wine Archives - Community Food Co-op

Shop Small: A Gift Guide

Support the Co-op on Small Business Saturday and buy some fun items for your holiday gifts. The Co-op has unique items for gifts, stocking stuffers, and for yourself. Supporting the only locally-owned grocery store in Bellingham helps strengthen our community, local food network, and local producers.

We’ve selected some of our favorite gift items for everyone on your list.

For the Home Decorator

Holiday Wreaths

Wreaths make a welcoming statement to any entry. Skyflower Botanicals’ flowers and foliage are grown on a small, organic, and woman-owned farm along the South Fork of the Nooksack River. Their conifer greenery is responsibly harvested or purchased locally.

A holiday wreath with some blue and green foliage hangs on a wooden fixture.

Darling Orchids in a Ceramic Pot

An elegant, 2-inch orchid in a stylish white ceramic pot makes a lovely addition to any home. The Co-op sells both white and colorful orchids, all potted, for easy gift giving.

Danica Heirloom Mugs

Hot chocolate and eggnog tastes better out of one of the delightful patterns adorning Danica Heirloom mugs.

A pinecone candle and a tree candle sit in a holiday pine gift bag. A red mug sits on the table with a white orchid. Pine needles are tossed around as decoration.

They are handmade, sourced with care, and dishwasher and microwave safe. A percentage of all Danica profits is donated to Education without Borders, a Canadian non-profit organization that provides educational opportunities for disadvantaged and at-risk children in South Africa and Canada.

Holiday Candles from Sunbeam Candles

Sunbeam candles come in a variety of festive, decorative shapes with a focus on sustainability. All Sunbeam candles are hand-crafted, incorporate natural and wholesome ingredients, are made with 100% renewable energy, and use carbon neutral shipping. Let your holidays burn bright with their pine cones, trees, and seasonal designs.

For the Foodie

San Juan Island Sea Salt Popcorn Blend

San Juan Island Sea Salt’s Popcorn Blend offers a nutty, cheesy, and delicious accompaniment to more than just popcorn. Some of our favorite uses are on pasta, avocado toast, and eggs. Unique and tasty, San Juan Island Sea Salt is made from solar-evaporated sea salt from the San Juan Islands.

Gilbert Cellars 2018 Left Bank Red Wine

For the wine aficionados in your life, the Yakima-based Gilbert Cellars Left Bank Red Wine scores 90 points and comes gift wrapped. It is a full-bodied blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Carménère with notes of black currant and plum. It is a balanced wine for holiday meals, appetizers, and makes a thoughtful gift for your host.

Dark Chocolate Coffee Bark from Chocolate Necessities

The pacific northwest is known for its coffee consumption and what better gift than coffee and chocolate? Local chocolatier, Chocolate Necessities, make a holiday bark with a Northwest twist — coffee! Chocolate Necessities Dark Chocolate Coffee Bark covers the chocolate and coffee loves alike.

A bottle of wine and some chocolate bark sit in a Hanukkah gift bag.

For the Spa Lover

Studio Oh! Cosmetic bag

Studio Oh!’s portable, water-resistant cosmetic bags highlight unique and original artwork with witty, whimsical designs. The Co-op sells bags in a variety of shapes and designs that are fully lined with secure metal zippers. These bags are fun for all ages and while technically a cosmetic bag, work well for many purposes.

Samish Bay Soaps

Locally made Samish Bay Soaps are individually gift-wrapped in winter flannel or shaped as snowflakes without the wrapping. They come in a variety of seasonal fragrances; perfect for stocking stuffers. Samish Bay Soaps are made simply, using only pure essential oils and herbs. Their products are environmentally friendly, cruelty free, and free from chemical fragrances and colorants. Every batch is created, cut, and packaged by hand in Bellingham.

Island Thyme Moisturizers

Cold weather, travel, and frequent hand washing can leave your hands dry and your face in need of extra attention. Island Thyme lavender rose cream is a deep moisturizer for both your body and face. The 2 ounce glass jars are TSA compliant and at the top of everyone’s gift list. Island Thyme products are botanically-based, made in small batches on their farm and apothecary on San Juan Island.

Moon Valley Organics Lip Balms

The Co-op sells Whatcom County-based Moon Valley Organics lip balms in gift ready packs and individually. These balms make great gifts for anyone who spends time outdoors and needs extra lip protection.

Moon Valley Organics follows the highest organic standards with a mission to protect pollinators. Help the bees while treating your friends and family to lip balms in a variety of healing essences.

Badger Aromatherapy Travel Kit

Experience all the necessary aromatherapy balms to get you through the holidays in one convenient travel kit. The travel kit features five essential oil profiles carefully formulated to refresh, de-stress, and inspire. Badger aromatherapy is certified organic and cruelty free.

For Everyone

Co-op Gift Cards

A Co-op gift card is the quintessential gift for the person who has everything. Stop by the service desk at either store and pick out a gift card in any amount. We have a wide selection of cards to drop your gift card into. We can also do large quantities of gift cards to cover your employees, service providers, or any group that you may need to purchase for.

Maggie’s Organics Snuggle Socks

Soft, comfortable, washable organic merino wool. This is a gift for anyone experiencing the Pacific Northwest winters. Help them keep cozy with socks produced by humanely-raised sheep and skilled workers. These comfortable socks are ethical and sustainable, as well as made in the USA.

Watercolor paper, socks, and a puzzle sit by some twinkle lights on a wooden table.

Eeboo Deluxe Watercolor Paper

This high-quality, Italian watercolor paper is the perfect canvas for your watercolor art. The extra thick and absorbent paper has a natural pH, is chlorine-free, and completely recyclable and biodegradable. The paper books are glue bound for easy removal of the pages that makes painting your masterpiece easy and portable.

Puzzles from eeboo

Woman-owned eeboo makes high-quality, beautiful puzzles, games, and activities that reflect family, community, and inclusion. The 36-piece mini puzzle is a favorite for stocking stuffers or traveling. Wanting more of a challenge? We have puzzles with up to 100 pieces that feature equally beautiful scenes.

All of the gifts sit on a table with wrapping paper and pine needles in the sunlight.

Wines for Thanksgiving

The Co-op’s annual mix and match wine sale runs November 16 through November 23, and it's a great time to stock up on wines for Thanksgiving and throughout the holidays. Our wine department has curated 12 beautiful wines for your entire Thanksgiving day, from watching a football game to serving dinner. We have also selected some lovely bottles that make great host gifts.

Wines to Accompany Your Thanksgiving Meal

J. Mourat Vin de Loire Blanc
2021
A medium weight white wine blend of Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay from France’s Loire Valley. It is fresh and harmonious with tastes of pear, star anise, and apple. Its light notes are a wonderful accompaniment to Thanksgiving foods like turkey and mashed potatoes.

J. Mourat Vin de Loire Rouge
2021
The 2021 J. Mourat Vin de Loire Rouge is an easy-drinking blend of Cabernet Franc, Negrette, Gamay, and Pinot Noir from a certified organic vineyard. This wine has notes of Bing cherry, nutmeg, and blueberry. It is a midweight wine that pairs well with a traditional turkey meal.

COR Cellars Cabernet Franc
2021
An elegant and medium-bodied Cabernet from Eastern Washington’s Horse Heaven Hills. Its cherry, cocoa, and smokey notes will delight your Thanksgiving guests.

Wines That Everyone Will Enjoy

Borgo Alato Prosecco Extra Dry NV
The Borgo Alato is a refreshing, sparkling wine from Northern Italy. It has a delightful and complex bouquet with fruity notes reminiscent of peach and green apple. Serve it chilled as an opening toast or with dessert. Its price-point also makes it a great selection if you are serving mimosas or Aperol spritzes.

Elk Cove Estate Pinot Noir Rosé
2021
The Elk Cove Rosé is one of the most popular wines sold at the Co-op. This vintage is dry, medium in weight, and perfectly balanced. It has notes of refreshing nectarine, red currant, and Rainier cherry. It is a well-rounded wine that can accompany any course of your Thanksgiving meal.

Alois Lageder Schiava
2021
This extremely versatile wine hails from a vineyard in Italy’s Alto Adige region that is certified biodynamic and harmonious with nature. This is a chillable red, easy to drink, and will be a favorite for all your holiday guests. It is a medium weight with hints of strawberry, Rooibos tea, and pink peppercorn. Serve it as an opening wine and as your meal progresses.

Wines to Serve Before the Meal

Rodica Refosk Pet-Nat Saignee Rosé
2020
The 2020 Rodica Refosk Pet-Nat Saignee Rosé is a naturally made sparkling light red wine. It is a bright and refreshing wine that is best served chilled as an aperitif with charcuterie and cheese.

Kobal Sauvignon Blanc 'Roots'
2021
A delectable and singular Sauvignon Blanc from Slovenia’s Podravje region. The vineyard follows Slovenia sustainability guidelines and practices organic farming. The wine is zesty and textured with notions of grapefruit, sea breeze, lemongrass, lychee, and white pepper. It’s a wonderful opening wine for your Thanksgiving day and pairs with football finger foods.

Château d’Aqueria Tavel Rosé
2021
The Château d’Aqueria Tavel Rosé toes the line between a red and a rosé. It is a full-bodied wine with raspberry, tarragon, and cracked pepper. The vineyard is in the Southern Rhône AOC of Tavel and practices sustainable farming. This wine goes well with fruits, cheese, olives, and Mediterranean dips.

Wines to Gift to Your Host

Segura Viudas Reserva Heredad Cava
The Segura Viudas Reserva Heredad Cava Brut has lightly smoky opening aromas with touches of biscuit, and hints of honey and flower petals. The palate is excellent, fruity, and full of flavor, delivering a delightful sense of abundance. Its decorative bottle makes a unique gift for your host or a statement for your table.

Sixto Chardonnay 'Uncovered'
2019
The Sixto Chardonnay is a product of well-known Washington winemaker Charles Smith. This Washington old-vine Chardonnay pairs well with turkey, salmon, and aged cheeses — all things we enjoy on Thanksgiving.

Domaine Grégoire Hoppenot Fleurie 'Origines'
2020
This 2020 wine is labeled an “ideal Thanksgiving red” by the Co-op wine experts. It is grown in certified organic vineyards with indigenous yeast fermentation and minimal sulfur additions. It drinks like a Beaujolais. It is medium-bodied with seamless stony mineral, fresh raspberry, lavender, pink peppercorn, and lingonberry notes.

Celebrating Red Wine Day with some Co-op Favorites

August 28 is Red Wine Day! There's no better way to celebrate than with a good meal and a gorgeous wine to pair.

Not sure where to begin in the vast red wine aisle? We've got you covered. Below are three late-summer recommendations from Tim, our wine expert. We have something for every budget and preference.

In general, Tim suggests a chillable red as we are still in the heat of summer.

Let us know what bottle of wine you're celebrating with on Instagram (@communityfoodcoop), Twitter (@TheCoopInBham), or Facebook.

Paul Dolan, Mendocino Zinfandel 2020, $17.99

This Zin has notions of rich berries, such as black raspberry, along with vanilla, pipe tobacco, spice cabinet, fresh plums, and orange peel tea. This wine is for those who enjoy a forward and concentrated wine, with a balance of zest from the fruit.

Paul Dolan Vineyards is located in Mendocino County and has rich biological diversity.

To go with this delectable Zin, we suggest sweet and spicy BBQ short ribs or Moroccan eggplant with tomato stew.

Zeni, Bardolino Classico 2020, $8.99

If you’re looking for a crowd-pleasing, chillable red blend, look no further! This soft yet zesty bottle features notes of pie cherries, cocoa, red currant, Allspice, Earl Grey tea, and hibiscus.

The Zeni family has spent over 140 years producing fine wines in Verona. This blend in particular is produced from indigenous grapes in Lake Garda.

This summer-weight red pairs well with many dinners, including veggie burgers, pasta pomodoro, and seafood risotto. In addition, this bottle is a nice accompaniment to an antipasti platter.

Jean-Marc Burgaud, Beaujolais-Villages Lantignié 2020, $14.99

This red is medium-bodied and has energetic suggestions of Marionberry, pink peppercorn, rose hip, loamy beets, Morello cherry, elderflower, and stony minerals. This wine is anything but basic!

Since 1989, Jean-Marc Burgaud has produced wine using organic principles and traditional Burgundian methods. Jean-Marc Burgaud adapts the wine-making process with the changing of the seasons and grows on rich, granite soil.

Pair a glass or two of this with fresh-caught seared salmon — found at our seafood counter, any variety of burger, and roasted or grilled veggies.

First Milk Gouda: The Star of Your Summer Picnic

Stephanie — the Co-op's big cheese, the cheese department head that is — and Tim, our in-house wine expert, have come together to share an exclusive cheese and wine pairing.

The Art of Gouda

The Co-op is excited to announce that we have the Artikaas Youngsters First Milk Gouda. This very special cheese is made using traditional, sustainable methods going back 2,000 years. The Youngster First Milk Gouda is a semisoft cheese that is rich, creamy, and decadent. Artikaas makes an exceptional Gouda by collecting milk after the cows have their first taste of Holland’s tender spring grasses. Artikaas turns the cow’s rich, nutritious milk into an irresistibly smooth Gouda.

Artikaas is a sixth-generation, family-run cheesemaker in Holland. They use only the finest ingredients from local family farms. Each year the Co-op’s cheese department procures a limited allotment that is only available in stores for a short amount of time.

The cheese is released once a year and sells out quickly. We suggest using Gouda for your cheese board, snacking, slicing, and it is a superior melting cheese for a decadent grilled cheese sandwich.

Wine Pairing for Gouda

Such a special Gouda deserves the right wine to bring out the smooth, creamy flavors. Our panel of wine tasters selected the perfect wine to pair with the Artikaas Youngsters First Milk Gouda — a Foris Vineyards Fly-Over White. The 2017 Foris Vineyards Fly-Over White is a 50/50 blend of Riesling and Pinot Blanc. It is a zesty, pleasingly textured white from Oregon’s Rogue Valley. When you drink it, expect nicely-balanced elements of kiwi, honeydew melon, mineral, nectarine, fennel, Satsuma, and Bartlett pear. There’s just a touch of sweetness. The wine's acidity harmonizes and highlights the creaminess of the Gouda cheese.

Local Stone Fruits to Round Out the Pairing

The Artikaas Youngsters First Milk Gouda and the Foris Vineyards Fly-Over White pairing are a delight for your summer picnic or charcuterie board. Both are complemented by stone fruits, such as cherries, nectarines, plums, and peaches — all of which and more are in season, local, and organic right now at the Co-op.

You, your friends, and your family will appreciate enjoying the Artikaas Youngsters First Milk Gouda with a balanced wine and local stone fruits. One of the best ways to enjoy the summer is with a spring cheese.

Celebrate National Rosé Day

Celebrate National Rosé Day with a few of our favorite rosés. We’ve curated a list of well-priced and great drinking rosés to help you enjoy National Rosé Day.

Rosé is a versatile wine that pairs well with many foods, from charcuterie boards to chicken and fish entrees. And of course, rosé is also a wonderful complement to brunch and afternoon drinking on lovely spring and summer days.

Try a few of our featured rosés, carefully curated by our wine department.

Dyckerhoff Petit Gris Reuilly Rosé

Domaine Dyckerhoff is a winemaker from Reuilly, in the French Loire Valley. The majority of their planting is dedicated to Sauvignon, and complemented by small parcels of Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. This wine is pale salmon in color, and has a fruity nose with freshness and flavors of wild strawberries, peach skin, and minerals.

2020 • $6.99

Les Quatre Tours Aix-en-Provence Rosé

Les Quatre Tours Aix-En-Provence Rosé is made with 40% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Cinsault, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. The vineyard is a cooperative, with growers committed to sustainability. This rosé is dry and well-balanced, with hints of melon, vanilla bean, lemon, and thimbleberry.

2021 • $13.99

Cadence Coda Rosé

This rosé is summer in a bottle. It features wonderful pomelo and sugar notes on the nose and strawberries on the palate. The framework is lithe, brightly acidic, low alcohol, and delicious.

2021 • $19.99

Librandi Cirò Rosato

Librandi vineyards dot the countryside of the small town of Cirò Marina, overlooking the Ionian Sea, benefitting from its cool ocean breezes. Cirò Rosato is made from 100% Gaglioppo, Calabria’s signature grape variety, selectively harvested in late September into early October. This delicious rosato is deep coral-pink in color, with delicate red berry, floral, and spicy aromas. It pairs well with cured meats, antipasti, grilled fish, white meats, and mildly spicy dishes.

2021 • $12.99

Elk Cove Estate Pinot Noir Rosé

The Elk Cove Estate Pinot Noir Rosé is pale pink in color, with peach and strawberry cream on the nose. This wine opens with juicy watermelon, garden strawberry, and mango, leading into a lime finish.

2021 • $16.99

Valentine’s Day Gift Guide

wine bottle and present wrapped in red satin ribbon

Here are a few of our favorite Valentine's Day products for the sweet people in your life.

red-heart-pillar-geranium-votive-in-glass-yellow-carved-pillar

Beeswax Candles

Give the gift of the warmth and health of the hive with this great selection of natural beeswax candles made especially for Valentine’s Day from Big Dipper Wax Works. Choose from aromatherapy sprays and a wide selection of candles shaped and scented for Valentine’s Day.

Tulip Bouquets

Tulips brighten your Valentine’s Day and indicate that spring is near. Our tulips are grown locally in Mount Vernon and are available in a variety of lovely colored 5-stem bouquets.

valentine's day tulips in stone vase with wrapped present and wooden sign

foam bath packs on tub tray with lavender sprig and bubbles

Foaming Baths

Calm the senses, leave your skin silky smooth, and balance your spirit with Aura Cacia aromatherapy foaming bath products in fragrances such as relaxing lavender, sweet orange, or meditating cedarwood. Aura Cacia products feature nourishing jojoba oil, soothing coconut oil, and essential oils.

Delicious Co-op Valentine’s Day Treats

Finish your Valentine’s Day meal with our housemade bakery items. These specialty items are only available for a limited time around Valentine’s Day and frequently sell out.

Bleeding Heart

The Bleeding Heart is a moist chocolate cake with a tart raspberry filling covered in a dark chocolate ganache. This vegan cake is sold in a serving for two to end your Valentine’s Day meal on a sweet note.

Storm Cloud Cake

Our favorite gluten-free chocolate cake gets some raspberry love for Valentine’s Day. The gluten-free chocolate cake is filled and topped with raspberry and finished with a creamy mascarpone frosting.

Raspberry Cream Roll

This light, airy cake is rolled with a fresh raspberry filling and frosted with a sweet, tangy cream cheese frosting. And, it’s gluten free! This popular dessert is a delicious way to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

conventional-heart-shaped-chocolate-cake

I Heart Chocolate Cake & You

For the chocolate lover in your life, we have a heart-shaped chocolate cake. Our dark chocolate cake is frosted with dark chocolate ganache and decorated for Valentine’s Day with buttercream accents.

The Co-op’s wine manager has selected some special bottles of bubbly to cheer your Valentine. If sparkling wine isn’t for you, we are featuring the Floating Rock Zinfandel from Washington and locally crafted Honey Moon’s Raspberry Mead. Honey Moon’s Raspberry Mead is a blend of mead from blackberry honey and raspberry wine both produced in Whatcom County. It has distinct berry aromas and a tart finish and is especially good paired with cheeses and desserts.

Valdo Prosecco Brut Rosé

The Valdo rosé is a perfect combination of barely off-dry and creamy in the mouth with enticing suggestions of Pink Lady apple, rose hip, salmonberry, Rainier cherry, and kiwi.

rose in champagne flutes with pink roses and wrapped present

sparkling wine table setting, with candles, raspberries, and chocolate cake

Canals & Nubiola Brut Cava

This succulent sparkler is medium-bodied, crisp, and clean. If you are looking for a fun Valentine's Day cocktail try this Cava in a French 75.

French 75 Recipe

Ingredients

1 ounce Aloo Gin
1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
1/2 ounce simple syrup
- In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water and bring to a boil. Simmer the mixture over moderate heat until the sugar dissolves.
Ice
4 ounces chilled Canals & Nubiola Brut Cava

In a cocktail shaker, combine the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Fill the shaker with ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled flute and top with the cava.

Plan Your Holiday Menu With Help From the Co-op

food and drinks on christmas table at home

The holidays can feel overwhelming, especially when you are hosting a gathering. Reduce stress by planning and shopping for you meal early. Simplify your to-do list by sourcing key menu items and ingredients from the Co-op. Feeling short on inspiration? Try some of these fun, festive recipes.

Holiday Cheese Balls

The Co-op's cheese balls only come around once a year, but they sure make a big impression. Made with a blend of cheese, herbs, and spices, dipped in gluten-free beer, and encrusted with slivered almonds, these cheese balls will set the tempo for your holiday gathering. Serve with Lesley Stowe Raincoast Crisps or round out a charcuterie board with Oloves olives, Divina fruit spread, and Olli Salumeria chubs.

Naughty Nog

Warm up your guests with a Naughty Nog cocktail designed by our friends at Chuckanut Bay Distillery. A Naughty Nog combines Twin Brook Creamery's seasonal eggnog with Chuckanut Bay Distillery's Krampus Herbal Liqueur for a smooth holiday treat. Find everything you need at the Co-op and follow our step-by-step instructions. If eggnog's not your speed, serve Valdo Prosecco Brut Rosé.

Prime Rib Roast

No holiday meal is complete without a show-stopping main course. We recommend a generously marbled and neatly trimmed bone-in prime rib roast from Oregon Country Beef. You can order your roast up until Christmas Eve for just $15.99/lb. Bone-in roasts are a tender and flavorful holiday indulgence and easy to portion because each rib feeds two people as a rule. We suggest following this recipe for a salt and pepper-crusted prime rib served with horseradish cream.

Hasselback Potatoes

Pair your prime rib with a simple-to-prepare potato dish with a big payoff, brown butter hasselback potatoes with caramelized onions. Russet potatoes are on sale through Christmas and can lend this gorgeous side their iconic mix of crispiness and creaminess. Tip: Place a chopstick on either side of each potato to help keep your slices a consistent depth and to prevent yourself from accidently cutting all the way through.

Balsamic Green Beans With Walnuts

Bring a pop of color to your holiday table with this elegant green bean dish. Steam your green beans to preserve more of their natural nutrients, toast your walnuts to bring out their nutty flavor, and toss it all in aged balsamic vinegar for a sweet and thick glaze. The best part? You can be saying bon appétit in just 15 minutes.

green-beans-with-balsamic-and-walnuts-1200-43-sq

Oven Roasted Beets

Oven roasting red beets highlights their earthy sweetness. Spoonful of Flavor has a great guide, complete with tips for keeping your hands stain free. If you're feeling adventurous, you can add other vegetables that roast at similar temperatures, such as asparagus and delicata squash. Toss with orange zest, herbs, and spices and then garnish with goat cheese.

Winter Wonderland Cake

Delegate dessert to the Co-op. This six-inch, superbly decorated holiday cake will wow your partygoers. Gluten and sugar-free with three intricate layers, the Winter Wonderland Cake promises to please every guest, while being just a bit too lovely to slice. Order yours here for just $24.99.

Wines with No Added Sulfites

Sulfur is an antioxidant and antimicrobial that at very low levels is used as a preservative in wine. It serves to keep bacterial activity in check (wine is not pasteurized), preserves color (especially important in white wines), and keeps wine from oxidizing prematurely.

Its use in wine goes back to Roman times. Wines sold in the U.S. must list “contains sulfites” on the label, when sulfur is used in winemaking. Although no such rule applies to other foods including cheeses, dried fruits, or processed french fries, all of which contain far higher levels of sulfites than wine (we can thank neo-prohibitionist politicians in the 1970s for that).

While sulfites in wine may be a problem for a tiny minority of people with allergies or asthma, for most of us sulfites are not an issue. The relationship between sulfites and wine-related headaches has been debunked.

For winemakers, making no sulfites added (NSA) wines is a difficult and risky proposition. When making NSA wine, the winemaking equipment must be sterile, and NSA winemaking techniques often involve the additional use of specialized yeasts, pasteurization, and sterile filtering. In other words, making NSA wines is not exactly non-intervention winemaking.

However, many winemakers have accepted the challenge of making NSA wines (even NSA wines contain residual sulfites, as sulfur dioxide is a byproduct of fermentation), and there is a market for these wines. And, while many NSA wines still seem sterile and stripped of flavor, we are seeing a vast improvement in the quality of these wines in general.