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Drink The Good Wine: Gamble Family Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2009

By Christina Thomas 2 Comments

GAMBLE FAMILY VINEYARDS SAUVIGNON BLANC 2009


Drink the Good Wine
One of my “Make Someday Happen” initiatives is to “Drink The Good Wine”. What is that you say? Well, let me explain.  Have you ever bought or received as a gift a nice bottle of wine and said to yourself “I’m going to save this for a special occasion someday” or something similar which ultimately means “I’m going to put off enjoying this great wine until someday worthwhile which may never come, I’ll forget I even have it, the wine will end up turning to vinegar and be so bad I wouldn’t even use it for cooking”? That’s a mouthful, but you’ve said that before, right? Yes? Please tell me I’m not alone. I have a full wine cooler of wines that have been (ignored) saved for a “special occasion” and guess what? We just don’t have that many “special occasions”. Maybe you do, but for me it’s a few birthdays, an anniversary, New Year’s Eve, umm …thinking… what else?… I think you get my point. If we only drank the nice wine when we have a “special occasion” we would drink very little good wine and what good is having all this great wine if it’s not going to be consumed and enjoyed?  Now you may say “Christina, isn’t wine meant to be aged?” and Smarty Pants you would be right, some of it is but let’s be honest here, most of us are not storing wine because we are aging it, we are storing it because we are procrastinating. End of story. We are members of the Procrastination of Pleasure Club and if you don’t know what that is, then read this. Another crazy idea we must get rid of is thinking we can’t drink the good wine with simple foods like pizza, popcorn, a burger or whatever you whipped up for dinner at the last minute. Yes, I have been guilty of saying “That’s an expensive bottle, let’s wait to drink it with a nice filet” but now I say “no more!” Either I go to the store and buy a nice filet to make tonight or that nice Cabernet is being paired with some takeout pizza. Every day we are alive is a special occasion!

Whether it’s your birthday or a Monday, celebrate it with family and friends and a good bottle of wine!”

This year, I resolved that I would do all the things I am always saying I would do “someday”. That is my #MakeSomedayHappen mission at goEpicurista.com and drinking the good wine is one of the 9 things I am doing to Make Someday Happen. I figured I would share with you the good wine that I am drinking and maybe, hopefully, it will inspire you to drink your good wine too! This is where the Gamble Family Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2009 comes in.

What is a good wine? The answer has nothing to do with price and everything to do with your own taste. Two nights ago we opened a bottle of Gamble Family Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2009 from Yountville, Napa Valley. I’m fairly certain I received it as a gift and sadly I don’t remember from who.  That’s just not right! I always like to raise my glass to the person who gives me a bottle of wine and now all I can say is: “Cheers to you, dear friend. Whomever you are! You have good taste!” I certainly don’t remember when I got this bottle but it was probably over 3 years ago as this wine was released in September of 2010. This precious wine has been patiently waiting all this time for a “special occasion”. It was Wednesday night, as special a day as any – let’s call it the Hump Day Celebration shall we?

The Gamble Family Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2009 is not a wine meant to be aged for too long, maybe no more than 3 years so I felt lucky to open it when I did because it was probably at it’s peak or close to it. It didn’t have as much of that fresh vibrant fruit you expect from a recently released crisp Sauvignon Blanc but I could tell it was a high quality wine because after this many years it was so easy to drink and still had a nice body, complexity and depth of flavors. What’s complexity in a wine? If you ask a Sommelier they may tell you something different and undoubtedly much smarter sounding, but for me it’s when each time you take a sip you discover new flavors that go well together.  First it was a bit of grapefruit, then some nutty vanilla, then I got some minerality and then guava and fig. Each sip, it kept going and going which is exciting when you drink a wine, especially when you’ve never had it before and don’t know what you’re going to get after years of saving it. It was a nice surprise! The acidity was also in check – not too tart that you wince and pucker and not too soft that you are left wondering what the heck you’re drinking. The hints of oak gave it a nice creamy mouth-feel and the floral tropical fruit on the nose made you want to pick up the glass and swirl it each time you took a sip. Swirl, Sip, Bite, Swirl, Sip Bite…It was refreshing! The notes of lemon-lime citrus fruit, the soft minerality and creaminess complemented the flounder I served it with very nicely. After each sip I wanted a bite of food and then another sip which for me is what a good wine should be. It leaves me wanting more to drink, more to eat, repeat and repeat.

Drink the Good Wine
The baked flounder was seasoned with Italian Seasonings, fresh garlic, lime juice, olive oil and topped with artichokes and onions. The flavors were vibrant because of the fresh garlic and lime juice, maybe even a bit on the acidic side as I may have put a little too much lime juice in addition to the artichoke’s juice but it tasted great and the wine really helped complement without overpowering. As a side dish I made a simple Caesar salad and the creaminess of the dressing was also a nice combination with the wine.

Drink the Good Wine

Perfect for sipping!


We had some wine leftover, which rarely happens in my house, so we finished it last night while sitting in the yard and then with a Black Bean Chipotle Burger. The wine was delicious even on the second night, although I recommend finishing it the first night as white wines, unless properly re-corked, don’t do as well the following day.

Drink the Good Wine

Perfect for pairing!


The Gamble Family has been in Napa Valley since 1916. Tom Gamble, is the third generation of  farmers but first member of his family to make wine yet he considers himself a farmer first. He believes just as much in the land as his family’s legacy. He only produces small quantities and does not take putting his name on the bottle lightly. I like that. The wine shows the attention being paid to the land and converting the fruit it produces to a beautiful juice for us to enjoy. They say “good wine begins on the vine” so the organic Sauvignon Blanc grapes used in this wine must have been very good indeed.
Drink the Good Wine

Tom Gamble circa 1965 on the label

I definitely recommend the Gamble Family Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2009 wine both to sip on its own as well as served with food. It retails for $30-$40/bottle and 2400 cases were produced. It received a score of 86 by Wine Enthusiast if you like to follow scores. I don’t particularly look at scores but you can go ahead. If you want to use scores to help you find good wines, do so. Just make sure you drink those good wines! Make any day a celebration!

Drink the Good Wine

Good Food, Good Wine and Good Company makes for a special occasion!

On the back label of the bottle it reads “We hope you will enjoy this wine over several hours with good food and those you love”  

Isn’t that what a special occasion is all about?

goEpicurista

For more information on Gamble Family Vineyards and their wines visit Gamble Family Vineyards

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Filed Under: Easy Entertaining Recipes Tagged With: Drink the Good Wine, Gamble Vineyards, Sauvignon Blanc, wine

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About Christina Thomas

I'm Christina, a hospitality consultant, freelance writer, food & travel enthusiast, brand cheerleader, ice cream fanatic, chocoholic, and eternal optimist on a mission to #MakeSomedayHappen one delicious bite, sip and trip at a time. Celebrating life with great food, wine and friends throughout Central Florida and everywhere I GO! I want to inspire you to take time out of your busy schedule to do the same. GO celebrate life today, for someday may never come. Join me and GO Epicurista!

Comments

  1. Camesha says

    03/26/2014 at 12:26 am

    Love this post. This is my favorite line “Every day we are alive is a special occasion!”

    Now, I feel the need to have a glass…of the good stuff!

    Reply
    • Christina Thomas says

      03/26/2014 at 2:26 pm

      Camesha thanks for the love! Now go open that nice bottle of wine. Life is good as long as we choose to look at it that way right? Please let me know what bottle you opened, I love to hear about new wines I may need to try. Cheers to you!

      Reply

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Meet your Chief Epicurista

I'm Christina, a hospitality consultant, freelance writer, food & travel enthusiast, brand cheerleader, ice cream fanatic, chocoholic, and eternal optimist on a mission to #MakeSomedayHappen one delicious bite, sip and trip at a time. Celebrating life with great food, wine and friends throughout Central Florida and everywhere I GO! I want to inspire you to take time out of your busy schedule to do the same. GO celebrate life today, for someday may never come. Join me and GO Epicurista! Find out more...

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✨  In the year of "Take Out" we were awed by epic "At Home Experiences" Thank you @newstandardwp & @tavernaopaorl (Read about them on GoEpicurista.com) ⠀
✨  We were inspired by the tenacity & creativity of small business owners, restaurateurs & food'preneurs who worked so hard to survive & thrive (so many to mention!)⠀
✨  We were encouraged for the future of our hospitality industry by new openings like Knife & Spoon @ritzcarltonorlando & revamps like Henry Moso's @kabooki_orlando 2.0 - The Most Epic Meals of 2020!⠀
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There were so many things on my “To Do List” that didn't get checked off. But for today, I'm choosing simply to be grateful for this moment. ⠀
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Wishing you loads of abundance & joy. Happy New Year 2021!⠀
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#MakeSomedayHappen
“No matter how hard the past, you can always beg “No matter how hard the past, you can always begin again.” — Buddha (hosted)

Hope for a better new year. Hope is all we can hang on to. That and a glass of champagne! 😉🥂

As I reflect back on this difficult year, there's still so much to be grateful for. I'm mostly grateful for the friendships that have sustained me and the continued partnerships with my favorite local businesses that have inspired me to keep GoEpicurista going. And, while we didn't travel or dine out much in 2020, we did manage to enjoy a few fabulous staycations and epic meals in Orlando that truly made our spirits bright. More than ever I appreciate now, it's about "Quality vs. Quantity."

Our dinners at Bull & Bear at @waldorforlando and La Luce at @bonnetcreek were epic! I'm still dreaming of that beef carpaccio and the pasta explosion and the perfectly cooked filet and.... all the perfectly paired wines. 

If you haven't dined at Bull & Bear and La Luce or if its been a while, add them to your list and make it a point to GO! 2021 needs all the goodness you can bring! 

Make any day a celebration. Seriously, life is too short. #MakeSomedayHappen

🎉 If you don't have plans for New Year's Eve, La Luce and Bull & Bear are serving fabulous multi course menus to help you say “Hello 2021” in style! 

👉🏼 Check out GoEpicurista.com for a full list of all the festive ways to celebrate in Orlando on 12/31.

#GoEpicOrlando #WAOFoodie #HBCFoodie #WaldorfOrlando #HiltonBonnetCreek
“The bad news is time flies. The good news is yo “The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot. — Micheal Altshuler⠀
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Everyone’s asking “Are you ready for 2021?” And as much as I want to say YES and put this crazy year in the rear view mirror, I also have a long "To Do List" to get done before the year is over. 😩  Where does the time go? Am I the only one who feels like the days are just flying by? ⠀
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Speaking of blink and you miss it moments, I couldn’t believe when I heard @seitobp is celebrating their 20th Anniversary! It's one of my favorite sushi spots in town and I'm sad to say it's been a while since my last visit. This lobster claw sushi is a throwback of a most epic dinner there! ⠀
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If you haven't been to Seito in Baldwin Park, now's the time to visit or re-visit. They're celebrating with over $2K in giveaways! (Follow on social for details!) Plus featuring a fantastic special multi-course menu of old favorites and new flavors this week. ⠀
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Congratulations to Jason and Sue Chin, the talented "pilots" of the Good Salt Restaurant Group. They've filled Orlando's culinary scene with loads of flavor with Seito, @theospreyorlando and @reyesmezcaleria with a 4th restaurant @themonroeorlando coming to give more to look forward to in 2021! ⠀
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Cheers to local restaurants doing good! 🥂⠀
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#GoEpicOrlando #MakeSomedayHappen #SeitoBaldwinPark
“Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to c “Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering, ‘It will be happier.'” — Alfred Lord Tennyson (hosted)⠀
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It’s the last Monday of 2020! 🎉 How about ushering 2021 with a little sweetness and lots of hope? These gorgeous @sweetbyholly mini cupcakes are the perfect treat for your NYE party safe at home. ⠀
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The New Year’s Eve 6 Pack is only $6, available for pick up on 12/30 & 12/31⠀
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👉🏼 Quantities are limited so it’s best to Pre-Order,  online or by phone.⠀
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Good Riddance 2020! Cheers to a happier and sweeter 2021! 🥂🧁⠀
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How are you celebrating this New Year’s Eve? Please stay safe & celebrate responsibly so we can all enjoy a happier 2021. 😷 ⠀
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#GOepicOrlando #MakeSomedayHappen #SweetByHolly #NewYearsEve
"I don't know if there'll be snow, but have a cup "I don't know if there'll be snow, but have a cup of cheer." 🎶 —Johnny Marks and Burl Ives⠀
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What festive cocktail will be in your cup of cheer this New Year’s Eve? ⠀
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I loved this gorgeous sangria at Capa in @fsorlando 🍹 The bartenders at the posh resort’s restaurants are some of the best in town, and a great place to welcome 2021, whether you’re craving a Spanish feast at  Capa with a fab Gin Tonic or sangria, Ravello’s Italian cuisine with a Lavender Sgroppino Prosecco cocktail or Cranberry Old Fashioned (recipes below!), Plancha’s mojitos, PB&G indulgent Chocolate Peppermint Martini, or The Lobby Bar’s “Be Gone 2020” - You know there’s plenty of cheer! ⠀
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👉🏼 SAVE THIS POST! ⠀
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👍🏼 Check out GoEpicurista.com for my fun festive and safe ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Orlando including Four Seasons Resort!⠀
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Here’s 2 fun cocktail recipes for a delightful Four Seasons Orlando experience at home.⠀
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🥃 Cranberry Old Fashioned⠀
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1 oz “Cranberry Simple”: fresh cranberries, water, and sugar. Simmer one cup of cranberries with sugar (about ¼ cup or to preferred sweetness) and 2 cups of water in a pan on medium heat, and then reduce to low heat. Once cranberries are tender, strain out the cranberries, and the remainder serves as the cranberry simple syrup.⠀
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1 oz Bourbon⠀
3 Drops Cranberry Bitters⠀
1 Dash Angostura⠀
1 Lemon Wedge⠀
Sprig of thyme⠀
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Add all ingredients to a mixing glass and stir. Strain into a rocks glass over an ice sphere. Squeeze in and add the lemon wedge. Garnish with a sprig of thyme. Enjoy!⠀
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🍾 Lavender Sgroppino⠀
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3 oz Lemon Sorbet⠀
2 oz Prosecco⠀
.5 oz Lavender Infused Vodka⠀
Sprig of rosemary⠀
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Scoop the lemon sorbet into a Champagne flute, and then add the vodka. Top with Prosecco. Garnish with rosemary. ⠀
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Cheers!⠀
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#GOepicOrlando #MakeSomedayHappen #FSConnectsAtHome #FSOrlando
"The party's on, the feeling's here that only come "The party's on, the feeling's here that only comes this time of year." —Paul McCartney⠀
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We're all anxiously looking forward for 2020 to end and a more hopeful 2021 to arrive.  Aren't we? How will you celebrate on New Year's Eve this year? ⠀
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I'm happy as long as I have a glass of bubbles in my hand. I plan to order takeout and welcome the new year in my PJs at home. The 2020 way! LOL! 🥂⠀
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👉🏼 Check out GoEpicurista.com for my extensive list of options for festive ways to celebrate New Year's Eve in Orlando - whether you're looking for a multi-course dinner prepared by a talented chef, a theme party, to be entertained at an outdoor concert, or like me, to order a holiday feast to go. ⠀
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One of my favorite restaurants in Orlando, @reelfishcoastal is bringing back their 1.5 lb Maine lobster special for only $39 in addition to their fantastic full menu including the best selection of fresh oysters in town to ring in the new year! Best part is you can order it all to go! ⠀
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Of course, if you choose to dine in, they’re following all safety protocols. ⠀
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Enjoy "GET REEL" Happy Hour from 4-7p, Bottomless Champagne for only $20.21 starting at 4pm, Live DJ from 7:30pm until late and complimentary champagne toast when the clock strikes 12midnight! Make reservations as space is limited. Call (407) 543-3474 or visit: ReelFishCoastal.com ⠀
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Cheers to 2021! We can't wait! ⠀
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#GoEpicOrlando #MakeSomedayHappen #ReelFishCoastal #NewYearsEve
“Will you please tell Santa that instead of pres “Will you please tell Santa that instead of presents this year, I just want my family back.” – Kevin, Home Alone ⠀
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Merry Christmas Everyone🎄 Kevin may have wanted a cheese pizza but he wanted his family more. I know the feeling. Today I got both!⠀
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There’s no better present than spending time with family, even if that means having a pizza party on Zoom. ⠀
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So many of us are missing our families this year and so we’ve gotten creative. We may have even started a new Xmas tradition. ⠀
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From Portland, Oregon to Orlando, Florida. Dominican Republic to Chicago. We all gathered on Zoom, made pizza, played trivia games, did a scavenger hunt and had an amazing time! ⠀
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For our pizzas, I used @bredinbk ready made crust and topped with roasted peppers, prosciutto, roasted garlic, arugula and my favorite, local Orlando made, family owned Dicuru @freshmozzarellausa. Vladimir and his nephew Jorge are the nicest guys and their Burrata and mozzarella is by far the best in town! ⠀
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👉🏼 Look for Dicuru in your grocery store or order direct from them. I love supporting family owned and run small businesses like them. ⠀
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The holidays are all about family. I’m grateful to be able to spend it with mine even if it’s virtually. While some are no longer with us, their memories will always remain in our hearts. ⠀
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Scroll to see my family Xmas pizza party. The best present was the last video. 💕 😊 🍕🎄⠀
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Merry Christmas! ⠀
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#GOepicOrlando #MakeSomedayHappen #DicuruMozzarella #ChristmasonZoom
“From what we get, we can make a living; what we “From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life.” - Arthur Ashe⠀
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Thank you for following my @GoEpicurista journey. I’m so grateful for each one of you who reads, comments and shares my posts. You inspire me! Together we #MakeSomedayHappen 💕 ⠀
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It’s Christmas Eve and I have some yummy cupcakes for YOU! ⠀
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But this isn’t your traditional #GIVEAWAY...⠀
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@sweetbyholly was so kind to give me gift certificates for their fab mini cupcakes and I would love to pay it forward and give them to YOU or anyone who needs a little cheer this time of year.⠀
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The holidays can be tough, this year more than ever. If you or someone you know needs some sweetness in their life, please leave a comment below. 😊⠀
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Maybe you know a front line health care worker, first responder, teacher or delivery driver, restaurant staff or anyone who’s had a really tough year. Tag them in the comments and let them know you care. ⠀
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I know these are just cupcakes. They won’t change the world. But I guarantee they will bring a smile to their face. Sometimes that can make a world of difference. 😄⠀
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This is not your typical GIVEAWAY. ⠀
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I’m not asking you to FOLLOW @GoEpicurista or @sweetbyholly or LIKE this post to win - although it would be nice 😊⠀
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👉🏼 Simply leave a comment & TAG the person you want to bring a little cheer to. ⠀
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👉🏼 Tag as many people as you want by leaving separate comments. ⠀
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👉🏼 The winner does have to live in Orlando area to pick up their cupcakes.⠀
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👍🏼 4 winners will be selected at random on 12/25 and each will receive (1) six pack of awesome mini cupcakes from Sweet By Holly. ⠀
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Winners will be notified by DM. This giveaway is in no way affiliated with Instagram. ⠀
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🧁 If you’re interested in bringing some cheer to your loved ones this season, pick up a HollyDay Dozen TODAY! Scroll to see how pretty!⠀
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#GoEpicOrlando #MakeSomedayHappen #SweetByHolly #merrychristmaseveryone🎄
“OK, what about the gift situation then? Because “OK, what about the gift situation then? Because everything on my list requires pre-order." — David Rose, #SchittsCreek⠀
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Looking for last minute local gift ideas for the #OrlandoFoodie in your life? ⠀
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Treat your friends and family to something they can look forward to using! You know they’ll love their favorite dish or cocktail at their favorite restaurant, like this festive “Christmas in Singapour” at @eathawkers. ⠀
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Restaurant gift cards always come in handy. And they help support our local restaurants, which need it more than ever. Plus they’re great for those of us who are last minute shoppers. 🙈⠀
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Many restaurants like Hawkers are offering bonuses! ⠀
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#Hawkerdays gift card promotion is going on now through 12/31. The more you spend, the more you receive! You get $5 bonus gift card for every $25 gift card purchased, and no one has to know if you keep the bonus! 😉 ⠀
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Have you finished your Xmas shopping?⠀
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Happy Holidays! 🎄 ⠀
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#GoEpicOrlando #MakeSomedayHappen #HolidayGifts #SaveRestaurants
“Like snowflakes, my Christmas memories gather a “Like snowflakes, my Christmas memories gather and dance — each beautiful, unique, and gone too soon.” —Deborah Whipp⠀
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This year has certainly made us cherish the memories of great times spent with loved ones sharing yummy food, laughing and living life. They are such fleeting moments, gone too soon. ⠀
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I'll tell you what else goes fast, and that's these gorgeous @dgdoughnuts 💕 ⠀
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I didn't know they were named the best donut in the State of Florida on Yelp but I can see why! ⠀
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They're so creative, made in small batch, hand rolled, hand cut and hand decorated daily with inventive flavors that change weekly. They sell out quickly so if there's a flavor you want, be sure to get there early or order ahead. Definitely a Must Eat!⠀
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These are "Fancy Pants" Donuts! ⠀
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And if you want a boozy treat to celebrate the season, check out the ones with a pipette shot! ⠀
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The "Coquito" filled with sweet coconut custard, topped with a pipette of @bacardi  limited edition Coquito cream rum and Jack Daniels Caramel Winter Apple filled with spiced apple filling topped with dulce de leche rosettes and a pipette of of @jackdaniels Winter Jack Tennessee Whiskey are sure to make a fun celebration! ⠀
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#SupportLocal #EatLocal this holiday season! Forget the calories. Indulge! It's 2020 after all! ⠀
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Thank you @bebefehr for sharing! #GoEpicOrlando #MakeSomedayHappen #dgdoughnuts
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What is Go Epicurista?

Your source for inspiration to take time out of your busy schedule and celebrate great food and wine experiences with friends everywhere you go! Let’s talk about Restaurants, Unique Events and Travel Experiences that belong on your “someday list.”

Don’t put off enjoying life with friends until someday. #MakeSomedayHappen Go Epicurista!

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