Hai Tran, Advanced Sommelier at Herons, at The Umstead Hotel and Spa, Cary, N.C., on his holiday picks:
Tasting Blind
By now a lot of wine lovers have received a glimpse into the certification process of becoming a master sommelier due to the documentary “Somm.” One of the master sommeliers profiled in the film, Ian Cauble, has put together a great website, SommSelect, showcasing daily selections of wine from around the world. He has also put together a club membership, where he will ship six classic examples of wines from around the world for you to taste blind. You can gift membership or sign up for the monthly membership yourself. (SommSelect.com/club/)Getting the Most for Your Money
A savvy shopper will always know where to shop and where the best deals are to be had without sacrificing quality in the process. The same can be said for wine, as the most exciting thing about the wine culture at the moment is the increasing quality of wines being produced in areas that previously were unexplored. Here are a few tips based on some of the more popular varieties as you decide on putting together a list of wines for gifting or enjoying at your holiday dinner table:Sparkling Wine
Jansz (Tasmania, Australia)
There is definitely more to this island off the coast of Australia’s mainland than the Looney Tunes Tasmanian Devil. Cool in climate and with soil types that are great for chardonnay and pinot noir, this area caught the eyes of many for being potentially great for sparkling wine production, so much so that Louis Roederer (esteemed Champagne house known for its prestige cuvée, Cristal) partnered with local Tasman producers to start its first sparkling wine production on the island. This would later become known as Jansz. A trade secret that is producing some head turning examples of sparkling wine and would draw the attention of any avid Champagne lover. Look for its Brut ($20) or Brut Rosé ($22)
