Wine tastings can help your party planning

Now is the time to be considering your wine purchases for the holidays, looking for deals that will save money and also offer the opportunity to get wonderful wines at bargain prices.

Wine tastings afford a relaxing, no-pressure time to sample wines, ask questions and select products that you and your guests can enjoy. The key question I always ask the sommelier or sales representative who is leading the event is what food pairing will go well with the wine. So, if you are thinking ahead to buying wine for Thanksgiving, the Christmas holiday or a special dinner event, feel free to take a sample menu with you to the tasting and show it to the expert. He or she will be happy to fill your head with options, based on your price range. That’s another key question: How much do you want spend?

There are so many good wines on the market nowadays, and local merchants are so knowledgeable about them, that there is no reason to ignore inexpensive, quality products. In fact, you should be thinking “cheap.” You want value in your purchases and the local merchant is there to help you maintain your budget. I always start low, weigh the options, and then ask, “For a dollar or two more a bottle, what are the choices you’d suggest?”

It’s a good strategy. Sometimes it leads to purchasing a mixed case — six bottles of the inexpensive wine and six bottles of the other. Remember, you are still looking for value on the second wine. I’d only purchase a wine that is on sale anyway.

Here are several events that you might consider attending.

Saturday, Oct. 26 — Possibly the mother of all wine tastings, Sam and Tina Messina will be celebrating the fourth anniversary of their fabulous store, the Wine Connecxtion in North Andover, with a sampling of 50 red and white varietals from all over the world. The free event runs from 1-5 p.m. Team Messina — they are siblings — say you can sip to your hearts content while munching on burger bites and other light fare provided by Chama Grill. If you’ve never been to the Wine Connextion, this is the time to do it. Every bottle of wine in the store carries a New Hampshire Liquor Outlet price tag and then a reduced, yellow ticketed bargain cost.

Saturday, Oct. 26 — Andover Classic Liquors is located just down the street in the Shawsheen Plaza on Route 114. Andrea DiFiore is one of the most pleasant and patient wine masters in the region and this week she’ll oversee a tasting of great wines for Italy’s LaSpinetta Winery from 1-5 p.m. The lineup includes: Il Nero, Colorino, Barbera Ca di Pian, Bordini Barbaresco, Valeirano Barbaresco, and Bricco Quaglia/Biancospino Moscato d’Asti. These are all incredible wines from the Piedmont in northwest Italy. I suggest you taste the Barbaresco, made from the classic Nebbiolo grape, and walk through this fine establishment. Say hi to Andrea for me!

RECENT TASTINGS — Tormaresca Neprica 2011, Puglia, $11 — This three-grape blend — Negromaro, Primitivo, Cabernet Sauvignon — is a winner from the Antinori family. It’s got a ruby, red color and soft cherry/strawberry nose. Good everyday drinking wine for pasta, pizza and light meat dishes… Indaba Chardonnay 2013, South Africa, $8.99 — Think of drinking an apple/pear tree in a glass, and this is what you get in a beautifully structured wine. A hint of pineapple and oak and balanced acidity make this a clear value … Excelsior Cabernet Sauvignon, South Africa, $4.99 — Don’t be fooled by the price, this is an easy drinking wine that can be found in N.H. Liquor outlets. The Wine Butler found it at a bargain price using a 20 percent store coupon.