Oh my God, it?s almost Christmas and I have guests coming, one is a real wine connoisseur and if I don?t have JUST the right wine, I know I?ll never hear the end about it.

Exactly what wine do I serve with turkey; I haven?t a clue, not to mention the ham, or an after dinner wine. Should I stick with my old standby Pinot, or break out the Chardonnay? Wait, he?ll just think that?s run of the mill, I know I?ll open a bottle of Gruner Veltliner, surely that will impress him.

While you may not have had exactly these thoughts, if you plan on serving wine with dinner, the choices sometimes can be daunting, but the answer is rather simple, go for the middle road. If you?ll planning on serving a sumptuous feast, then set out some white and red wine, so your guests will have a choice. If you?re interested in going a step further, then a specific wine that compliments your entrees would be a wise decision.

In the dark still? Don?t worry, I?ll offer a few suggestions that will get the juices flowing, or the bubbly sparkling. Since these are the holidays and most of us are in a festive mode, Champagne is an excellent choice to serve with appetizers like mixed nuts, cheeses or salty snacks.

FACTOID: La M?thode Champenoise, is the original way of making Champagne and is more than 260 years old. Champagne, the wine that sparkles, can be served at the beginning of a meal, or at any time, it is very versatile.

Hopefully you?ll be among friends over the holiday, if so a bit of experimentation might be the perfect answer. As you shop the wine stores, many will offer tasting and advice, ?listen and heed well oh student?, for these shop keepers are more than likely connoisseurs themselves and want you to come back, don?t be afraid to tell them your budget.

How much wine will you (and hopefully your guests) consume over the holiday season? If more than a bottle or two, consider buying by the case you?ll find discounts from 10 to 15 percent, and that can add up. Too much wine for your budget? Talk to family, friends and neighbors, maybe the costs can be shared, lowering everyone?s (per bottle) expense.

Since this article is about wine and food for the holidays, when you shop, look for food friendly wines. There are many that suit the bill (just ask) some good choices might be:

Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc

Beaujolais from France,

Pinot Noir,

Chianti from Italy,

and Rioja from Spain

Now then... how much wine is Uncle Joe going to drink? We don?t want him teetering, so plan on about two glasses per guest with the ratio being approximately (and tailor to your taste and budget) 60 percent white and 40 percent red.

When all is said and done and the guests are out the door, or snoring quietly (we hope) in their rooms, just push the cork back into the bottle and place the bottle in the fridge. Plan on consuming it over the next 3 to 5 days and you?ll be in good spirits (ah, I mean shape).

Have a great time, a good meal, and remember not to drink and drive.

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Drinking wine has several advantages today other than its great taste. Several studies have shown that drinking wine can also be very healthy for you. Scientific research on the health benefits of drinking wine has been extensive over the past decade. These studies suggest a number of positive effects that drinking wine can have on your health.



Researchers have shown that drinking wine, in moderation, can help reduce the risk of heart disease. Studies show it keeps your heart beating in a more healthy rhythm. Researchers found that women in particular with heart disease who drank wine had an increase in heart rate variability, which is a marker of the changes in time intervals between heartbeats. It is known that a decrease in the heart rate variability has been linked to a higher risk of heart disease that can lead to death.



Researchers say that wine increases your HDL (good cholesterol) levels thus decreasing the risk of heart disease. This along with the effect the heart rate variability may be one more reason why drinking wine reduces the risk of heart disease and heart-related deaths. Wine has also been found to affect favorably the body's adsorption of antioxidants in food and helps metabolize fat more efficiently.



A study done in the journal "Heart", studied 102 women under the age 75 who survived a heart attack or heart surgery to clear blocked arteries. During their recovery period, the participants were asked to chronicle how much and what kind of alcohol they consumed. One year later, researchers used a heart monitor to measure the women's heart activity over a 24-hour period as they went through their normal daily activities. The study showed that heart rate variability was the highest among women who drank at least half a glass of wine per day and lowest among women who drank no alcohol at all.



As the studies show, drinking wine can definitely be a health benefit.



Additional Health Benefits in Drinking Red Wine



Studies show drinking red wine in particular may have additional benefits on your health. Researches show red wine can decrease the risk of coronary heart disease, lung and prostate cancers, dementia, stroke, diabetes, macular degeneration, kidney stones and osteoporosis. A recent Spanish study even implies drinking red wine may even help fight off the common cold.



For optimal health benefits, drink small amounts of wine daily as part of a meal. Remember as in all things, drinking in moderation is always the healthiest.So go ahead and savor the taste of drinking wine while enjoying the health benefits it can have on your life.

About the Author:

Chris Maley has done in-depth research on top consumer health issues relating to wine and other alcoholic beverages. Organic Wine Company - http://www.french-wine-online.com carries a large selection of quality organic wine - http://www.french-wine-online.com/wine-select-type.html. Helping your health with organic red wines - http://www.french-wine-online.com/Type/red-wines.html and organic white wines - http://www.french-wine-online.com/Type/white-wines.html.
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