What Are You Drinking?

Tom Leonardini, Whitehall Lane Winery

I had my five offspring over for Christmas dinner. All five are enthusiastic wine drinkers, from the oldest, who is in the business, to my youngest son, who is a sophomore at Loyola Marymount, so I pay particular attention to what we drink for Christmas dinner. I make the boys wear coat and tie and always start out with Champagne, which I love. This year, we had the Roederer Mendocino Brut Rose. It’s just the best. I love the grape, I love the wine and when you factor in that it costs under $20, it’s a great, great wine. With turkey--I don’t want to talk down my Cab and Merlot--but there’s not a better food match than turkey and California Pinot. We had a 1994 Rochioli Vineyards “West Block,” and it was just perfect.