Looking for a gift that pops?

Wine makes a wonderful holiday gift if you put some thought into it. It's festive and flexible in price. It can be warmly personal, too, with a little effort.

A couple of caveats: Before you start shopping, determine the price that's appropriate for the person you're gifting. Give your boss a $6 generic white, no matter how good it is, and she'll think you're cheap. Give a $200 bordeaux and he might decide you don't need a raise this year.

Second, while some of the world's top wines come in screw-cap bottles, you should give them only to friends who know about wine. Many people still — erroneously — believe screw-cap wines are inferior.

Put the bottle in a gift bag, Google it to find a point of interest, and jot it down on the card along with a serving suggestion. For example, the Post Scriptum below is a Portuguese table wine made of grapes usually used in port. Or you might simply say you had that wine with a beef roast and it was a great match.

Finally, if you bring the wine to a holiday dinner, don't assume it'll be served with that meal. Your hosts may well have purchased wines to complement their menu.

Here are specific suggestions in various price ranges.

Under $25

2008 Antigal Uno Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina: deep violet color, black plums, black raspberries and mocha, dry and smooth; $20.

2008 Sanford Winery Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County, Calif.: a quintessential California chard, bright and crisp, with hints of oak and ripe pineapple flavors; $22.

Nonvintage Noval "Black" Ruby Port, Quinta do Noval, Portugal: a powerful, sweet dessert wine with flavors of black cherries and coffee; $22.

2007 Kendall Jackson "Grand Reserve" Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma/Napa, Calif.; hint of oak, flavors of cassis and espresso, soft, ripe tannins; $25.

$25 to $34

2008 Wilson Winery Zinfandel, "Sawyer Vineyard," Dry Creek Valley, Calif.; hint of oak, rich and hearty, with black cherry and sweet chocolate flavors; $34.

2008 Morgan "Twelve Clones" Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands, Calif.: big and powerful, with black cherry and cinnamon flavors; $32.

2009 Freemark Abbey Viognier, Napa Valley, Calif.; aromas of white flowers and vanilla, soft and rich, with vanilla and citrus flavors; $27.

2007 Post Scriptum Red Wine, Prats & Symington, Douro, Portugal (tinta roriz, touriga franca, tinta barroca grapes): rich, soft and smooth, with black cherry and dark chocolate flavors, soft tannins; $25.

$35 to $50

2009 Matanzas Creek Winery Sauvignon Blanc, "Helena Bench Vineyard," Sonoma, Calif.: big, rich, crisp and full-bodied, with flavors of white grapefruit; $38.

2007 Fogdog Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, Calif.: big and rich, with spicy aromas and flavors of black cherries and coffee; $35.

Nonvintage J Brut Rose Sparkling Wine, Russian River Valley, Calif.: lots of tiny bubbles, crisp citrus and black cherry flavors; $35.

2006 Banfi "Belnero" Sangiovese, Montalcino, Italy: rich, concentrated tart-cherry flavors, crisp and lively, long finish; $39.

Over $50

2006 Shafer "Relentless" Syrah/Petit Sirah, Napa Valley, Calif.: black cherries, black pepper and black coffee, big, ripe tannins; $70.

2008 Freestone Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast: hint of oak, aromas of camellias and lemons, crisp and minerally, powerful; $55.

2006 Cakebread Cellars "Dancing Bear" Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain, Calif.: hint of oak, aromas and flavors of cassis and other berries, powerful and smooth, with big, ripe tannins; $105.

Tags: daily updates, beer and wine, food