What’s in store for November
This article was originally published in November 2014
In the mercantile department
Holiday cards & wrap
Our adorable new line of cards is made in Seattle by the husband-and-wife team of Ryan and Breia Mallet. Each hand-drawn illustration is digitized and printed on FSC-certified paper with a minimum of 30 percent post-consumer recycled fiber. You’ll find designs with friendly animals, festive winter scenes and Seattle holiday skylines with the Space Needle looking its finest.
We’ve also got you covered when it comes to gift wrap, bags and tags. From bright stripes and snowflakes to seriously cute forest animals, the patterns feature a broad array of options and colors. You’ll find all kinds of recycled choices, plus raffia and crinkle cut paper shreds for bag stuffing.
In the wine department
Biohof Pratsch Wines
The Pratsch family — Wilhelm, Anneliese and their son, Stefan — farms organically on small vineyards in the Niederösterreich, on the northeastern edge of Austria. Their meticulous attention and dedication to quality are reflected in the amazing purity and quality of their wines.
The grüner veltliner is tremendously easy to drink, offering lovely apple and apricot fruits highlighted with a crisp citrus note and a kiss of pepper. The zweigelt is Austria’s most popular red grape, but is less well known in the U.S. The wine has an abundance of red fruits, with a fragrance of spicy black currants and balanced flavors of ripe red berries and cherry, hinting of black pepper and spice.
Both are perfect matches for a wide variety of foods and are especially great accompaniments to traditional holiday fare. Even better, they’re sized for holiday gatherings in affordable one-liter bottles.
In the floral department
Herb pots
These petite clay pots make a lovely centerpiece or hostess gift or can brighten up your kitchen windowsill through the winter with a bit of festive greenery. Each culinary herb was grown organically in Bellingham, Wash., and can thrive in a sunny spot with fairly minimal care. Choose from rosemary, sage, thyme and other popular herbs, or pick up several to give yourself plenty of options to freshen up winter meals.