With Thanksgiving a mere two days away and the holiday season right around the corner, this time of year brings fine wine to all foodie minds. Wine lovers traditionally splurge in December on fancy bottles for both holiday toasts and New Year's Eve celebrations. To welcome this time of year and the wines that complement it, the Wine and Food Foundation is throwing a gala event next week celebrating sparkling wine and heavy reds. We doubt you'll see much Pinot Noir here; by Big Reds, they mean Cabernet, Syrah, and Meritage blends. These opulent reds will be countered by light and lovely sparkling wines from around the world. One can often think of champagne negatively due to the cheap plonk that gets poured en masse at parties or wedding receptions - but to do so would be a mistake. Whether you prefer California sparkling wine, French champagne, or Spanish cava, there are some exceptional sparklers currently on the market, and you'll be able to taste many of them at this event.

Amongst the many wines on offer, our picks for "must try" are: Krug champagne for class and tradition, Dom Perignon for the bragging rights, Iron Horse for America's best sparklers, Tablas Creek for European-inspired red blends from Paso Robles, Alexander Valley Vineyards for rustic cabernets and merlots, Lancaster for a rising Sonoma star, and Concha y Toro for Chile's best new world reds.

In the presence of all this fancy wine, food could be an afterthought, but some posh snacks will be served up by Aquarelle, Castle Hill Café, Cru, III Forks, Finn and Porter, Moonshine Patio Bar, and The Belmont, among others. In sum, while this party is expensive, if one can't enjoy an admission price's worth of top-notch wine and food, you're simply not trying hard enough. Go back for seconds on your favorites - we implore you to.