Uncorking New Holiday Traditions

This or That - The Holiday Edition

Get to know your friends and family better with this icebreaker. Share it on your Instagram story or at your next holiday party. Happy holiday debating!

Click here to download the This or That shareable image

White Elephant

A classic holiday party game where each player brings one wrapped gift to contribute to the communal pool. Each player draws numbers to determine what order they will pick gifts in. Player #1 can choose any gift from the pile and open it for all to see. Player #2 can choose to “steal” the open gift or open a wrapped gift.

If a gift is stolen, the player who lost the gift can choose a new gift to unwrap or steal from someone else. A good rule of thumb is that gifts can’t be stolen more than twice (3rd owner owns it forever) and you can’t immediately steal back from someone who stole from you.

For the White Elephant experts, here are a few variations and ways you can mix it up this year:

• Don't unwrap anything
• Joke Gifts
• Enforce a dress code
• Gift your favorite wine + pairing. Think cheese, ornaments, blankets, etc.
• Homemade treats
• Reward the master gifter (the most or fastest stolen gift) with a prize. Consider your favorite J. Lohr wine!

Welcome Party Cocktail

a fresh Monterey-inspired take on a classic Negroni

Ingredients

• 2 oz. J. Lohr Bay Mist White Riesling
• 1 oz. Gin
• 1 oz. Aperol
• orange peel twist

Instructions

• Combine all ingredients over a large ice cube sphere
• Squeeze large orange zest and place in a glass
• Stir well

Santa’s Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

These cookies are the perfect bribe to ensure Santa leaves plenty of gifts for everyone. Cheers to Hannah Baldovino for the recipe!

Yields 10-12 medium-sized cookies

Ingredients

• 1 stick (8 Tbsp.) room temperature butter (Kerrygold unsalted butter works well)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. sale
• Guittard chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Mix both white and brown sugars together in a bowl. Then combine with room temperature butter.
2. Add in 1 egg and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Mix thoroughly.
3. Mix all dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt) in a separate bowl.
4. Then add the dry ingredients slowly into the 1st bowl (pour, mix, pour, mix, and repeat until it becomes a dough).
5. Add a generous amount of chocolate chips.
6. Scoop large mounds of cookie dough onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
7. Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and bake for 12 minutes until edges are golden brown.
8. Let cool for 10 minutes before placing out for Santa.