2002 Sangiovese
California, Napa Valley
Altamura
www.altamura.com

Planning to win back your honey from their overbearing Italian famiglia? Bring Altamura’s Sangiovese to the next holiday dinner you plan on crashing. From the grape of Chianti, the firm dry texture beautifully complements Aunt Lucia’s ragout and Uncle Benny’s meatballs. Enhancing the flavor of any game, antipasto this wine is better tasted with food than on it’s own. Not only is it a great honey-keeper, it doubles as a classy gift for the in-laws.
$35

2003 Private Reserve Chardonnay
California, Napa Valley
Beringer
www.beringer.com

Suck up to the cranky neighbor who calls the cops on your soirees and guilt them with a bottle of Beringer’s Private Reserve Chardonnay. Great with vegetarian and bean dishes, this wine’s pineapple, mango and crème brulee flavors pair nicely with a fresh goat cheese or creamy Parmesan. If seafood is what is gracing your holiday tables this season, dishes such as lobster and swordfish will benefit from Chardonnay, and you will benefit with a cop-free shindig that lasts until dawn.
$35

2003 Cabernet Sauvignon
California, Napa Valley
Chimney Rock
www.chimneyrock.com

If your boss is the steak and potatoes type, pick up a bottle of Chimney Rock Cabernet Sauvignon. The black fruit aromas and black cherry flavors will bring out the best in a steak, game or roast lamb meal. Cheddar cheese or a semi-hard blue cheese will blend well with this Cabernet. And while this wine won’t promise you an office with a view, it could be a holiday raise or at the least, a citrusey fruit basket.
$52

2005 Eroica Riesling
Washington, Seattle
Chateau Ste Michelle
www.ste-michelle.com

Twinkies with wine? It says right here it’s a dessert wine! Not only is Eroica’s 2005 Riesling perfect for the friend with a sweet tooth—it’s great for fried foods as well as a number of ethnic cuisines. Korean, Chinese and Thai work especially well and even Caribbean, Mexican and Latin American dishes will benefit from the flavor. Great with Monterey jack and Swiss cheeses, Riesling is another versatile wine for the varying personalities in your life.
$25

2002 Merlot
California, Napa Valley
Twomey
www.twomeycellars.com

Contrary to what the movie Sideways alludes to, Merlot is not the redheaded stepchild of the red wine family. In fact, Twomey Cellars dedicates itself to creating this tasty wine exclusively. With black cherry jam, roasting coffee and dark chocolate aromas, this blackberry and herbal flavored wine works great with game meats, veal and even Indian food. Sometimes considered an "introductory" wine, Merlot makes a great gift for impressing anyone whose taste buds you are unfamiliar with.
$70