(Image credit: Jayme Henderson) Are you nervous about an upcoming dinner party, where you've been asked to bring wine? Or have you failed in this situation in the past? If you are completely in the dark about what to bring, here are a few styles that are food-friendly, versatile, and drink well with or without food. The key is to select wines that can be flexibly paired with almost any dish and are not overpoweringly dry or too weighty. Most of the favorites listed here are under $25. 1. Sparkling Wines - Bubbles are almost always my personal choice in this situation. Of course, they are perfect to toast with, and they evoke a celebratory tone, but what really makes them stand out is their versatility as food-pairing wines. If you don't want to shell out for true Champagne, look for similar dry or "brut" styles from around the world. 2. Crisp Whites - Select dry wines with higher acidity, like Chablis from France, Gavi from Italy, Pinot Gris from Oregon, or Sauvignon Blanc from almost anywhere.

Think of acidity as the mouth-watering component in wine that prompts your next bite, refreshes your palate, and cuts through even the heaviest of sauces. 3. Lighter Style Reds - Although there is a time and place for a bold, extremely dry, red wine, such as a Cabernet Sauvignon, what happens if your host is serving halibut? wine and beer festival 2016I personally tend toward a Pinot Noir in this scenario because of its flexibility and approachability; glass of wine iconhowever, if you are desiring a slightly bolder red, Spain and Italy are great places to look.glass of wine background 4. Dry Rosés - If the sight of pink wine makes you think of cloyingly sweet White Zinfandel, you are missing out on a true culinary pairing gem. buy wine accessories set

Crisp, dry expressions of rosé, such as those from Provence, France, are vibrant and fresh like a white wine, with the body of a light, red wine, which is why they are so versatile. 5. Dessert Wines - So often, we overlook the opportunity to sip on something sweet at dinner's end. Your selection does not necessarily need to pair perfectly with the dessert, since so many dessert wines are spectacular on their own. best red wine under 2000Sipping a dessert wine prolongs the dining experience and encourages after-dinner conversation.best wine store in dc Those are my picks! Do you have any favorite bottles to bring to a party? Amidst record-freezing temperatures across much of the country, the annual South Beach Wine and Food Festival (February 19-22) is a warm spot on the map. Thousands crowd into tasting halls, dinners and special events throughout the city.

The sold-out Wine Spectator's Best of the Best walk-through at Fontainebleau Miami Beach is a highlight affair featuring wines from over 70 producers. We've rounded up eight of the wines producers featured at Best of the Best (though not necessarily precisely what they're pouring). We've also suggested the sort of date for which each might be ideal, and provided food pairings. It's up to you score the date.You've both swiped right, exchanged messages and moments. It's time to seal the deal. Don't betray your carefully crafted profile by ordering plonk wine, yet this isn't the time for pricey cult Barolos. Terredora di Paolo, from Italy's southern Campania region, is honest and challenging, just like you. The Aglianico is a straightforward southern Red. Earthy with notes of raspberry, currant and tobacco, it pairs beautifully with rustic Italian cuisine such as Neopolitan polpette (meatballs) or broccoli et salsiccia (sausage). $15Hiking, sailboarding, ultimate frisbee. Whatever your pleasure, this date is cool and deserves a cool wine.

Washington wines have come into their own in the past few years, but Chateau Ste. Michelle was the first. The label's Riesling is dry and approachable, a serious, yet engagebable wine with engaging mineral and citrus notes. Pair with the latest trendy ramen dish. $9You're each hip and on top of the latest trend, seeking out the best cold-pressed coffee and avocado toast spots in town. Chilean wine Carmen, part of the Trinchero Family Estates portfolio, highlights the Carmenere grape. Twenty years ago, no one even knew it was there (it was hidden in amongst the Merlot). The wine is tricky to produce without heavy green pepper notes, but Carmen does it right. Dense and full bodied, with notes of ripe berry, tobacco and anise, it pairs nicely with braised oxtail or veggie arepas. $19Hey, it could happen. No seriously: it happened to a friend-of-a-friend of mine once. If it does, be prepared. This group of California wines, from the Trinchero Family Estates, says it like it is. In fact, you should probably buy three bottles: The Malbec, the Sauvignon Blanc and the aptly named red blend Midnight.

Pair with oysters and chocolate-covered strawberries. South Beach Wine And Food FestivalShort on time and grabbing a bottle of wine at the supermarket is your only option?  Finding an interesting bottle can be tough, but there are some tucked in with the ordinary. Supermarkets deal in wines as beverage — predictable, mostly the entry level wines, produced in quantity, from well-known brands. Forget about stumbling across a hidden gem or a natural wine from a small upcoming producer.The wine selection doesn't vary much from supermarket to supermarket. Most of the labels come from a few big companies that either own or distribute a large roster of wines. However, you can sometimes find deals. Right now Albertsons is running a promotion — buy six wines and get 10% off. And they don't all have to be the same wine: You can mix and match. Most wine shops give a similar discount on full cases (12 bottles) of wine.At the Albertsons in Culver City, the first thing you see in the wine section are long shelves stocked with 1.5 liter bottles.

That’s the same size as the double bottle or magnums winemakers often use for their best wines. That's because the large format bottles are wonderful for aging wines. Don't get too excited, though. Here, the large bottle is just a container: no aging involved. You’ll find Sutter Home White Zinfandel, for example, or Gallo Family Cabernet Sauvignon in this section with some big bottles going for as little as $6 or $7 — just a little more than Trader Joe’s Two Buck Chuck. There's an old-fashioned Chianti bottle wrapped in straw, and Riunite (remember that brand from the old television commercials?) Lambrusco, the fizzy red wine from Italy’s Lombardy region — in jugs! The store also carries a big inventory of inexpensive and popular brands like Australia’s Yellowtail, and California’s Turning Leaf and Barefoot.Move on to wines in normal 750-milliliter bottles. At first glance, it looks as if the selection is quite large, but the same labels pop up over and over again.

Someone used to shopping in dedicated wine stores may find it hard to find anything that sticks out in terms of quality or value. But there are some wines that are good value — and that would be fine on the everyday dinner table. If you want to take advantage of that 10% off for six bottles, here are our picks. Note that prices listed are before the 10% discount. 2013 Louis Jadot Beaujolais (France) $11.99A basic Beaujolais from the wine region of the same name in southern Burgundy and a good buy at the price. Jadot’s Beaujolais-Village, at about a dollar more, is an even better buy. Both are fruity, easygoing reds, perfect for the barbecue, with a burger or a roast chicken. 2012 Joel Gott Cabernet Sauvignon (California) $14.99 Napa Valley producer Joel Gott makes excellent high-end Cabernets in the $50-to-$60 range. Tasting of blackberries and herbs, his entry level Cabernet is serviceable, drinkable — and affordable. NV LaMarca Prosecco (Veneto, Italy) $14.99Start out an evening with a glass of this Prosecco.

This fresh, clean sparkler from Italy’s Veneto that has a touch of citrus and flowers. You can also add a splash of orange or peach juice to make a Bellini.2011 Chalone Vineyard Chardonnay Monterey County (California) $13.99Chalone has always made leaner Chardonnays in the Burgundian style. This one is crisp and balanced, with touches of citrus and oak. Break out a bottle for that salmon you just put on the grill.2012 Ravenswood Old Vine Zinfandel Sonoma County (California) $13.99From Sonoma’s pioneering Zinfandel specialist, this gutsy red is packed with the flavors of blackberries and spice. It’s actually a blend of 80% Zinfandel with smaller amounts of Petite Sirah, Syrah and Carignane. Just the bottle for a slab of barbecued ribs.2010 Marqués de Cáceres Rioja Crianza (Spain) $12.99This young Rioja from a historic estate is a good value for a red wine with some age on it. The Tempranillo grape rules in Rioja and this is a lovely, easy drinking example.Follow @sirenevirbila for more on food and wine.