The 12 Bottles of Christmas

The holiday season is in full-swing and that means it's time to bring friends and family together. Spirits rise during the holiday season; corks pop and glasses clink as toasts are made and gifts are exchanged. Need a stylish gift for the wine lover on your list? Giving the wonderful world of wine such as a sampler case of 12 wines from across the globe makes a palate-pleasing holiday gift. The idea is for these wines to average about $10 each so that with a case discount, the entire case will cost somewhere around $100.

From trendy to traditional here are my picks for the 12 Bottles of Christmas

1. Prosecco from Italy - This is one of the most popular wines around at the moment and a delicious inexpensive sparkler.
2. Malbec from Argentina - This spicy red continues to be the great South American success story of the past couple of years.
3. Oregon Pinot Noir - It's hard to go wrong with just about any Oregon Pinot Noir.
4. 2005 red Bordeaux from France - The miracle of 2005 Bordeaux is that you can pick up an exceptional bottle for $100's or a pretty good one for around $10 or $15.
5. Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand - New Zealand is an up-and-coming wine-producing country best known for its juicy Sauvignon Blancs.
6. Australian Shiraz - Australia’s signature red-wine grape which is the same as Syrah.
7. Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile - Chile is an up-and-coming wine exporter best-known for value-priced Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.
8. California Zinfandel - Red Zinfandel is an "American Classic". It was originally thought to be made of native Californian grapes but research has proven otherwise.
9. Nero d'Avola from Sicily - Unless you follow Italian wine, chances are that the grape variety Nero d'Avola is not familiar. This grape makes rich, easy to drink reds.
10. Rosé from Spain - The world is producing outstanding Rosé and for value bottles you can't beat Spain.
11. A Dessert Wine - Port is a festive choice with the best known coming from Portugal, home of sweet, rich, alcoholic versions.
12. One Local Wine - This is the most important wine of the case. Seek out the local wine scene and find a bottle to round out your mixed case.

Finally, don't feel you have to blow your budget to buy a lovely wine gift. There are plenty of delicious, under-$15 wines out there. I know, because I drink them!

The Real Deal

Who says wine appreciation has to cost a fortune. The game plan, be adventurous by exploring wines that might not yet be in your wine vocabulary. Wines often cost more when they come from a well-known wine making region or are made from a popular grape variety so rather then heading straight for the same wine, expand your horizons and beat the budget crunch!

Get to Know the Other Grapes
There is life after Chardonnay and Cabernet. Instead of seeking out the familiar try something unusual made from a grape you've never heard of. For starters, try to learn the names of less popular grapes like Gewürztraminer or Malbec. It seems the more difficult a grape is to pronounce, the better of a value the wine is likely to be. Let me introduce you to some of my favorite wines, Nero D'Avola, Riesling, Dolcetto, Barbera and Viognier to name a few.

Look for Lesser-Known Regions
Major wine growing regions are reliable sources but often expensive as well. Lesser-known appellations are home to some of the best bargain bottles. No single country seems to have a lock on producing good value wines so have fun traveling the globe in search of top values.

Southern Italy - For delicious, unfussy wines at reasonable prices, one of the best sources is southern Italy which is home to notable wine regions such as Apulia, Campania, and Sicily.

Southern France -This part of France produces lots of delicious wines, but there's also a number of not-so-good bottles. Bargain hunters must tread carefully. The red blends of Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages offer some of the best buys.

California Central Coast - Bargain hunters gave up on Napa years ago so look to the Central Coast for bargains. With its state-of-the-art winemaking techniques and nearly ideal weather, it's easy to understand how this expansive region continues to pump out bargains.

South Australia - No place in the world produces more consistently good inexpensive wines than South Australia. The best value wines are typically labeled South Australia or South Eastern Australia.

Chile Central Valley - Chile offers some of the best value wines yet unfortunately, the quality of Chilean wines can vary considerably. Most of the Chilean wines from the Valle Central, or Central Valley, come from the country's best-known regions, Maipo and Rapel valleys.

Shop the Deals
Often retailers will offer additional discounts on case purchases so take advantage. When you find a wine that's special stock up and save. With a little bit of know how, seeking out wines that fit the bill without breaking the bank can be easier then you think. Happy Hunting!