I met recently with Gregg Wilson, Wine Manager, to discuss choosing wines for serving at dinner parties and to give as gifts. We discussed wines that would appeal to young corporate types as well as older, established executives.

Gregg strongly recommends California cabernets as wines that are both classic and trendy. "You’ll always be safe choosing a vintage from the 1990’s. The entire decade is considered excellent. 1994 was an especially good year," said Wilson. To really impress your companions, look for "Opus One" from Robert Mondavi, or "Silver Oak" cabernets. They are much sought after because they are highly-rated, very drinkable and in short supply. Look for them in the Fall when each vintage is released. Prices for good cabernets will run from $20 to $100 a bottle. But don’t choose a wine based solely on price. "For example", Gregg said, "a 1995 vintage "Dominus" runs about $100, but that was not as good a year for it as 1994. It can easily be beat in quality by a $40 bottle of another California cabernet."

California chardonnays, which are preferred when serving fish, do not make as impressive a gift. "They aren’t viewed as collectible by those who appreciate wine," offered Greg. He does recommend Cakebread Cellar and Sonoma-Cutrer as good chardonnays to serve. California chardonnays run from $25 to $40 a bottle.

If you are in the market for wine to either give to or serve an older, more sophisticated client or business associate, consider French wines. At the top of the list are bordeauxs and burgundies. Bordeauxs such as Mouton Rothschild, Lafite Rothschild and Latour cost between $150 to $275. Burgundies can run from about $55 to $70 a bottle. However, Greg warns, you must invest time in studying French wines before making a purchase. French wines are complicated and you must be knowledgeble about the geography, history, vineyard, etc. to make an informed choice.