Hello December, time to turn up the dial on all things merry and bright. I’m excited to share with you some fun ideas for two things I LOVE- holiday parties and wine! I’ve got a little inspiration for a festive tablescape, delicious holiday appetizers and a few bottles that are perfect for toasting.

Tis the season for entertaining, and what better way to celebrate than with good food, friends and great wine to put everyone in the spirit. This holiday party is simple and easy to pull together, so you can spend more time mingling and less time in the kitchen. Let’s start with the decor….

Holiday Party Ideas 

Holiday Party Ideas With Georges Duboeuf 2016 Beaujolais Nouveau and Misty Nelson frostedMOMS blog @frostedevents

Holiday decorations for a cocktail party don’t have to be elaborate to make a great impression on your party guests. You want it to look easy and effortless,right? For this party I decided to stick with a neutral tablescape and bring in some gold and green to make it more festive. I found those small trees at Target, along with the Merry & Bright sign. I love the wood elements, gives it a little bit of a rustic look. I used my two-tier wooden buffet which made for a great centerpiece. You could also easily use a couple of small wooden crates stacked together. Gold ornaments add shimmer and shine to the table, and the wine glasses and wine bottles out fill in the empty spaces.

 

Whether you’re hosting a wine and cheese party or a full dinner affair, choosing what wine to serve is important. Because nothing will ruin a party faster than pouring a bad wine that makes your guests grimace. But you can’t go wrong with a bottle of Beaujolais. It’s a bottle to be celebrated, full of rich flavor and character.

The Beaujolais region has celebrated, for years, a vin de l’anee to celebrate the end of the harvest but was only made for local consumption until about 1951 when the French government formally set the third Thursday of November as the release date for what would become known as Beaujolais Nouveau. The first bottles of Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau entered the U.S. in November of 1983 and became the biggest wine event of the year for wine lovers across the country.

Holiday Party Ideas With Georges Duboeuf 2016 Beaujolais Nouveau and Misty Nelson frostedMOMS blog @frostedevents

Beaujolais Nouveau can be thought of as the first taste of a new vintage, the first wine of the harvest and an indicator for the quality of that year’s vintage. The wine is always released on the third Thursday of November, making it an annual tradition that also ushers in the start of the holiday season. Beaujolais Nouveau is bottled only 6-8 weeks after harvest and produced using a technique called carbonic maceration to produce a light-bodied vibrant and fruity wine with little to no tannin and high acidity. I love that it has a fresh, fruity taste that’s perfect for celebrating with friends and family, especially during the holidays.

Holiday Party Ideas With Georges Duboeuf 2016 Beaujolais Nouveau and Misty Nelson frostedMOMS blog @frostedeventsThe 2016 Beaujolais Nouveau has a shimmering carmine color. Fresh aromas of red and black fruits, strawberry jam with hints of peach play on the nose and end with a  delicious finish. Best served slightly chilled and immediately after opening.

Gifts for Wine Lovers

Holiday Party Ideas With Georges Duboeuf 2016 Beaujolais Nouveau and Misty Nelson frostedMOMS blog @frostedeventsIt’s also a wonderful wine to give as a gift! I’m wrapping this bottle up for my friend and fellow wine lover, I know she’ll love it. Wine is my go-to when I need to bring along a gift for the hostess as well. Who doesn’t love getting a nice bottle of wine? I found these cute faux fur mini stockings that are just the right size for slipping a bottle of vino into. Tie on a cute tag and my perfect Christmas gift is ready to go.

Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais-Villages 2016 pairs well with just about anything, from a nice broiled fish dinner to a order-in pizza and movie kinda night. The wine’s bright red fruit, fine and subtle tannins, lower alcohol, and high acidity make it a great wine for Pinot Noir drinkers who are looking to try something new. Beaujolais-Villages is best served with a light chill and makes a great entry-level wine for those who are new to Beaujolais.

Holiday Party Ideas With Georges Duboeuf 2016 Beaujolais Nouveau and Misty Nelson frostedMOMS blog @frostedevents

The wine is chilled and ready, time to whip up a few party appetizers for my holiday party guests to nosh on. Keeping it easy to make and easy to clean with just a couple of party bites since this is a casual, mix and mingle kind of party. Here’s the menu:

  • Roast Beef Crostini with Horseradish Sauce (see how to make below)
  • Grapes with Babybel Cheese and Walnuts 
  • Peanut Butter and Caramel Brownies 

Holiday Party Ideas With Georges Duboeuf 2016 Beaujolais Nouveau and Misty Nelson frostedMOMS blog @frostedevents

Holiday Appetizer  – Roast Beef Crostini with Horseradish Sauce 

  • 8 slices of roast beef
  • 1 bag of crostini toast points (or one baguette sliced and toasted)
  • horseradish mayo (in condiments aisle or make your own by mixing horseradish with mayo to your taste )

Slice roast beef into small two inch pieces. Top crostini with horseradish sauce and roast beef, serve. Makes 24 to 30 pieces

Holiday Party Ideas With Georges Duboeuf 2016 Beaujolais Nouveau and Misty Nelson frostedMOMS blog @frostedevents

I would share the recipe for these delicious brownies, but guess what? I didn’t make them. They are my store bought party hack, just sliced em into squares and served. See, keep it simple and you’ll save yourself time and sanity, especially during the holiday season.

Holiday Desserts

Holiday Party Ideas With Georges Duboeuf 2016 Beaujolais Nouveau and Misty Nelson frostedMOMS blog @frostedevents

Are you hosting any holiday parties this year? I’d love to hear your recipes and tips

Check out the related posts below for more holiday party planning ideas.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.