-blend of Semillon, Fiano, and Viognier is a stellar companion to wasabi and ginger-laden sushi. ($17.99)

Sixth Candle Cypress 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Central Coast, California: One of our longestrunning exclusives, this red offers up all the cassis, black cherry, and yummy vanilla notes you are looking for in a Cali Cab. Pair with burgers, steaks, or great Manitoba game meats. ($19.99)

Seventh Candle J. Bouchon 2016 Reserva Merlot Maule Valley, Chile: This wine is reminiscent of plum pudding or Christmas cake (irony aside for my Menorah list). Try this with your favourite slow cooker winter stew. ($18.99)

Eighth Candle Precision 2016 Prototype Zinfandel Lodi, California: When I think Zin, I think power, intensity, and super-ripe fruit. This one is a surprise. This lighter-style Zin has all the bubblegum, fruit, and woody deliciousness of Zin but with a drinkability and food friendliness for a little less power but all the punch of a Cali Zin. ($19.99)

And that, my friends, is how you do EIGHT CRAZY NIGHTS! �