Holidays

Spiked Thanksgiving Dishes - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

Spiked Thanksgiving

Spec’sology Blog, Drink Recipes, Entertain, Holidays
Thanksgiving is coming up soon, and this year why not kick up the fun by infusing your holiday dishes with a little something extra! We talk a lot about food and wine pairings, but did you know that if it pairs well you can cook it right into the dish? We’re talking everything from bourbon to beer to biscuits and birds!We’ve put together some of our favorites to help you add a splash of palate pizzazz to your plate!Rosé Cranberry SauceIngredients1 ½ cups Rosé12 oz fresh cranberries2 cups ... Read More

Specs-tacular Gift Baskets – The Art of Gifting Well

Spec’sology Blog, Entertain, Gifts, Holidays
The holidays can be a stressful time. Decorating the house, preparing for guests, hosting guests, feeding guests, and buying presents for everyone all while trying to embrace the holiday spirit can take a toll on even the cheeriest residents of Whoville. A great way to cut your gifting stress down (sorry, but we can’t do anything about your uncle-in-law clipping his toenails in the living room) is to shop Spec’s vast collection of gift baskets! And as an extra bonus, you can just simply call... Read More

Fall in Love with Bordeaux!

Entertain, Holidays, Wine

The cooler temperatures of Fall are upon us and that means it’s Wine Weather! And if you haven’t already heard, Bordeaux is the way to go. Take a look at our top 20 Bordeaux selections, all under $20, to expand your wine horizons and keep your wallet full.
Château Ampélia, Castillon-Côtes de Bordeaux 2015
Owned and operated by François Despagne, of the famed Ch. Grand-Corbin-Despagne. The wines of Château Ampélia offer the freshness and mineral character that come from the li... Read More

Celebrate Year of the Dog Chinese New Year

Fun Facts About Chinese New Year

Spec’sology Blog, Holidays

Hang the red lanterns and get ready to raise a toast to fresh starts! A worldwide party is about to begin. It has many names—the “Chinese New Year”, the “Lunar New Year” or the “Spring Festival” to name a few.

The Chinese New year is a lot of fun, with many colorful traditions to go with it. Read on to learn more about this spectacular reason to celebrate! Swing into your local Spec’s where you’ll find all you need to celebrate including a variety of cognac, very affordable... Read More

Champagne and New Year's Eve Party Tips

NYE Champagne and Party Tips

Spec’sology Blog, Holidays

2018 is right around the corner! And that means it’s almost time for the big new year’s party. But before you go poppin’ bottles with your friends or family, read these very simple party-hosting tips. They’ll help make the last party of 2017, (and the first of 2018), one to remember.

1: Party Trays
No New Year’s Eve party is complete without appetizers! But why spend extra time in the kitchen preparing, when you can order some gourmet party trays. A cheese plate or two is a NYE cel... Read More

Christmas Cocktails

Christmas Cocktail Recipes

Spec’sology Blog, Drink Recipes, Holidays

Cocktails and Christmas tend to go hand in hand. Whether it’s a decadent twist on hot cocoa or a sweet and spiced cider cocktail, there are plenty of reasons why you might want to sip a few fancy drinks during the most wonderful time of the year. Perhaps you need to get through an awkward work mixer, or maybe it’s the only way to tolerate a certain in-law. Regardless of your reason this season, these festive Christmas cocktails are sure to keep your spirits high and your Grinch low.
Candy C... Read More

Holiday party tray from Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

Party Trays For The Holidays

Spec’sology Blog, Catering, Entertain, Holidays

The holidays are here and that means family, friends, parties, and, unfortunately, lots of time in the kitchen. For those who aren’t confident in their cooking skills, are unsure what to bring to the office party, or just don’t want to spend the holidays in the kitchen trying to keep everybody fed – a Spec’s party tray may be just the answer you’re looking for.

With platters featuring artisanal cheeses, savory tenderloin, charcuterie, sliders, sandwiches and so much more, Spec’s wil... Read More

Thanksgiving Pairings

Thanksgiving Wine Pairing Tips

Spec’sology Blog, Holidays, Pairings, Wine

Thanksgiving is almost here and that means the holiday stress is just starting to peak. We’re going to take care of that with some wine pairing tips you and your guests will be grateful for!

Here are a few ways to go about this.
One White, One Red

A good and simple strategy for Thanksgiving wine is to select a very good white and a very good red, offering your guests their choice.

For reds, look for soft tannins that will yield to and blend with your dishes, like Pinot Noir, Syrah, a... Read More

Pack a Punch! Perfect Punches for New Year’s Cheers!

Drink Recipes, Holidays, Spirits

New Year’s Night is nigh, and Spec’s is stoked to help you host! We’re fully stocked with all manner of merriment, from party trays to barware, and our experts are eager to assist you in perfecting your party plan.

One low-key way to keep glasses raised is to make a punch your celebratory centerpiece. These historical bowlfuls may have a bad rep for soggy fruit and melted sherbet, but the recent interest in craft cocktails has led to the delicious rediscovery of punches for all occasions.... Read More