Festive Feasting

Your drinks guide for hosting a perfect holiday party

From beautiful batched cocktails to elegant sparkling wines and a bottle that can pair with every course, these serves will save your dinner party this holiday season.

The holidays are when everything feels a little more luminous. The lights glow softer, the laughter rings louder and every glass poured feels like part of the celebration itself.

Whether you’re hosting a dinner that lingers late into the night or stopping by a friend’s open house with a bottle in hand, this guide brings together the drinks that define the season — elegant sparkling wines, a bold white and festive cocktails that make hosting (and gifting) effortless.

The Sparkling Starters

Bottega Gold Prosecco DOC

Bottega Gold Prosecco DOC

Some bottles are made to be shared — others are made to be admired first. Bottega Gold Prosecco DOC does both. Its mirror-finish gold bottle looks like it was designed for celebration, instantly elevating any bar cart or gift bag. But the beauty runs deeper than the packaging.

Made in Italy’s Veneto region from the glera grape, this sparkling wine is crafted using the charmat method, where secondary fermentation happens in stainless steel tanks to preserve brightness and freshness. The result is a lively, floral prosecco filled with notes of acacia blossom, pear and crisp apple. It’s pure joy in a glass — perfect for the host who loves to sparkle or as a standout gift that says “you deserve something beautiful.” Bring it to your next party and watch it become the first bottle opened.

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13th Street Blanc de Blanc

13th Street Blanc de Blanc

If you’re looking for a homegrown classic that feels every bit as refined as champagne, 13th Street Blanc de Blanc is the one. Made entirely from chardonnay in Ontario’s Niagara region, this traditional-method sparkling wine is aged on lees for over two years — a process that adds texture, depth and those signature notes of brioche and lemon curd.

Blanc de Blanc means “white from white,” referring to the single-variety, chardonnay-based style known for its finesse and brightness. Each sip carries both creamy richness and zesty lift, making it an elegant choice for everything from a holiday toast to a quiet moment by the fire. It’s the kind of sparkling wine that turns any gathering into something special. FYI, this gem is currently on sale at the LCBO, so no time like the present.

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Louis Roederer Collection Brut

Louis Roederer Collection Brut

Louis Roederer’s Collection Brut is where craftsmanship meets timelessness. As one of Champagne’s most respected houses, Roederer takes a unique approach: blending wines from multiple vintages and reserving portions in oak to build complexity and consistency year after year.

Made in the traditional method and aged extensively before release, it delivers aromas of ripe pear, almond and toasted brioche with a silky, persistent mousse. This is champagne that feels both luxurious and grounded — a bottle that sets the tone for a memorable evening, whether it’s poured as guests arrive or shared as the night winds down.

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Vilarnau Barcelona Reserva Brut Organic Cava

Vilarnau Barcelona Reserva Brut Organic Cava

Straight from the hills outside Barcelona, Vilarnau’s Organic Cava brings a splash of Mediterranean sunshine to the holidays. Produced using the traditional method, it’s made from a trio of native Spanish grapes — macabeo, xarel·lo and parellada — which together create a sparkling wine that’s fresh, expressive and wonderfully food-friendly. Expect aromas of green apple, citrus zest and almond, balanced by a crisp, dry finish.

What makes this Cava special is its effortless blend of sustainability and style — certified organic, vibrant and beautifully packaged. It’s the kind of bottle that complements any table, whether you’re serving tapas, seafood or a festive spread.

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The Dinner Party Hero

Beronia Viura Rioja

Beronia Viura Rioja

Every table needs a wine that can flex with the menu — and Beronia Viura Rioja does it beautifully. Made from the viura grape in Spain’s Rioja region, this white wine is vibrant and textured, with aromas of ripe melon, citrus and a gentle hint of oak. A short period of oak aging lends just enough creaminess to round out the bright fruit, creating a balanced, food-friendly profile that feels both elegant and easygoing. It pairs effortlessly with roasted turkey, seafood or creamy holiday dishes, adapting to every flavour the night brings. Pour it once, and you’ll find it carries the evening from appetizers to dessert without missing a beat — and for the quality, this bottle is truly a steal.

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The Batch Cocktails: Crowd-Pleasers for Effortless Hosting

Tropical Rum Punch – Featuring El Dorado 12 Year Old Rum

The nutmeg ties this cocktail all together — warm and aromatic, grounding the bright tropical flavours with a hint of the season.

Serves 16

Preparation time 5 minutes

The best parties have a signature cocktail — something that feels celebratory but easy to make for a crowd. This Tropical Rum Punch, featuring El Dorado 12 Year Old Rum, delivers exactly that.

Rich, smooth and full of sunshine, the Demerara rum brings caramel and spice to a lush mix of coconut, pineapple and passion fruit. It’s a taste of the tropics in the middle of winter — playful, vibrant and guaranteed to get people talking.

El Dorado 12 Year Old Rum

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Ingredients

  • ¼ cup cream of coconut
  • ¼ cup lime juice
  • ¾ cup pineapple juice
  • ¾ cup passion fruit juice
  • 2 cups El Dorado 12-Year-Old rum
  • 1 cup club soda
  • Freshly grated nutmeg, for garnish
  • Lime wheels, for garnish

Method

  1. Combine the cream of coconut, lime juice, pineapple juice, passion fruit juice and rum in a large pitcher, stirring to blend.
  2. To serve, fill tall glasses with pebble ice, pour the punch three-quarters full, and top with club soda.
  3. Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg and a lime wheel.

Milady’s Martini – Featuring Ramsbury Gin

Elegant, balanced, and effortlessly chic, this is the kind of martini you’ll want to batch in advance and keep ready to pour. It’s a conversation piece — and the perfect toast to a festive night well spent.

Makes 1

Preparation time 5 minutes

This year’s cocktail trend has been clear: The martini is back, and it’s never looked better. The Milady’s Martini, featuring Ramsbury Gin, takes the classic in a refined, contemporary direction. Created by acclaimed bartender Julie Reiner, it blends gin, rosé vermouth, fino sherry and a splash of Amaro Santoni, resulting in a delicate pink hue and a perfectly balanced flavour. Ramsbury’s clean, herbal notes shine through, complemented by a subtle bitterness and a whisper of citrus. You can make as much of this as you like — scale it up for a crowd, batch it for the fridge or mix a single pour just for yourself.

Ramsbury Gin

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Ingredients

  • 2 oz Ramsbury Gin
  • 1 oz Lustau Rosé Vermouth
  • 1 oz Tio Pepe Fino Sherry
  • ¼ oz Amaro Santoni
  • Purple olive, to garnish
  • Expressed lemon and orange peels (optional)

Method

  1. Combine all ingredients in a small bottle or carafe and chill in the freezer for at least two hours.
  2. To serve, pour into a chilled nick and nora glass, garnish with a purple olive. Twist lemon and orange peels over top before discarding.

Whether you’re gifting, toasting or simply enjoying the company, every glass tells a story this season. Choose bottles that bring joy, pour generously and celebrate the holidays one beautiful sip at a time.

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