Tis the season yet again and I always like to celebrate with a holiday-inspired cocktail, or two. These fabulous concoctions and beautiful wines may help celebrate the holidays, but can really be enjoyed any time of the year. Serve them at your holiday party, or just sip as you wrap presents. However you shake it, these drinks will help usher in a festive and holiday mood and a happier new year.

The Stolen Spice

2oz Redemption Rye Whiskey

1 oz Stolen Kiss hibiscus/Grenache mixer

Ginger Beer

Shake the whiskey and the Stolen Kiss mixer with ice and strain into a rocks glass with or without ice. Top with a splash of ginger beer and a sprig of fresh basil.

Sip’n Pretty

1 1/2 oz vodka

1/2 oz St. Germain elderflower liquer

1 oz Cleto Chirali Sorbara Secco dry sparkling red Lambrusco

Shake the vodka and the elderflower liqueur with ice and strain into a martini glass. Top with Lambrusco.

Wine Picks

For a classic holiday dinner, bubbles and whites are always the best place to start. Prosecco is a light sipper, perfect for cooking in the kitchen with the family, while the Barone Pinot Grigio is fabulous and an amazing value. Before the richness of a heavy meat dish, try a glass of the beautiful Iron Horse Russian Cuvée.

Villa Sandi Vigna la Rivetta ($45)

Barone Fini Pinot Grigio ($17)

Iron Horse Russian Cuvée ($44)

Holiday Reds

For Italian styled meals, open a bottle of Chianti Classico. But for the standing rib roast and rich meaty dishes, go with a more old school approach, like the Spotswoode from Napa and Sonoma’s Jordan.

Banfi Chianti Classico ($15)