Paul Marcus Wines holiday hours

The 12 Bubbly Days of Christmas

Just follow the bouncing sparkling wine cork as you sing along:

On the first day of Christmas, Paul Marcus sold to me:
Nigl Brút de Brút from Austri(-a) ($30.00).

On the second day of Christmas, Paul Marcus sold to me:
Two California sparklers ($23.00-28.00),
and a Nigl Brút de Brút from Austri(-a).

On the third day of Christmas, Paul Marcus sold to me:
Three Spanish Cavas ($11.99-19.00),
Two California sparklers,
and a Nigl Brút de Brút from Austri(-a).

On the fourth day of Christmas, Paul Marcus sold to me:
Four Loire Valley Bruts ($20.00-49.00),
Three Spanish Cavas,
Two California sparklers,
and a Nigl Brút de Brút from Austri(-a).

On the fifth day of Christmas, Paul Marcus sold to me:
FIVE PROSECCHI ($11.99-18.00)!
Four Loire Valley Bruts,
Three Spanish Cavas,
Two California sparklers,
and a Nigl Brút de Brút from Austri(-a).

[...and after many more corks popped:]

On the twelfth day of Christmas, Paul Marcus sold to me:
Twelve grower Champagnes ($33.00-51.00),
Eleven more grower Champagnes ($52.00-$98.00),
Ten beers and ciders ($9.99-22.00),
Nine Billecart-Salmons ($28.00-$230.00),
Eight rosé Champagnes ($44.00-167.00),
Seven Italian frizzanti ($15.00-40.00),
Six French Crémants ($17.00-30.00),
FIVE PROSECCHI ($11.99-18.00)!
Four Loire Valley Bruts ($20.00-49.00),
Three Spanish Cavas ($11.99-19.00),
Two California sparklers ($23.00-28.00),
and a Nigl Brút de Brút from Austri(-a) ($30.00)!

[And yes, the quantities are real... with just a little bit of category overlap.]

The gift of wine (and beer and cider)

After all that singing, we're a little worn out... and in need of some refreshment. Here are a few of the things that we'd enjoy receiving as gifts and/or opening during our holiday feasts.

• Local wines: While our store focuses on European wines, we also love to promote balanced, food-friendly domestic wines made by small producers. Our most recent find is Gideon Beinstock, winemaker at his own Clos Saron as well as at Renaissance, both in the northern reaches of the Sierra Foothills.

  Paul, Ryan, and Mark are all nuts about Clos Saron 'Heart of Gold' Syrah-Viognier 2005 ($35/750ml; $21/375ml). Paul compares it to a modern St. Joseph from the Northern Rhône. California syrah doesn't get much better than this. And for lovers of aged Bordeaux-style California wines, there's Renaissance Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 ($35).

  We've also unearthed two local bargains: Viano Vineyards Costra County 'Private Stock' Cabernet Sauvignon ($7.99) and C&T Napa Valley 'Front Porch' Merlot ($12.99). Remember: Inexpensive wine doesn't have to be crappy wine!

• Wines to cellar: Ideas include Barolo and Barbaresco (20% off most bottles!), Brunello, Bordeaux, Burgundy, and a few things that don't start with B: California cabernet sauvignon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Loire Valley chenin blanc.... This is a category that cries out for personalized recommendations, based on desired aging time, price range, and so on, so come in and talk to us. A few ideas to get you started thinking:

  Renato Ratti Barolo 'Marcenasco' 2005 ($45).

  Cantina del Pinto Barbaresco 2005 ($39).

  Château Grand Corbin-Despagne Saint-Emilion 2005 ($40).

  Corison Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 ($70).

  André Brunel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2005 ($35).

• Magnums: There's nothing quite like a big bottle to get a dinner party going, And it quite literally doubles the pleasure of gift-giving and receiving! We have about a dozen still and sparkling wines in magnum, ranging from $33 to a lot more than that. Just a few examples:

  Sky Vineyards Zinfandel 2001 ($50/1.5L)

  Chartogne-Taillet Champagne 'Cuvée Sainte-Anne' NV ($93/1.5L).

  Fattoria Rodáno Chianti Classico Riserva 'Viacosta' 1999 ($75/1.5L).

• Dessert wines: For friends and lovers who like theirs sweet and sticky, we have a fascinating selection of Madeira, Sauternes, Port, sweet Sherry, sweet Loire, Vin Santo, Moscato d'Asti, and other dessert wines. Our selection includes several aged vintage Ports and Sauternes. A few examples:

  Warre's Vintage Port 1970 ($100/750ml) and 1977 ($85/750ml).

  Rare Wine Co. Historic Series Madeiras: Charleston Sercial, Boston Bual, New York Malmsey ($57/750ml each).

  Château Bastor-Lamontagne Sauternes 2005 ($20/375ml).

  Saracco Moscato d'Asti 2008 ($16/750ml).

• Beers: We've recently added two artisanally produced Italian beers to our long-standing pair of French beers. These are great gifts for beer-loving friends or Italophiles, as well as an elegant accompaniment to your next pizza dinner: Tenuta Collesi 'Imper Ale' Bionda and Rossa ($15 in the oh-so-cool-looking pint bottle). "Bionda" (blonde - meaning pale ale-ish) and "Rossa" (red - meaning amber ale-ish) are the two classic beer styles in Italy.

• Ciders: We continue to carry Eric Bordelet's superb sparkling apple and pear ciders from northwest France ($11.99-22.00). We've also recently added a wicked-dry and wicked-good apple cider from the Spanish Basque Country: Isastegi Sagardo Naturala 2008 ($8.99/750ml; $4.99/375ml). This stuff is, among other things, a great, low-alcohol aperitif.

PMW holiday wine-a-day on Facebook and Twitter

Every day until New Year's Eve, one of the PMW staff will post a holiday wine favorite on Facebook and Twitter: