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Wine aficionados say red or white wine complements a holiday meal

In this story:

• Wine Spectator's picks
• Taste before you buy
• Related stories and sites

From Correspondent Katharine Barrett

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Americans drink an average of some 60 glasses of wine a year -- a mere drop in the bottle compared with the more than 500 imbibed by the typical French citizen. But American wine consumption is on the rise.

It's a particularly popular beverage during the holidays, and wine aficionados say either red or white wine is suitable for celebrations. It is simply a matter of determining your taste and budget to choose the right variety.

"For me, $10 a bottle is about right," said one holiday wine shopper.

"Fifteen dollars and up, I think, would be a little bit costly, especially because when we drink wine, we don't have just one bottle," said another shopper.

You don't need to worry about vintages with California makers, but with others, age can be important, said Thomas Matthews, senior editor of Wine Spectator.

Wine merchants can help you choose wine that suits your taste and budget

"My advice is to drink the youngest whites available," he said. "I would look at '97 or '96 now. For reds, something three or four years old is likely to have the right combination of fruit and softness."

If you're still at a loss, wine merchants can help you choose a wine to suit your tastes and menu. And you may even get some free samples in the process.

"The best thing to do, you have to drink! There's no substitute for tasting it," said Don Atkinson, senior wine consultant at Astor Wines & Spirits.

If you find one wine that you especially like, buying a case will usually get you a 5 percent to 10 percent discount.