Jeff Zacharia and Andrea Immer display a holiday wine basket; Zachy's, Scarsdale, N.Y.

The holidays are a time of year to celebrate with friends and loved ones; to eat, drink, be merry — and let's face it — it's a great time to shop! Any wine and liquor store has great gift ideas for every holiday, but if you'd rather wrap it yourself, they can also help you find out what to buy. From wine box sets to one-of-a-kind bottles, Zachy's provide a vast selection, able to please any wine or champagne lover. Or visit the Wine Enthusiast, providing all your essential wine gadgets and gifts for holidays. After that, let Andrea reveal her secrets of cooking to pair with champagne.

Prices

• Chateau Laguiole offers a waiter's-friend for $90, but a basic waiters friend costs about $15.
  
• A bottle of Wine Away costs $15.
  
• A decanter set with funnel and strainer costs about $50.

Champagne

• Champagne makes a great holiday gift.
  
• When buying champagne, look for brut non-vintage.
  
• Rosé champagne pairs great with entrées.
  
• Try Demi-Sec champagne when eating dessert.
  
• A wine drinking essential is a good wine glass.
  
• A basic corkscrew is always good to have around.

Good Combinations

Roasted Oysters with White Wine Butter Sauce and Taittinger Brut Non-Vintage Champagne ($20)
Wasabi Pea Crusted Salmon and Oudinot Cuvee Rosé Brut Champagne ($22)
Pumpkin and Pear Soufflé and Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Demi-Sec Champagne ($29)

Resources

Zachy's
Scarsdale, N.Y.
800-723-0241
www.zachys.com, customerservice@zachys.com
Products: Piper Heidsieck Cuvée Sumblime Package, $40; Veuve Clicquot Grande Dame 1993 Box set with 2 glasses, $160; Heidsieck Monopole Champagne, Little Blue Top Box Set, $36; Piper-Heidsieck habillée par Jean-Paul Gaultier), $260; Richard Myer for Dom Perignon wine case), $2,000; 2000 vintage Bordeaux basket), $950

Josh Farrell
Sales Director
Wine Enthusiast, Showroom Location
103 Fairview Park Drive
Elmsford, NY 10523
p: 914-345-9463 ext. 7825
www.wineenthusiast.com
Products: Lever-pull Corkscrew with Coaster, $40; Set of 6 Titanium oxide Wine Glasses, $60

Create an unforgettable dining experience with Andrea Immer's Entertaining Made Simple CD collection. Each CD includes music, menus, recipes, affordable wine recommendations and video demonstrations.