Taking a turn around the local wine store during these last hectic days of the festive season can be daunting, but help is at hand.
If cost is an issue, Carolyn Evans Hammond, a Toronto wine writer, has several suggestions to make the task less difficult, especially if you aren't too familiar with purchasing wine.
"The best thing anyone can do to make the most of their wine dollars this holiday season is to turn to tried and true, consistent affordable big brands," she says.
They offer good quality that don't vary much year to year, she adds.
"And they are easy to find because of broad distribution and they are good for today's time-pressed, budget-conscious consumers."
Evans Hammond says that wine doesn't have to be expensive to be delicious these days.
"So you can definitely get really good wine for less than $15 a bottle."
Some of the most reliable big-brand producers she recommends are Beringer, Cavit, Citra, Concha y Toro, Folonari, Lindemans, Penfolds, Rosemount and Woodbridge.
When choosing cocktail wines, Evans Hammond says it's a good idea to choose from grape varieties that are well-known and popular to put guests at ease.
"Unlike dinner party selections, so-called cocktail wines can be richer in fruit or extract because there is no food except hors d'oeuvres to upstage."
There is growing emphasis on serving brilliant bubblies, but many people think Champagne, says Evans Hammond.
"But fine Champagne is expensive and cheap French fizz is usually often terrible," she says. "Other places produce more affordable and arguably better-value sparkling wines, especially among great-value big brands."
Here are her three suggestions, all under $15:
-Cook's Brut California Champagne which is available for about $10 in Ontario, Manitoba and Nova Scotia.
-Martini & Rossi Asti Sparkling Wine, Italy, at $13 to $15 and available in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, P.E.I., New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.
-Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut Cava from Spain. Priced at $13 to $15 a bottle, it is available in P.E.I., Manitoba, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Alberta, Ontario and British Columbia.
Evans Hammond says the best wines to stock for unexpected holiday drop-ins are big-brand sparkling and it's wise to also have an all-purpose red and white handy.
She suggests Lindemans Bin 65 Chardonnay 2008, Australia ($10 to $13), available in Ontario, P.E.I., Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Quebec, Alberta, Newfoundland, New Brunswick and B.C.
For the red, Evans Hammond says to try Citra Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2007, Italy ($7 to $16), which is available in B.C., Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia.
To take a really good bottle of wine to a party or as a gift, she suggests "it's always appropriate to spend a few extra dollars."
Here are her choices: Robert Mondavi Winery Fume Blanc 2007, Napa Valley, Calif. ($22 to $29). Find it in Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Newfoundland.
Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2006, South Australia ($15 to $16), is available in Ontario, Manitoba, B.C., Alberta, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Quebec and New Brunswick.
And the wine she has chosen to go with the roast turkey is Schmitt Sohne Relax Riesling 2007 from Germany ($11 to $15), available in Ontario, Manitoba, Newfoundland and New Brunswick.
Evans Hammond says a great stocking stuffer would be Inniskillin Vidal Icewine 2006, Niagara, Ont. ($7.95 for 50 ml). It is available in Ontario, Alberta and Manitoba.
Here are her two ways to improve a wine:
Chill the bottle - 10 minutes in the fridge for reds, 20 minutes for whites and roses.
Serve it in crystal stemware. Thin rims are more elegant and a smaller rim-to-bowl ratio captures aromas.
To learn more about Evans Hammond's work, visit her website at www.wine-tribune.com
