christmas wine?

[Randy Caparoso]

Wow. I second that emotion, Curms.

But if Champagne style wine is not for you, I recommend a first class German wine -- a Spatlese or Kabinett grade Riesling from the Mosel, Pfalz or Rheingau regions. These wines tend to be very light (just 8% to 10% alcohol, as opposed to the 12%-13% typical of most table wines), slightly sweet, and very smooth yet refreshingly crisp. Ask a sales clerk in a store that specializes in wine for help ($25 will get you some high quality stuff). Examples of a good "beginner's" German wine, for instance, include a Piesporter Goldtropfchen Riesling Spatlese from the Mosel, or a Forster Jesuitengarten Riesling Kabinett from the Pfalz. Ho, ho, ho!