Happy New Year, gentle readers. Six days less than we usually have between Thanksgiving and Christmas really did make a difference. Now that most of us can catch our breath after the Christmas marathon, it is time to look toward the future and turn our thoughts to prospering and surviving in 2020.

This is the time of year when retailers, publications and websites tout the Top 5 or 500 must-have Christmas items for those we hold near and dear. Attention shoppers, good news here: All items in Neiman Marcus’s Christmas catalog are priced below a million bucks this year.

There are certain experiences that evoke good, bad, transcendent and humorous memories. One of my humorous moments was provided by a Sonoma wine, La Crema, and is a gift that keeps on giving.

Most people likely find statistics boring, with the exception of statisticians and university professors who wax nostalgically about quantitative methods, probability theory, hypothesis testing and variance analysis. I can see eyes glazing over as you read this.

Tomorrow, as we celebrate the signing of our Declaration of Independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776, many will be raising a glass of wine to toast our country’s birthday. It is interesting to reflect on three wine milestones interwoven with our American history.

Wine-Searcher.com is an online database that brings together wine aficionados and wine purveyors. I often consult this site for price information on rare or hard-to-find vintages of a particular wine.

Robert Parker has said, “When the history of Napa’s great vineyards is written, the 40-acre Spottswoode grand cru vineyards will be counted among the finest grand vineyards in the region.”

Along with millions of others on April 15, I watched in horror as flames engulfed Notre Dame Cathedral and its gothic spire fell onto the roof, bringing down the enormous wooden beams known as the “Forest,” which had supported this 850-year-old structure.

One of the most storied wine companies in existence today is the family-owned and operated E&J Gallo wine conglomerate, founded in 1933 by brothers Ernest and Julio Gallo.

Pope Francis says, “Water is necessary to live, but wine expresses the abundance of the feast and the joy and celebration."

To decant or not to decant, that is the question. When it comes to wine, there is no pat answer.

I collect things, sometimes not knowing why. One interest throughout the years has been barware and barware accoutrement. This interest started as a young child, which is ironic because the strongest beverage served in my childhood home was sweet tea.

It is not lost on me that tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. Likely Valentine plans are in place and purchases have been made for significant others, but if still struggling for a gift, then consider one of the holy trinity of fortified wines: Sherry, Madeira or Port.

Likely for most of us, it is a rare opportunity to taste expensive bottles of wine on any given night. But if one is a regular attendee at Tyson Fine Wines and Things’ Thursday evening wine tastings in Anniston, such an opportunity might occur more frequently than expected.

Is there really a difference between cheap and expensive wine, and can most wine consumers tell the difference? Yes and no.

With Christmas less than a week away, likely many are in panic mode struggling to complete last-minute shopping. A special bottle of wine is always a good idea. I would place a bottle of Port in that special category.

Despite the cornucopia of Christmas programming this time of year, including those poorly acted, mushy Hallmark Channel offerings and the ad infinitum showings of “Miracle on 34th Street,” no one spins a Christmas story better than Charles Dickens. He wrote many Christmas stories, but most n…

If you're enjoying that hard apple cider, thank Johnny Appleseed.

UPDATE: Regrettably, master sommelier Jacob Gragg’s plans have changed and he will be unable to honor his longstanding commitment to host the wine tasting mentioned below. However, Jimmy Collins, district manager for Banfi in Tennessee and Alabama, has graciously agreed to step up to the pla…

The co-founders of Ava Winery say their wine is made in a laboratory by chemists.