When you’re visiting friends during the holidays, it’s always good to take along a bottle of wine as a gift. And whether you expect the host or hostess to open it or save it for another time, make sure it’s a wine you’d enjoy, too.

I can think of many different occasions for wine gifts, and, I’d like to suggest some that are most appropriate.

    

A holiday open house

For a holiday open house, typically held in the late afternoon, how about a bottle of fine dry Fino or almost-dry Amontillado sherry. Either is the perfect accompaniment for hors d’oeuvres  and will bring many comments from others, such as “I forgot how good sherry is!”

A holiday brunch

A brunch calls for sparkling wine: the bubbles and acidity are perfect accompaniments with rich egg dishes, notably the classic Eggs Benedict.

When I was a kid, we lived in New Orleans, and though I didn’t get (or like) Champagne, that’s what my parents enjoyed when we went to Commander’s Palace or Brennan’s.

Of course, a classic French Champagne is great, but there are some I consider just as good made right here in Napa Valley. Domaine Carneros, Domaine Chandon, Mumm Napa and of course Schramsberg all make wines that are great with brunch.

Christmas Eve dinner

In my family, it’s traditional to have an Italian meal for Christmas dinner; I have no idea why since we are strictly Northern European in heritage. It could be a rich lasagna or a wonderful bowl of cioppino, the classic San Francisco red seafood stew based on the traditions of the Ligurian coast.

Athough cioppino is made with light red wine, it’s traditionally served with white, and nothing could be more appropriate than a vermentino from Liguria (Genoa) though those from nearby Tuscany and Sardinia are also great. Francis Mahoney also makes a vermentino from Carneros grapes, and he’s certainly no more Italian than me!

There are two great Italian-American lasagna traditions, one with the rich meat sauce from Bologna and Béchamel, and the other with tomato sauce, ricotta and spinach from Naples. A sangiovese like Chianti Classico is perfect with either. A few from Napa including Benessere are great, too.

Christmas morning gift giving

As our family — and mostly the grandkids — opens presents one at a time Christmas morning, the adults like to enjoy a light sparkling wine. Both sweet Asti and dry Prosecco are low in alcohol, a good choice for the morning. The Asti is made from fruity Muscat grapes, another special treat.

Christmas dinner

Some families serve roast beef or ham at Christmas, but for us, it’s always turkey, and of late, it’s usually brined and smoked outside (we do live in California!). The classic match is a smoky, rich chardonnay, a wine I find difficult to pair with most food but perfect for such a meal.

Of course, a pinot noir is a great match, too.

With roast beef, cabernet sauvignon is the natural, and with ham, I find an off-dry riesling like Trefethen or Anderson Valley gewürztraminer like Navarro perfect, but you can argue about that for ages. Rosés and sparkling wines are perfect, too—best of all is sparkling rosé or blanc des noirs made from red grapes.

A true gift

For a gift to wrap and put under the tree, how about something really special — an ice wine. Rich and precious, this syrupy wine is a unique treat. They also come from the upper Midwest and Canada, reminding us that grapes grow everywhere.

Don’t forget your boss

You know your boss better than I do, but I’d bet he or she’d like an aged cabernet sauvignon. It’s something they might not feel able to justify themselves, so it’s all the more welcome and perfect for that special dinner.

Something for your favorite service provider

If your beautician, mail deliverer or even plumber does something special, how about a nice bottle of port? It’s something few people would buy for themselves, but always appreciated on a long winter night.

New Year’s Eve

New Year’s Eve? That’s easy: The best bottle of bubbly you can afford (assuming you get to enjoy it, too!) My favorites include Schramsberg J. Schram, Domaine Carneros La Rêve and Roederer Estate L’Hermitage, but the French do make some good sparklers, too.

New Year’s Day

If you’re not careful the night before, it’s definitely Bloody Mary time; otherwise, fit the drink to whatever meal you’re invited to. Being originally from Alabama, I always have black-eyed peas and collard greens on New Year’s Day for good luck, preferably with country ham and rice and cornbread.

Most Southerners would have sweetened iced tea with it, but I’ve been away too long. The classic New Year’s Day meal is a little challenging to pair with wine, but I’d probably pick sparkling rosé and most people would appreciate that.

Chances are you eat something different, so just take whatever you like; if you’re watching the game, it will likely be beer, maybe an American hand-crafted lager or ale.

So there are some suggestions for gifts for the holidays. Enjoy your time with friends and family and have a great holiday season.