Stores prepare for New Year’s Eve celebrations

Published 6:00 am Sunday, December 27, 2015

This New Year’s Eve, many people will be ringing in the New Year with alcoholic beverages, including sparkling wines and champagne.

Local liquor store owners have a few suggestions in a variety of price ranges that they will be recommending to customers.

Email newsletter signup

Reid Heckel, an employee of Star Package Store at 308 Jackson Ave. East, said he would recommend the La Marca Prosecco.

“That has been very popular,” Heckel said. “It’s one of the number one sellers in the store, and one the number one sellers in the state for Proseccos.”

La Marca Prosecco is named for the La Marca Trevigiana zone in Italy’s Prosecco region where the grapes are grown.

It is described as a sparkling wine with aromas of fresh citrus, honey and white flowers, with flavors of ripe lemon, green apple and grapefruit framed by mineral undertones.

“At its price value, it’s hard to beat it,” said Heckel. “It’s $15.53.”

Heckel said Apothic Red is the state’s No. 1 red wine seller. It is described as a blend of Zinfandel, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

The price is around $13.

“It’s got a high rating, and we have a sign on it that says it’s the number one-selling red wine in Mississippi,” Heckel said.

He also recommends the Beaujolais Nouveau, described as a red wine made from Gamay grapes from the Beaujolais region of France.

“It comes out once a year,” he said.

The price is around $11.

Suppose you want to welcome 2016 with an expensive drink?

Heckel recommends the Johnnie Walker Blue Label. He said it’s the most expensive thing the store carries.

“If you’re a scotch drinker, there’s nothing better,” said Heckel.

It costs $214.16.

Maygan Jones, assistant manager of Star Package Store, said she would also recommend the La Marca Prosecco, around $16.

If you’re looking for an authentic “champagne,” she suggests Veuve Clicquot.

“It can only be called a champagne if it is from Champagne, France,” she said. “Prosecco is an Italian word for champagne.”

The price range is $50 to $60.

Jones also suggests Ruffino Prosecco, a $16 sparkling wine, and Cruet, a $20 sparkling wine.

If you’re looking to shell out a lot of celebratory cash for New Year’s Eve, she suggests the Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame, $280.

Steve Snyder, co-owner and manager of West Jackson Wine & Spirits at 2570 Jackson Ave. West, No. 19, said sparkling wines are top sellers for New Year’s Eve.

He recommends three: Korbel, Cook’s and Andre.

“Those are the three most popular,” he said.

They range in price from $6 to $15.

If you’re looking to splurge, Snyder recommends the Veuve label and Moet.

Both cost $50 to $60.

About LaReeca Rucker

LaReeca Rucker is a writer, reporter and adjunct journalism instructor at the University of Mississippi's Meek School of Journalism and New Media.

A veteran journalist with more than 20 years of experience, she spent a decade at the Gannett-owned Clarion-Ledger - Mississippi's largest daily newspaper - covering stories about crime, city government, civil rights, social justice, religion, art, culture and entertainment for the paper's print and web editions. She was also a USA Today contributor.

This year, she received a first place award from the Mississippi Press Association for “Best In-Depth Investigative Reporting.” The story written in 2014 for The Oxford Eagle chronicles the life of a young mother with two sons who have epilepsy, and details how she is patiently hoping legalized cannabis oil experimentation will lead to a cure for their disorder.

Her website is www.lareecarucker.com.

email author More by LaReeca