The Most Wonderful Time of the Year Part II (Wino Christmas)

Aside from the lights and decorations, another part of the holiday season that I love are the parties!  Our group of friends started getting together 5 or 6 years ago now for an annual holiday party to exchange gifts and drink the customary cocktails but last year the party evolved into something new.  It was decided that instead of picking names and bringing gifts for Secret Santa that instead everyone should bring designated varietals of wine, we would cover up the labels, score the wines and crown a champion.  Last year the Colemans hosted our first ever Wino Christmas party and it was so much fun we decided to make it a tradition.  This year Jeff and I took on the hosting duties and we kicked off the evening by having a glass of last years champion wine submitted by one Nate Chance, Rombauer Chardonnay.  We then went on to sample and score 5 different varietals crowning a champ for each one and then calculating the scorecards to determine the overall champ.  This year it was the Colemans with their Cherry Pie Pinot Noir.  Can't wait to start of next year's Wino Christmas with a glass of that, the best Pinot I ever tasted! 



Varietal Champs, yes the Two Buck Chuck Pinot Grigio won!



The official scorecards

Wino Christmas 2010 hosts Jeff and Katy Boeder

Mel, Tubman, Becs, Lyndsay and Dave enjoying a sample of Pinot Grigio

Last years Champ Nate Chance aka Ladies Man

This years Grand Champions Jamey and Andrea Coleman with their Cherry Pie Pinot Noir.  I believe these are now the official Champion hat wear for Wino Christmas

It's not a Wino Christmas without a viewing of Frosty.  This is our favorite part of the movie

Varietal winners got to partake in a white elephant prize gift exchange

As parties with my crowd typically go, after the sophisticated part was over we drank an additional 12 bottles of wine, played the new Michael Jackson dance game on the Wii, watched Frosty the Snowman and paused it on our favorite part (over and over) and partied until the wee hours of the morning.  I love that we always start off acting like grownups but can end the night being as silly as we want because we know we are with good company and close friends.  I can't wait to see how Wino Christmas 2011 turns out....