Whether you’re looking for a good bottle of wine for the holiday feast, something to uncork in front of the fireplace or for a stocking stuffer for your wine-loving friend, here are a few wines – at a variety of price ranges – that will make an impression this holiday season.

Reds

Don Melchor 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon (Suggested retail about $125)
Just about 30 years ago, Concha y Toro decided Chilean wine needed a boost and set a team working on Don Melchor. The results are pretty stunning in this case. This velvety Cabernet is sourced from the grapes of 30-year-old vines, hand-picked in April and May and aged 15 months in oak. A nice tannic punch accompanies a complex, concetrated blend of dark fruit and cocoa. A ruby red hue and a warm, silky mouth feel, combined with a pleasing earthiness, make this a winner you’ll talk about long after.

Starmont 2013 Carneros Pinot Noir (Suggested retail is $27)
This was another joy to open (I can’t say uncork since it’s got a screw-cap). I’m always a little leery of pinot because you never really know what you’re going to get since so much can happen in the process. You can get something that’s darn near grape juice or you can get something bold and beautiful, like this 100 percent pinot, oak-aged for 10 months, from Cali. Bright acidity, soft body and a floral fruitiness make for a nicely balanced and thoroughly satisfying wine, and one with a bit of tannic pop at the end.

Stobi 2011 Vranec Veritas Reserve (Retails about $10-$20)
My knowledge of Macedonian wine is pretty much nonexistent, but I’m always eager to try something unique, so this came as a nice surprise. The indigenous, and rather large Vranec grape is nearly black in color and heavy on black cherry, coffee and chocolate notes, and that describes this wine, which packs a 14.5% alcohol punch. With its full body and balanced tannins and acidity, Veritas Reserve is perfect for weighty winter dishes like a roast or some steaks.

Aureum Acinum 2012 Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG (Retails about $40-$50)
Often I spend a lot of wine time in Piedmont, but this blend of Corvina Veronese (70%), Rondinella (20%) and Molinara (10%) is full-bodied and silky and deep ruby red with a gorgeous nose with hints of violets and mint. An intense raspberry and raisiny flavor are tempered with a dash of vanilla. Let it breathe a bit before drinking and it’s perfect with aged cheeses, roasts and hearty holiday fare of pretty much any kind. Acinum also makes a nice Valpolicella Ripasso that retails at about half the price and has a nuttier, spicier touch.

Bodegas Septima 2014 Malbec (Retails about $10)This Argentine Malbec is a steal at 10 bucks. You can drink it young now and enjoy its smoky palate with black fruit, vanilla and oak and an herbal aroma, with a pleasing but not excessive acidity. But you can also cellar it for a few years and I bet it'll treat you even better then, if you can be patient. Tip: buy a few and enjoy some now with your holiday feast and save some for later.

Cafe Zoetrope 2014 Merlot (Retails about $20)
Though you know the label as belonging to Oscar-winning director Francis Ford Coppola, this silky Merlot is the work of winemaker Corey Beck, and it’s available through the TCM Wine Club, which uses a Hollywood focus to help folks learn more about wine. Medium-bodied and with a deep color that gets a boost from a touch of Petite Syrah, this Merlot pairs especially well with pizza and pasta.

Whites

Cantina Tramin 2013 Unterebner Pinot Grigio (Retails about $24)
Few people think of German-speaking Italy, but that’s the Alto Adige region, way at the top, where the Pinot Grigios are made. This one – fermented in wood – has an elegant straw hue and a nice spicy nose. The palate has a nice earthiness balanced with a big buttery body, and a long finish helps create the perfect "package." Serve it with pasta or fish or poultry.

Cantina Bolzano 2014 Bozen Pinot Grigio (Retails about $17)
I know, I know, two Pinot Grigios, but they’re different. Also from the Alto Adige, this one is fermented and undergoes maturation in stainless steel, which means it trades a bit of the spiciness and earthiness of the Unterebner for a fruitier, nuttier palate and a crisper body. This is perfect for all that seafood you’ll serve at your feast of the seven fishes.

Bodegas Terras Gauda 2014 Albarino Abadia De San Campo (Retails about $15)
If you’re looking for something a little "warmer," check out this citrus-y albarino from Spain’s northwestern Galicia region. Vibrant acidity balances a vivacious palate of grapefruit, lime and apple – and is that a wisp of banana?! – and just 12% alcohol. Refreshing and full of character, this will work especially well with seafood and could complement and temper spicy dishes, too.

Bovin 2014 Chardonnay (Retails about $15)
Back to Macedonia, this time for 100% Chardonnay that’s heavy on the melon and citrus aromas. but leans more apple-y, still with citrus, on the silky, buttery palate. The color is pale yellow with greenish highlights and likewise, this is Chardonnay, but it’s Macedonian Chardonnay, and it has a bit of an exotic feel with a suggestion of mixed greens on the palate, too. It won’t likely be the most amazing Chardonnay you’ve ever had, but it’s yummy and its unique and interesting. Pair it with a pork roast and you’re golden.