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Give the Gift of Wine This Holiday Season

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(NewsUSA) - Whether you're choosing a festive holiday wine for your family gathering or selecting the perfect gift for that special someone, a nice bottle of wine is a must this holiday season. But how do those of us who aren't wine connoisseurs choose a great wine at a great price? With a few tips and a little research, you, too, can look wine-savvy this season.

* Choose your store carefully. From price to selection, it's important to choose a wine store that reflects what you are looking for. For example, many stores have themes or selections focused on certain types of wines.

* Consider different regions. Countries such as Spain, Argentina and Chile offer top-quality wines at more affordable prices -; making them a great value. So, why not try something new, such as Bodega Norton Privada, made from a select blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec -; Argentina's most prominent grape. This full-bodied wine has wonderful notes of red fruit, smoke and coffee.

* Do your homework. Don't buy blindly. Many stores offer free wine tastings for customers.

* Pair it right. Whether it's for your holiday meal or one you're attending, make sure you pick a complement to the meal. Turkey, for example, goes best with Pinot Noir or Zinfandel. Meanwhile, roast chicken, beef or lamb go best with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

* To chill or not to chill? When you select a bottle of wine as a gift or to take to a holiday gathering, consider how the wine needs to be stored. Red wines may be your best bet because they are ideal at room temperatures. Sparkling and white wines often need to be refrigerated to preserve their flavor because they are highly susceptible to light and heat.

* Serve it up right. In order for your perfect wine pick to taste right, you need to be aware of proper serving procedures. Older red wines, for example, need to be decanted for 30 minutes by pouring into a decanter. This process separates the wine from the sediment in the bottle. Additionally, optimum temperatures for serving red wines are between 60 and 65 degrees, and for white, between 55 and 60 degrees.

For more information on Argentine varietals, visit http://www.norton.com.ar.