Holiday Wine Buys Part 2 - Something for the Hostess with Mostess

Hostess gifts are hardly obligatory, but during the holidays, wrapping up a wine or two should not be a burden.

That said, finding the right wine requires the same due diligence that finding any other gift requires. Planning ahead is the key to success, although few of us ever find the time -- which is why I'm suggesting you now cut this column out of the paper (or, if you are online, hit the print button) and head to the nearest specialty wine shop or government liquor store. Get the job done early.

Before you go, ask yourself a few questions about the kind of wine the host really enjoys. Do they prefer red or white? Should it be New World or Old World? Do they like traditional varietal wine like chardonnay or cabernet sauvignon, or perhaps something more edgy like viognier or grüner veltliner or petit sirah? Perhaps a red blend is in order, or an organic, biodynamic, sustainable label, either old or young. It all matters.

Depending upon your budget, you may want to search for a limited edition or special reserve label -- but never feel you have to spend a fortune. It is not about the money, it is all about selecting a wine that demonstrates you did a bit of work.

Over the years, I have observed and learned a few things about the hostess gift that may help you with your selection. Most importantly, the gift is for the host not the people attending the party. Do not expect the host to open the wine you just gave them; in fact, you should insist they put it away to enjoy on a future occasion.

Meanwhile, hosts who suspect the wine they are receiving is particularly meaningful to the gift-giver may consider tagging the bottle with that information and, sometime in the future, share the bottle in question with the gift-giver. Now, if I have managed to convince you that wine will work, here are some suggestions to buy, wrap and deliver over the holidays. The most important piece of advice is, don't wait until the last minute.

Sparkling wine is the ultimate hostess gift because it's something we seldom buy for ourselves. It is both festive and celebratory and, best of all, everyone should have a bottle of bubble in the house that they can quickly chill and serve whenever required. To make your bottles sparkle, dress them festively in clear or coloured cellophane -- perfect to see the bottle -- and tie with ribbons of natural or coloured raffia.

Your choices can run the gamut from local sparklers, Spanish cava and Italian Prosecco to French champagne and my suggestion for 2010: a sparkling rosé. Our current favourite: Segura Viudas Cava Brut Rosado, a Spanish blend of trepat, garnacha and monastrell grapes. We love its bright raspberry colour, attractive persistent creamy mousse and fresh nutty, cherry, baked pear and citrus flavours; the perfect tapas wine you can pour freely before dinner.

Quirky off-the-beaten-path wines are perfect for the curious wine-lover host. The Austrian grüner veltliner fits this type as does the aromatic torrontés from Argentina, petite sirah, mourvèdre and more. Our choice is a delicious bottle of Laurenz V. Und Sophie Singing Grüner Veltliner 2007. The Singing grüner is a cutting-edge white that often beats the world's best in blind tastings because it is so damned fresh and drinkable. Look for a spicy, white pepper character and crunchy fruit flavours flecked with honey and lemon. Oysters, anyone?

For the host who likes wine and food and who regularly serves them at the table, a "food-friendly" wine is always welcomed. Affordable, balanced red wine that works with a variety of menu items is a great choice, and our pick is Las Rocas de San Alejandro Garnacha 2006 from Spain. Look for a fresh, supple palate with chocolate, orange, black raspberry, licorice and mineral flavours. It is good value too.

Riesling qualifies as a perfect hostess gift given its intriguing versatility and sheer brilliance in the glass. Not everyone buys riesling, but most love it when they drink it. Our choice is Gunderloch Fritz's Riesling 2007. Months down this road this screw cap white remains eminently sippable with bright minerality and fresh fruit, and is tailor-made for barbecued or pulled pork dishes.

Tawny port is another no brainer, for the brainy reader types. A glass of Fonseca 10 Year Old Aged Tawny Port will cure all that ails you and make reading that book in front of the fire even more enjoyable.

My last pick is actually a wine gadget I've been testing for a few months. As many of you know, I'm not a big wine gadget guy but I'm excited about a new pouring device you easily slide into the neck of any bottle and simply pour the wine directly into your glass. The Nuance Wine Filter aerates the wine and removes the sediment with no fuss or muss. I especially recommend it for those big meaty young reds because it helps to clean up the nose and flavours while removing any stray bits of cork or sediment. For a retailer near you, log on to www.wineaerator.ca/retailers.htm.

Price: $15

UPC: 00033293640004

Score: 88/100

Remarks: Fresh with nutty, cherry, baked pear and citrus flavours.

LAURENZ V. UND SOPHIE SINGING GRUNER VELTLINER 2007, NIEDEROSTERREICH, AUSTRIA

Price: $22

UPC: 00877397000391

Score: 89/100

Remarks: Elegant, peppery white with crunchy honey-lemon fruit flavours.

LAS ROCAS DE SAN ALEJANDRO GARNACHA 2006, CALATAYUD, ARAGON, SPAIN

Price: $17

UPC: 805109270039

Score: 87/100

Remarks: A supple red with black raspberry, licorice, mineral flavours.

GUNDERLOCH FRITZ'S RIESLING 2007, RHEINHESSEN, GERMANY

Price: $17

UPC: 04022642000749

Score: 89/100

Remarks: A go-to value riesling.

FONSECA 10 YEAR OLD AGED TAWNY PORT, DOURO VALLEY, PORTUGAL

Price: $20

UPC: 5013521101090

Score: 89/100

Remarks: Round, warm smoky, cedar and tea flavours with a nutty aftertaste.

NUANCE WINE FILTER

Price: $40 suggested retail price at wineries, VQA and private wine shops.

UPC: N/A

Score: 95/100

Remarks: A nifty little device for aerating pouring and cleaning up young wine.