As we approach the Christmas and New Year's holidays it is always good to have a "go to" list of wines to choose from whether they be for your own large gatherings or those you may be attending at friend's or family's homes. When with large groups it is always fun to seek out alternative size bottles, large formats like magnums and larger are a nice treat as they allow all to have more than just a taste or one glass of wine. Small bottles too like 187ml bottles of sparkling or champagne or half bottles of still or sparkling wine strike a festive tone when placed at each spot at the table or when floated in an ice bucket. This time of year we stock up on these big and small bottles to accommodate our customer's desire for the fun factor at their parties.

Now for the wine - whether it be Christmas or New Year's Eve sparkling is always one of our favorites. We recently hosted a champagne tasting here at the shop and while we may have our own favorites the 50 or so attendee's votes (based on their purchases) found two bottlings they very clearly liked. The biggest seller was a great Prosecco from Italy produced by Rive Della Chiesa. This lovely non-vintage sparkler has light effervescence, is very dry and offers a lovely texture in the mouth and at $15 is priced to please a crowd. The second best seller was the Jacques Copinet brut Rose from France, also non-vintage the wine is lightly pink and very refined featuring flavors of apples and strawberries, very dry and crisp. Perhaps most surprising as the second best seller it is priced at $50, showing just how impressed folks were with the wine.

We never get tired at our home of having turkey at Christmas, we just so enjoy the meal. If you are serving fowl for the holiday Pinot Noir is the natural choice. We really like one we recently tried from Francis Ford Copolla's winery group that is bottled under the Votre Sante label. Priced at $13 the wine again offers great juice at a gentle price. The wine features earthy and ripe Bing cherry aromas that well match the palate flavors. Another favorite for a more intimate gathering or if the budget allows is the Failla Keefer Ranch Pinot Noir from the notable Russian River Valley appellation. The wine is a "show stopper" with richness and depth throughout the drinking experience. While at $50 it is not the best for a big crowd, those you enjoy the wine with will be impressed.

Many of us too, like to switch gears at Christmas and over New Year's and serve more hearty meat dishes like prime rib, filet mignon or other beef based meals. Here is where a wine with more heft will do better in standing up to the richness and flavors of the meat. Bordeaux varietals are a great choice as they offer the proper body and flavors but also grow well in Washington state and California and therefore are readily accessible.

The wines from the Gamache brothers out of Prosser are a great place to start. Whether you choose the award winning Malbec at $23, or the fruit driven Merlot for $21, you will please your guests or your hosts with a great bottle of wine that is the perfect pairing when they are serving a big holiday meal.

If Cabernet Sauvignon is your chosen varietal we have two that will really delight, the Alondra Cabernet from John Lancaster and Rob Perkins at Skylark Wine Company is a vibrant and youthful Cab from the 2009 Vintage that is loaded with dark fruit flavors and layers of richness that would be our choice with prime rib, for $37. If you are still having beef but serving filet we recommend the Robert Ramsey from Washington also for $37. With softer more integrated tannins it does really well with the more subtle flavors of filet.

Two final recommendations that will do well with your holiday meals, we just held a tasting with Spring Valley winery from Walla Walla and were just blown away with Katherine Cabernet Franc produced by winemaker Serge Laville for $54. The wine is so rich and lush for Cab Franc we just can't help but think it would be a great choice for your special meal. So too the 2007 Terra Blanca Onyx, a blend of all five Bordeaux varietals, is perhaps the best vintage of this wine we have ever tasted. While a little more spendy at $50 making it more appropriate for a smaller gathering, the wine is sophisticated and delicious.

This time of year is truly one of the great opportunities to try new wines and treat your guests, or your hosts and yourselves to fabulous wine regardless of your budget. We have choices in all of these categories as do all of the wine professionals in the area, so visit your favorite and let them know what you will be having for dinner and your budget and discover some of these gems.

If there is a topic you would like to read about or questions on wine you can email George@thedinnerpartyshop.com or make suggestions by contacting the Healthy Community section at the Coeur d'Alene Press.

George Balling is co-owner with his wife Mary Lancaster of the dinner party - a wine and table top decor shop in Coeur d'Alene by Costco. George is also the managing judge of The North Idaho Wine Rodeo and writes frequently for the online version of Coeur d'Alene Magazine at www.cdamagazine.com. His articles can also be found on the blog at www.thedinnerpartyshop.com.