The word "festive" is synonymous with the holidays, so here are some wines -- all $12 or under -- that will have your guests talking about not only the flavors but also the packaging:
Sparkler: Prosecco is hot, and is a prime component (70 percent, with 30 percent chardonnay) in the dry, delightful Astoria 9.5. Awards often don't mean much in the wine world, but beating 1,200 bubbly rivals to win the Grand Gold Medal at VinItaly 2010 is actually a huge deal. The low alcohol (9.5 percent) is a bonus. Striking black-and-white bottle, too.
Lighter white: Perhaps no California winery is making more delicious, affordable renditions of both sauvignon blanc and pinot grigio than Robert Pepi. Either -- or both -- will give your guests a beautiful balance of fruit and acidity, making them marvelous matchups with all manner of food. Especially since both are so mouth-watering. Cool surfboard-ish logo.
Heavier white: If someone's wearing too much perfume, a glass of the floral Big House White is just the ticket. With a rich fruit-cocktail flavor and just enough minerality, it's the tastiest boxed wine I've had all year, just right for guests who wonder why you don't have chardonnay. The lowdown on the name and illo: This blend is made next to the Soledad (Calif.) prison.
Lighter red: It might look like a "gimmick" wine, but the Home Grown "Family Harvest Red" is the real deal. This Italian-style field blend (syrah, petite sirah and barbera) is lush and chunky with lots of layers and a long, light finish. It's food-friendly, too. Love the boots on the label, whatever they mean.
Heavier red: Washington did not go overboard on merlot like its neighbor to the south, growing it only in places where it worked. The Charles Smith "Velvet Devil" bottling reminds us of why we fell in love with merlot to begin with: plush plum and chocolate notes, and the satiny texture promised on the stark label.
BILL WARD