I love this time of year. There’s nothing like the holidays to put you in a festive mood. And, no better way to celebrate than with good friends and good wine.

I’ve got some great wine suggestions for all kinds of holiday dishes, plus some “bubblies” that are just plain fun.

Traditionally, we’ve always been told that the best wine to pair with turkey is a white wine. A chardonnay works great with turkey, but might not be the best pairing when it comes to duck, prime rib or lamb.

If you want to play it safe, go red. Pinot noirs are a safe pick for just about any holiday dish. Ironically, pinot grapes are one of the most delicate and difficult to grow, but they also make one of the most versatile wines. They go great with turkey, chicken, duck, ham, you name it.

Some of my favorite pinots that won’t break the bank are:

• Mirassou – Always a great buy about $10.
• Louis Latour’s Valmoissine – a French pinot for less than $12. This is a typical burgundy-style pinot, light and nice fruit.
• Buena Vista Carneros Pinot – The Carneros region makes some beautiful pinot noirs. This one is about $20.

A delightful step up would be the Orogeny Pinot Noir for about $32 or Duckhorn’s Goldeneye Anderson Valley Pinot for about $45. Ask your wine expert where you shop. Ralph The Wine Guy at the H-E-B Plus on 1604 at Blanco always has some great suggestions on my Web site. Just click on the H-E-B logo.

If you want a great value on a good cab, go for Becker Vineyards Iconoclast for about $10. You can’t beat it.

Champagne, sparkling, bubbly or whatever you call it, it’s festive, and just the sound of that cork popping can put a smile on your face. I keep plenty of bubbly around during the holidays. There’s nothing like a glass of champagne to lift your spirits. Plus, champagne is also versatile and can be paired nicely with a lot of foods.

In my refrigerator:

• Baumard Cremant de Loire – a rosé sparkler that is simply delicious. Delicate floral and a bit of fruit on the nose and a nice dry finish for about $19
• J Cuvee 20 Sparkling – Just the right amount of toasty flavors on this champagne. A great value for about $28. It’s not quite as dry as Veuve Clicquot, but it’s not as expensive either.

For a holiday twist, keep a small bottle of Chambord liqueur chilled, and add a splash to almost any inexpensive champagne (Yellow Tail’s sparkling works great) for an attractive, pink sparkling drink with a hint of raspberry. Your guests will be impressed.

Most of the wines mentioned can be found at H-E-B or Central Market. Keep in mind when shopping for holiday parties, when you buy six bottles or more at H-E-B or Central Market you get a 10 percent discount, and you can mix wines with sparklings.

I’ve got more wine ideas and great recipes from San Antonio’s top chefs at www.goodtastewithtanji.com. While you’re there, sign up for my newsletter for invitations to our exclusive events.

Cheers & Happy Holidays!