Christmas wines Christmas is the ultimate foodie holiday, but wine lovers also look forward to the event with great anticipation. Now's the time to push the boat out and splurge on some special bottles to treat family, friends - and yourself!

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In the run-up to Christmas, making lists and checking them twice seems to become the national pastime. Conjuring up plans for The Big Christmas Meal and The Big New Year Bash - from ordering the turkey to buying the bubbly - may be some of the least exciting aspects of the festive period, but this is one time when being organised is vital.

One reason is that it's all too easy to fall into a shopping frenzy as far as buying wine is concerned. In November and December, supermarkets and high-street chains compete to lure buyers with cheap deals, from straight price cuts to buy-one-get-one-free offers. There are bargains around, but before you part with your cash and commit to buying a case of Chateau Cheapo simply because it's on offer - stop, take a deep breath, buy a single bottle, take it home and try it. If you like it, you can buy more. If you don't, you won't be stuck with it.

While it's sensible to have a good supply of decent, serviceable wine for the party season, do your guests and yourself the favour of buying some good stuff, too. Have a few impressive bottles on hand to serve for Christmas lunch. After all, if you can't splurge on the good stuff at this time of year, when can you? To make stocking up easier, we've put together a few helpful guidelines to make your entertaining easier - and better-tasting.

If you'll be having a large number of guests coming and going, or if you have a party or two planned, it makes sense to have a ready supply of decent, everyday-drinking wine around that tastes good but that won't break the bank. For the sort of wine that people will be sipping with canapés or on its own, versatility is the key.

Now is the time to find a good local wine merchant and make friends. Whether you're buying large amounts of wine for a party or looking for the perfect match for the Christmas turkey, a good wine merchant can save you a lot of hard work. Some may let you try before you buy and all will offer practical advice on matching wine with food, taking into account your personal tastes - and how much you want to spend.

For white wines, choose crisp, dry whites. Avoid ones that have had lengthy ageing periods in oak barrels. Lots of people enjoy the resulting vanilla notes, but the flavour can quickly become cloying, and can clash with food. Chardonnay is the variety that's most likely to be oaked, so go for those that say 'lightly oaked' or 'unoaked' on the label - or ask your wine merchant. Oak apart, Chardonnay is generally a real crowd-pleaser so make some room in your trolley for a few bottles.

Sauvignon Blanc is another variety you'll no doubt come across. This is a love-it-or-loathe-it variety, though (its detractors claim that it smells of cat's pee), so if you're not a fan, have some other styles on hand. Or choose French styles, such as Pouilly-Fumé or Sancerre, which are less exuberant than, say, New Zealand or South African ones.

Pinot Grigio has become hugely popular in recent years. It's not the most characterful wine around, but if you want something light and fresh that goes with a wide variety of foods, a good Pinot Grigio is hard to beat.

For red wines, the most versatile (and good-value) styles tend to be young wines from New World countries, such as Australia, Chile, California, South Africa and Argentina. Basically, you don't want wines that have too much chewy tannin and that aren't too acidic. There are plenty of these wines around at the £6 mark or thereabouts, but do shop around and taste before you buy. Avoid the dull ones that taste like bubblegum or tinned strawberries.

Grape varieties that make good all-round party wines include Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz (that's Australia-speak for Syrah). Blends from these varieties can be very good, too. Or go for French vins de pay ('country wines') or choose a gently spicy Côtes du Rhône (this is where a wine merchant's guidance comes in handy).

The Christmas lunch is the perfect time to splurge on the good stuff. 'Good' doesn't necessarily mean 'expensive' but spending a few extra pounds tends to make a huge difference to the quality. Choose wines that will go with the kind of food you're serving. Here are a few quick guidelines for some favourite Christmas dishes:

• smoked salmon: Chablis, New Zealand Chardonnay, white burgundy, champagne
• turkey: Californian Zinfandel, Argentinian Malbec, Beaujolais, French Merlot (such as Saint-Emilion from Bordeaux)
• goose: Pinot Noir from France (red burgundy), California or New Zealand, Italian Barolo
• roast beef: good red Bordeaux (claret), California Cabernet Sauvignon
• Christmas pudding: sweet sherry made from the Pedro Ximenez grape
• cheese: have a selection of reds and whites on hand and include a bottle of port for the Stilton