Sue's Holiday Shopping Guide

Have you checked everyone off your gifting list? Our dear Sue Couls, retail manager and decorator here at Ruby Hill, has some tips for what to give this year. Shop these items from our boutique shop here at the tasting room before they're gone! 

Ornament candles and mercury glass trees

Sue loves all things that bring light and brightness into a home. The glow of these gorgeous candles, in their scents of winter wood or cranberry spice, compliments the charm of these gleaming trees. 

Chic and sparkly jewelry

Can you ever have too much? These fun pieces are a fun addition to outfits of all kinds, making them a great gift for fashionable people in your life (and for yourself too!)

Festive and playful ornaments

If you want to gift something small, we love these ornaments for their variety and merriness. Currently, we have designs including a beer stein vodka bottle, a wine glass, Santa in a martini glass, and more!

Fashionable purses and handbags

You need something to carry all your gifts around in, right? These handbags come in all kinds of unique sizes and designs so you can pick out the perfect purse for your loved one. 

Cozy blankets and throw pillows

Wintertime calls for all things warm and comforting. Every home needs a few throw blankets to get through the chilly weather, and cozy throw pillows complete the look.

On behalf of Sue and the whole Ruby Hill team, happy shopping to all!

Festive Cookies and Wine Pairing

Here in the Ruby Hill family, it’s time to bust out that box of tried and true recipes, put on an apron, and enjoy escaping the winter weather while baking something beautiful. Of course whenever we’re in the kitchen we like to find delightful wine pairings for each recipe, and Christmas cookie baking is no exception. Below, we’ve listed 3 of our favorite recipes for this time of year, as well as the wines we like to enjoy alongside them! 

 

Peppermint Mocha Cookies with Peacock Patch Zinfandel

These cookies deliciously wrap together some of the best flavors and textures of the season. Fudgy chocolate meets peppy peppermint and a little zap of coffee in these amazing cookies. When it comes time to enjoy these with a glass of wine, we love the profile of rich fruit jam in our Peacock Patch Zinfandel alongside these cozy cookies. 

Recipe and photo from Baking a Moment

 

Buttery Sugar Cookies with Jewel Collection Chardonnay

Whether you enjoy them plain, dip them in chocolate, or see which family member can make the most elaborate design, sugar cookies are a holiday staple. Our favorite tip for this recipe is to use the highest quality butter you can find for the best flavor. We like these cookies alongside the refreshing and light cream notes of our Jewel Chardonnay. 

Recipe and photo from Recipe Tin Eats

 

Ginger Spice Cookies with Reserve Petite Sirah

These cookies are a kaleidoscope of beautiful warming spices—just one bite warms you from head to toe with festive cheer. We like to add some colored sprinkles in with our sparkling sugar to capture this colorful season. When a cookie has this much personality, it’s perfect for pairing with the deep boldness of our delicious Reserve Collection Petite Sirah. 

Recipe and photo from King Arthur Baking

 

Do you have a favorite sweet treat during the holidays? We’d love to know, so tag us on Instagram @rubyhillwines and let us know if you have a favorite pairing too!

Happy holidays and happy baking to all. 

Holiday Card Inspiration

        It’s the time of year where our mailboxes are filled with the festive cheer of season’s greetings from friends and family, old and new. We’re honoring this treasured tradition by looking at the story and origin of these correspondences, and fun ideas to make your own!  For anyone in need of inspiration for holiday cards this year, read on.

         Christmas cards began in Victorian England as a way to keep in touch with a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. The earliest cards showed simple drawings of people in festive scenes. Within a few decades, cards like these were incorporated into other holiday traditions. They made their way to the United States in the late 1800s, with the first cards showing pictures of nature. Designs quickly evolved, however, and cards became something akin to collectible art pieces—something beautiful to display, and certainly something to share with your friends. The written messages on these cards were brief.

        The commercial production of Christmas cards began in 1915 when a postcard company began printing holiday cards in a new format, 4 inches by 6 inches, so people could share holiday greetings. This format allowed for messages longer than a postcard, but shorter than a letter. In 1962, the US Post Office began printing Christmas themed stamps, and more than a billion were sold. Today, the number has grown closer to 2 billion cards sent each year. 

          So, if you’re sending a card this year, what will you write? No matter what length or level of detail, you take part in a beautiful time-honored tradition. At their heart, holiday cards communicate a connection to others and a festive spirit. There are no rules, of course, but we do have a few favorite features. A brief holiday message communicates the festive sentiments that make this time of year special. A photo of family, candid or professional, personalizes the card. Including details about your family, your year, and anything else connects you to every person who receives the card. Have you passed any life milestones this year, traveled somewhere beautiful, or enjoyed any particularly notable bottles of wine? These are things worth sharing. If you’re so inclined, you can put together your own cards, scrapbook-style, or use any of a number of custom printing services online. 

As you send cards over the years, we also recommend keeping one for yourself each year, watching your family grow and change as the years go by. This season of celebration can also be one of reflection, thankfulness, and joy!