Margaret Swaine’s Wine Picks: Last-minute gifts

Grab these wines as a last minute gift – they’ll also be great as part of a turkey dinner celebration. Find them via www.WineAlign.com/MargaretsPicks.

 Kir Royale  $16.95 

Kir Royale is a classic bubbly cocktail made by blending sparkling wine with blackcurrant liqueur, invented by Canon Kir mayor of Dijon in the 1940’s. It’s festive, pretty in appearance and tasty. This ready-to-drink version does the mixing for you with just the right amount of blackcurrant added to give terrific berry flavour throughout. Serve in champagne glasses as an aperitif or match with turkey and cranberry sauce.

Tommasi Ripasso Valpolicello 2009 & Pinot Grigio Gift Pack 2010 $37.95 

Tommasi is a terrific producer in the Veneto area of Italy. This red and white offering is a duo of flavour and elegance. The Ripasso is medium-full bodied with cherry-kirsch tastes delivered with class, power and a pleasant tannic uplift. The Pinot Grigio, also medium-full bodied is plump, peachy with balancing acidity and lots of great fruit and personality. Both could be served with turkey that has a fruit riddled stuffing.

Stratus Icewine Duo 2008 Gift Set  $79.90

Wow what a pair. Our icewines are world famous and this red and white duo showcases two distinct styles beautifully. The white, a blend of riesling and semillon is intense, dense and full bodied with apricot jam and tropical fruit flavours balanced by tangy acidity. The red, a blend of cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon and syrah is ripe with tangy wild strawberry jam flavours in a nice structure. Have with dessert or add to a dessert.