Ten Affordable Holiday Party Pours

The reds and the whites that for the palate are delights.Red: D'Arenberg The Stump Jump Grenache-Shiraz-Mourvedre, McLaren Vale, Australia, $9

Grenache-syrah-mourvedre blends reach their pinnacle in France's southern Rhone Valley, particularly Chateauneuf-du-Pape. The wines are bright and juicy, but also rich and complex. But these red grape varieties grow well in Australia, too--and this one has a fraction of the cost of your average Chateauneuf-du-Pape. The quality isn't as high, but this is a crowd-pleaser for a very wallet-friendly price. And D'Arenberg, one of the older family wineries in Australia, also makes some of Australia's most prestigious wines, such as the high-end GSM blend called The Ironstone Pressings ($65), as well as a shiraz called The Dead Arm ($52).