Some people know it’s the holidays when the sleigh bells jingle. Some know it when the holiday music starts piping through the speakers.

I know it when I can’t make it to the coffee machine in the morning without being stopped by a, “Hey Alyssa, I need to bring a bottle of wine to a party. Can you help?”

I’m not complaining, mind you. It’s always a good challenge for me, because it’s rarely a question as easy as that.

It’s more like, “I need to bring a bottle of wine to pair with chili corn dogs sprinkled with oaxaca cheese.” Or something like that.

I don’t think you need to spend a fortune to bring a great wine to someone’s house. I think it helps to know your host, if possible, or at least know something about the wine.

My $20 (and under) picks:
Charles Krug Cabernet Sauvignon
Dynamite Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon
Cambria Chardonnay
Chalone Pinot Noir
Kim Crawford Pinot Noir

My $50 (and under) picks:
Whitehall Lane Cabernet Sauvignon
Rodney Strong Symmetry
Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon
Grgich Hills Chardonnay
Old Ghost Zinfandel

They Don’t Need to Know Picks:
Toasted Head Cabernet Sauvignon (On sale for $9.99, usually about $16)
La Crema Chardonnay (On sale for $14.99, usually about $25)
Montevina Terra D’Oro Zinfandel (On sale for $11.99, usually about $19)

Not all wines available at all stores but I wanted to show you the wide range of stuff you can find!