The best guest never arrives to a party empty-handed. Luckily, looking thoughtful is as easy as hitting your local supermarket (or wherever you buy wine) and dropping less than 20 bucks to pick up one of these bottles. Find the kind of party you’re attending and we’ll tell you what to bring. When in doubt, bring a pinot noir. Its elegant, lighter style suits just about any dish or wine preference. A dry red wine, pinot is prized for its complex combo of fruit-forward flavors, earthiness and spice notes. Standout Pick: 2013 Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve California Pinot Noir ($20) Why: Inexpensive pinot is hard to pull off, but Kendall-Jackson consistently does so with this silky, medium-bodied pick. Ripe with red cherry, strawberry and raspberry, it also features hints of vanilla and spice with an earthy finish. You can’t go wrong with America’s most popular grape. It’s accessible and versatile: Some styles are light and crisp with aromas of green apple and lemon, while others are rich and buttery with oak, vanilla and tropical fruit notes.

No matter what the weather, a refreshing glass of chard warms up any home. Standout Pick: 2012 Bogle Chardonnay ($11) Why: Buttery and balanced, the Bogle is one of the best values in chardonnay you’ll find anywhere. Dry yet fruity, this easy sipper entices with green apple, pear and melon notes plus hints of vanilla, caramel and oak and a clean, crisp finish. For Clubs and Groups: Malbec Survey says more Americans prefer the red stuff over the white, so if you’re buying for a big group, a darker bottle’s a good bet. Bonus: It doesn’t need to be chilled, so it’s easier to serve to a crowd. A medium- to full-bodied dry red wine, Malbec boasts robust tannins, ripe fruit flavors and smoky hints of leather and tobacco. Standout Pick: 2013 Alamos Malbec ($10) Why: This well-balanced, wallet-friendly winner from Argentina impresses with its dark purple color, medium body and vibrant notes of plum, blackberry, cedar and vanilla. With this textbook example, it’s easy to see why South America got its reputation for superb value.

Light, refreshing and just fun, rosé will put her in the mood to celebrate. Also known as rosado (Spain) or rosato (Italy), food-friendly rosé is typically a dry wine with a crisp, fruity flavor. Standout Pick: 2013 Francis Ford Coppola Sofia Rosé ($19) Why: Named after the famed director’s daughter, the Sofia is a bright, balanced drink that bursts with a bouquet of fresh strawberry, cherry and raspberry notes. This delightful, approachable rosé comes in a shapely — dare we say, girly — bottle that makes a lovely gift for the birthday gal. His Birthday: Ruby Port Wine This is the kind of thing he’ll enjoy after dinner, perhaps holding court by a crackling fire. Made exclusively in Portugal, ruby port is a sweet wine that’s often served in a narrow wine glass with dessert or cheeses. Standout Pick: Warre’s Warrior Port ($17) Why: Affordable and luscious, this full-bodied ruby port is a special treat with intense aromas of plum, cherry and spices and a lingering finish.

Bring dark chocolate too for a classic pairing; with luck, he’ll offer you some of each.Wine Bar - Best of 2017 Published Mar 23, 2017 For the best selection of sips, where do you go to enjoy the best of the vine? Nominee for: Wine Bar Nominee for: Wine Bar, Brunch 3. Enoteca La Storia Nominee for: Bar Bites, Wine Bar 4. Bounty Hunter Wine Bar & Smokin' BBQ Nominee for: Wine Bar, Barbecue 5. Amelie Wine Barbest indian red wine brands 6. Alameda Wine Co.best wine travel destinations 2014 6. TasteVin Wine and Cheesebest wine festivals usa 8. Double Barrel Wine Barbest wine making kits

9. Jamber Wine Pub Nominee for: Wine Bar, Bar Bites 12. the barrel room 15. Under Dog Wine Bar Nominee for: San Francisco Winery, Wine Bar 15. California Wine Merchant 19. Carpe Diem Wine Bar 19. Rootstock Wine Bar Los Gatos 19. La Dolce Vita Wine Lounge 19. Nectar Wine Lounge Nominee for: Wine BarBobi Wine releases new song — “Uganda”. Listen to it here! Photos: Bobi Wine celebrates his birthday in the wildernessbest indian wine for health Local musician Bobi Wine turned a year older on Sunday.best italian red wine types The “Time Bomb” singer, who was turning 35, celebrated the big day with his wife, Barbie in the wilderness. best wine towns in europeThe couple embarked on road trip to Murchison falls national park where they had a memorable time, according to the singer.new age white wine for sale

“My wife kidnapped me and took me to a road trip to the wild for Safari, visiting Murchison falls; the most powerful water falls in the world, very many species of animals at the national park.” “My birthday evening was made even more special when Chobe lodge surprised me with a dinner in the wild and a birthday chocolate cake. I can’t thank them enough for hosting us and taking very good care of us.” “It turned out to be the best birthday I’ve ever had…best wine tours niceI never really knew how beautiful our country is,” he added. Here are some photos from his birthday treat. The statements, comments, or opinions expressed through the use of BigEyeUg are those of their respective authors, who are solely responsible for them, and do not necessarily represent the views held by the staff and management of BigEyeUg.Sure, there are terrible cheesy gifts out there for golfers and gardeners and barbecue fanatics, but it seems like wine lovers get the worst of the bunch.

How many guitar-shaped wine racks does one person need? How many ties that say 'NAPA ROCKS' will one sommelier wear? The answer is none. But what should you buy your favorite wine lover this holiday season? We asked sommeliers from around the country for their advice. "I have received all sorts of wine paraphernalia over the years from wine glass charms to a pink baseball cap with "Wine Diva" bedazzled on it. Please don't do this to someone you love! Buy them a bottle of your favorite wine, or go to a wine store and ask for a recommendation. You cannot go wrong with Champagne or even a gift certificate to a local wine savvy restaurant, just please no candles in the scents of 'Grapevine and Oak' or 'Napa Valley Sun.'"—Chris Baggetta (Quince) "If you have a wine geek in your life, look no further than Jancis Robison's tome Wine Grapes. It's packed with 1280 pages of the latest genetic research into the history and origins of nearly every known variety. If someone in your life has ever pondered whether Gruner Veltliner and Roter Veltliner are truly related or just share a name, there's no better place to turn.

Or maybe they want to trace the history of Zinfandel through Puglia, Italy and to its roots in Czech Republic. Either way, expect dinnertime wine discourses to reach a whole new level."—Steve Bowman (Fairsted Kitchen) "My favorite wine tool to give right now is the Ah-So, a German-made wine opener used for removing fragile corks." "The two hottest items out in the market right now (I want one for myself) are a book called The Essential Scratch N' Sniff Guide To Becoming A Wine Expert by Richard Betts, MS. It's a genius concept that make it easy and fun to learn about wine. The other is a wine preservation system called Coravin. It's a gadget that seems to come straight out of a James Bond movie. The way it works is you put the Coravin in place as you would with a corkscrew and punch a thin needle through the cork, the bottle is pressurized with argon gas and the wine flows through the needle. Once you finish pouring you pull out the needle and the cork reseals itself. The remaining wine will last for months."

—Bank Atcharawan (Chada Thai & Wine) "A subscription to a wine magazine is always great. In the fun side, wine charms can be useful for someone who entertains a lot—something handmade from Etsy maybe."—Swati Bose (Flight Wine Bar) "I love to get new wine books every year. There are so many great wine books out there these days. For example: The New California Wine by Jon Bonne. A great new book about the changing wine scene in California. Focuses on young new producers who are making wines in a new and exciting way. Also: Adventures on the Wine Route by Kermit Lynch. One of my favorite importers talks about his experiences in France. He sources some of the best wines from small producers who are making some very unique wines." "As far as tools, I personally don't care for the most prestigious wine key or any gadgets like the aerator whatever it's called that sprays the wine to oxygenate it. But a very nice crystal decanter is a great idea. It looks great in the living room and is really useful.

If you can afford it, the wine cave or wine fridge is brilliant. Different sizes are available. In general, I think a gift certificate in a restaurant can be nice. If you're a wine lover, you're also a food lover so the restaurant is the best place to have fun. Of course, pick a place where the wine list is interesting."—Edouard Bourgeois (Cafe Boulud) "A gift certificate to buy wine books on Amazon. A year subscription to the Guild of Sommeliers website. For something more personal, if you know their taste, I would check on Wine Commune, where I can normally find rare bottles at good pricing.—Brent Kroll (Iron Gate) "When it comes to gifts for the wine lovers in the family, you cannot go wrong with books that focus on regional specifics, such as Vino Italiano by Joseph Bastianich and David Lynch or Sherry, Manzanilla, and Montilla by Peter Liem and Jesus Barquin. The more we learn about wine in general, the more we realize there is endless variety out there." "I think the best gifts for wine lovers are ones that they will use over and over.

A nice decanter for them to use at home or Champagne saber are great to show off to their friends, have a great story, and are memorable. Every time they have guests over they will use the saber you gave them, and tell the story of who gave it to them."Once you buy a book, or tools, etc, you have it forever. But wine only lasts until you drink it, and then...you need another! Other ideas that could be very fun are small side projects from some of the more famous producers. For example, Arianna Occhipinti in Sicily makes olive oil. Araujo in Napa Valley makes soap. Jean-Marc Roulot in Meursault makes apricot liqueur and pear brandy."—Joe Camper (DB Bistro Moderne) "A surefire gift for a wine lover is a framed map. Find a beautiful detailed wine map of a region you know they love and frame it. I don't know of a single wine lover that doesn't love a really nice map. It's a reminder of the terroir, the tie in to from bottle to place."—Jeremy Dennis (Dio Deka) "My new favorite gift to give my wine-loving friends is a three-bottle gift box from The Bounty Hunter.

The Bounty Hunter has been finding incredible wines for years, and has a unique selection of wines and great customer service. I would avoid getting a wine lover any new wine glasses. Most wine lovers are very particular about the glass they use, and likely have a TON of glasses at home already.—Angela Roman Aspito (The Signature Room at the 95th) "For someone who is seriously into wine, I think a temperature-controlled fridge is essential—otherwise, how can you safely store your goodies? You can get a reasonably-priced 12-bottle fridge at a whole host of places these days (I got my first one at Target!), and for those in tiny apartments, there are compact models made to fit into tight spaces. If the wine lover in question is into the academic side of wine as well, Jancis Robinson and Hugh Johnson just released the 7th Edition of the World Atlas of Wine; it is one of the most essential texts for any serious student."—Mia Van de Water (North End Grill) "Wine lovers really want wine.