New Year 2026 is right around the corner. But anytime is the right time for a delightful bubbly.

I’ve found a few delicious options from France, California, Italy and Washington. There’s a small bottle option, too!

christinamueller.com/17-sparkling...

#foodwriter #giftguide #sparklingwine

Ready or not, I have a boozy and NA beverage gift guide for you to peruse: West Coast amaro, artist-driven bottles from California wineries, a non-alcoholic spritz that's actually delicious, and a fabu Portuguese vermouth top my list.

christinamueller.com/boozy-and-no...

#foodwriter #giftguide

For my gift guide for eaters, I stayed close to the West Coast, with a notable exception (it’s Swiss!). While my palate is not the same as yours, I stand behind my picks as delicious and exciting options to gift to anyone on your list.

#giftguide #foodwriter

christinamueller.com/christinas-2...

Guess what? My first gift guide of the season is out and it’s all about cooking and cookbooks. I reviewed 25 cookbooks released in 2025. Each tells their own story. Food as shared heritage. Food as identity.

It’s an ethos.

#giftguide #foodwriter

christinamueller.com/25-cookbooks...

How to sum up ExpoWest, the massive consumer packaged goods trade show in Anaheim last week? Think of it as the future of food. Here are a few trends I spied.

christinamueller.com/thoughts-on-...

#expowest #foodtrends #foodwriter #cpg

For this first in a series of three packaging stories for Marin Magazine (in print in the February issue), I dropped hints by showing people the filled bottles and then sampling the goods inside with them. Worked well for all. marinmagazine.com/community/su...

#cpg #sustainable #wine #spirits

I spend a lot of time thinking about food and what to eat — it’s my job! Each year, I compile a list of the most memorable things I ate that year. It’s an exercise in recall and a reminder that excellent eats abound.

christinamueller.com/13-top-dishe...

#bestbites #restaurants #topdishes

I’m always amazed at the traction my gift guides get each holiday season. Thank you, all, for reading! Here’s another, this one dedicated to boozy and booze-adjacent ideas.

What are you drinking this holiday season?

christinamueller.com/18-boozy-gif...

#giftguide #boozy

It’s hard to believe we are already staring down the second Sunday of Advent. Food gifts are typically a safe bet, especially a Nutcracker tree or a handmade toffee bundle. The Japanese-flavored almonds are my new favorite snack.

christinamueller.com/2024-gift-gu...

#giftguide #foodgifts

Each of the cookbooks, released in 2024, on my list is personal – I choose to focus on chefs based in the American West where I live, in New Jersey where I grew up, and others around the world whose cooking inspires me. What are you cooking this holiday season?

christinamueller.com/19-cookbooks...