This is one of the most consistently delicious and refreshing whites on store shelves. The fruit for this New Zealand wine is gently pressed and the juice is cold-settled to retain its freshness. It has a vibrant, zesty flavor with enticing notes of passion fruit and lime, and works both as an aperitif for cocktail parties and paired with a wide range of dishes, from shellfish to vegetarian. Serve it well chilled at 50 to 55 degrees F. Don't fear the screw cap: It's especially useful at parties when you're opening lots of bottles quickly. This voluptuous white made from Chardonnay grapes offers notes of ripe apples, pears, vanilla, and toast. Made in the top region of Burgundy, the wine is a cuvée (blend) from several vineyards: Côte d'Or, Chalonnais, and Saint Vérand. One half of the wine is vinified and aged in oak barrels to give it that rich, buttery roundness, while the other half is made in stainless-steel tanks to retain the fruit flavors. Choose a glass with a large, generous bowl that will collect its rich aromas and glisten like a liquid gold ornament.

The brooding dark fruit and earthy notes in this wine are naughty and nice. This classic blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc comes from mountain ranches of Sonoma County and is aged 18 months in American oak. It has the elegant structure, refinement, and finesse that you'd expect in a black-tie wine, plus the solidity and weight to accompany more robust dishes and conversations. Brothers Kym and John Davey planted their vineyard on Australian land in the McLaren Vale that their family has owned since 1959. The region enjoys a Mediterranean climate with warm spring and autumn seasons but tempered heat in the summer. The result is wine that has an incredible depth of flavor—lots of pepper, black cherry, and blackberry—but is still balanced and elegant. However, it's no fruit bomb but rather one of Down Under's finer examples of a Shiraz, making this a wonderful gift for those who may have been hooked on cheaper stuff. Is there anything more festive than a glass of Champagne during the holidays?

Don't save it just for New Year's Eve: Enjoy bubbles with your holiday dinner and other meals, starting with a toast to friends and family around the table, and then pairing it with turkey, goose, or ham. This Champagne is a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier, so it has the full-bodied heft to pair well with all the robust flavors of the classic turkey dinner. I love this bubbly in particular, not just for its toasty notes of green apples and peaches, but also for its dressy white foil, which reminds me of snowy evenings and pristine concert dresses. (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.best port wine for the money 1. Sparkling Wines - Bubbles are almost always my personal choice in this situation. best wine to use in cookingOf 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. best wine with asianIf you don't want to shell out for true Champagne, look for similar dry or "brut" styles from around the world.where to buy wine in san jose 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. best white wine for 30 dollars

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.best wine by itself 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? glass red wine when pregnantI personally tend toward a Pinot Noir in this scenario because of its flexibility and approachability; good cheap wine for christmashowever, if you are desiring a slightly bolder red, Spain and Italy are great places to look.good cheap wine for cheese 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 gifts uk

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.buy beer and wine online 5. Dessert Wines - So often, we overlook the opportunity to sip on something sweet at dinner's end. cheap wine coolers for saleYour selection does not necessarily need to pair perfectly with the dessert, since so many dessert wines are spectacular on their own. dry red wine recommendationsSipping a dessert wine prolongs the dining experience and encourages after-dinner conversation.dry red wine kinds Those are my picks! new age wine drinks