A toast to our holiday host.

• Position: What's New? - Spirits by Holman Ranch

Fulfilling a lifelong dream to make estate grown wine, Thomas and Jarman Lowder purchased the idyllic Holman Ranch in 2006. Located just 12 miles from the Pacific Coast, the warmth of the inland valley and cooling coastal breezes provide an ideal microclimate for the production of Pinot Noir. Though Jarman lost a battle with Alzheimer's in 2011, her family honors her memory with Jarman Chardonnay and Jarman Pinot Noir, premium varietals made with hand-selected estate grapes, with a portion of inventory and a percentage of sales going towards finding a cure for the disease.

The 2013 Jarman Pinot Noir ($75) , from Carmel Valley takes on the nuances of warm blueberry pie, cloves, and cinnamon that mingle in the nose with oak notes from 10 months in the barrel. The mouth-feel is plump and juicy with overtones of cassis and blackberries. The 2014 Jarman Chardonnay ($45) features floral notes, subtle and pleasant with a hint of earthiness. When I serving this wine lightly chilled, you'll discover rich notes of under-ripe berries and raw honey. Aged in French oak barrels, Jarman's vintages are held in limited supply, and are not available anywhere outside the tasting room. Visit jarmanwines.com to learn more.

A pair of dessert wines will round out your Holman Ranch experience. Their first ever Late Harvest Pinot Noir, Big Daddy 2013 ($45), is warm and robust. Aged 18 months in neutral French Oak and fortified with high-proof brandy, Big Daddy boasts a prominent dark chocolate taste with notes of toast, raspberry jam, and coffee. Meanwhile, the Sauterne-inspired 2013 Sweet Love Estate-Grown Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc ($30) is the perfect blend of sweet and tart. For more information on Holman Ranch, visit holmanranch.com.

Founded in 1795, Jim Beam has been operated by one family for seven generations. In the lush bluegrass hills of central Kentucky, Jacob Beam turned his excess corn into whiskey. The result, Old Jake Beam Sour Mash, was particularly popular among the colonists. Moving forward, two centuries worth of experience has created the number-one rated bourbon in the world, Jim Beam Black Extra-Aged Bourbon ($22.99). Elegant, smooth, and refined, this premium bourbon is made to be sipped and savored. Aged years longer...