Holiday Hacks: Batch the booze and head to Austria

Avoid playing bartender all night and choose one great cocktail or punch to serve alongside beer and wine. No time to batch? Planter’s House offers bottled Manhattans, Negronis and more, mixed and ready to go.

For the perfect bottle of wine, look to Austria, which is turning out some amazing medium-bodied, food-friendly reds perfect for the holidays. Sommelier Patricia Wamhoff of Lile Wines recommended Straka Blaufränkisch, available at Reeds American Table. 

“It has bright fruit flavors with good acidity and medium body. The tannins are moderate, and therefore it works well with a number of items from stuffing to the candied yams,” she said. “It’s a great crowd pleaser.”

Marianne Moore is a contributor to Sauce Magazine and Dierbergs culinary creative director.