christmas wine?

[stephanie]

I want to buy a friend a nice bottle of wine for christmas....but I have NO CLUE where to begin. I live in west Texas and want to spend about $25. Probably something not too tart, or tangy....but rather smooth.

Stephanie

[stephanie]

in addition...I would like to make a good impression. Her husband is from Denmark if that helps any.

Stephanie

[Jerry D Mead]

Sprkling wines are pretty much universally enjoyed and with New Years just around the corner she could put it to good use then if not before.

I recommend "J" (about $30). It's an exceptional bottle of bubblie, with lovely lemon-citrus fruit and an elegant creamy finish with extremely fine carbonation. It is not too harsh or tart. Also, it comes in a very sexy bottle with gold lettering, which makes it especially appropriate for gift-giving.

[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!