Tis the Season for Giving: Best Wine for a Host/Hostess Gift

Tis the season for gatherings, food, wine, and gifts. So, if you're invited to a holiday party this year — whether it's hosted by your boss, best friend, or family member — bring a bottle of wine as a host/hostess gift.

You may be thinking, "I have no idea what kind of wine they like!" Don't worry, there are several types of wines that appeal to a large crowd with a variety of flavor preferences. Here are some of our favorites.

For the Celebratory Host-aholic: Champagne or Prosecco

Want to express your appreciation for those friends, family members, or generous acquaintances who always invite you over? Say it with sparkling wine.

• Get a Prosecco party basket with one dry and one sweet sparkling wine.
• Elegant, fruity, and a touch of minerality, Bacio della Luna Extra Dry Prosecco will go well with seafood or as an aperitif (pre-dinner drink).
• For a special occasion or complex flavor fans, choose Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut.

For the Light Food and White Wine Lover: Sauvignon Blanc

You know the pescatarians, vegetarians, and omnivore friends who want that perfectly paired white wine with their meal? You’ll make them more than happy with a Sauvignon Blanc, great anytime wine that pairs with many plant-based dishes, simple salads, fish, and other seafood.

• Silver Beach Sauvignon Blanc suits the acidic, grapefruit, and passionfruit-seeking palate.
• Tell your host/hostess to tuck away this bottle of Château Tour Léognan in a cool, dark place for up to three years to age it for optimum taste.
• Give historic French Sancerre Benoit Girard for the elegant, dry white wine enthusiast.

For the Rich, Red-Seeking Carnivore: Pinot Noir

Known as a moderate and approachable red wine that is very versatile, Pinot Noir pairs with chicken, beef, pork, or rich vegetable dishes with savory sauces.

• Second Growth Chehalem Mountain Pinot Noir offers black cherry, blackberry, and light spice notes to dance with lamb, duck, and smoked salmon.
• A notable quality wine for the price, Cambria Benchbreak Pinot Noir is ruby in hue and velvety herbal in flavor.

For the Adventurous Wine Taster

If you know your host/hostess is on the more adventurous side, tantalize their taste buds with these unique selections.

• Red wine: This Cabernet Franc offers rose, lavender, oaky complexity.
• Change-up red wine: Mencia, a red from Spain and Portugal with floral tones. Get this one for the hungry Pinot Noir drinkers who want to mix it up.
• White wine: Give two or three of the affordable Picpoul de Pinet, a dry, mineral forward, crisp white wine.
• Curveball: Muscadet is not sweet like Moscato, but rather is a dry wine that pairs with seafood like oysters.

For the Personal Recommendation Approach

This one can be really hard or really easy. Pick up one of your favorite wines to give your host/hostess. But don’t stop there — add a note explaining why it’s your favorite, what memories you have with it, or even include a favorite dinner recipe to pair with the wine. This gift will be sure to stand out with such a personalized touch.