This week, we turn to wines for celebrations. A festive occasion can be a showcase for a wide variety of wines. Sparkling wines are always welcome, so you’ll find many outstanding Champagnes here—up to 96 points. Vintage Ports are perfect ways to end a special evening; this Insider Weekly includes 8 options including 5 that scored 97 points. A celebration is also a good opportunity for discovery, as we turn toward new adventures, so we offer some outstanding wines from South Africa, Germany, Spain and France that may be off the beaten track for many wine lovers. Most of these wines have appeared in previous editions of Insider. They aim for the sweet spot of high quality, reasonable price and generous availability. We hope they will help make your celebrations special.

This week, we offer 40 food-worthy wines—up to 95 points—that are perfect for your holiday feasts. There are bold reds to accompany standing rib roasts, elegant reds perfect for leg of lamb, bold whites that will complement baked ham and elegant whites for meals centered on seafood. And there are options for sparkling and sweet wines, to open and close the occasion. Most of these wines have appeared in previous editions of Insider. They aim for the sweet spot of high quality, reasonable price and generous availability. We hope they will help make your celebrations special.

Blockbuster Barolos up to 97 points and vibrant California Pinot Noirs with outstanding scores lead the pack in this week's blind tastings. The latest single-vineyard releases from one of California's Rhône-style wine masters, Saxum, show excellent marks. For white wine lovers looking for new discoveries, check out 5 selections each at 94 points from South Africa, Germany and France. This Insider Weekly is capped off with 4 Hot Wines with classic scores along with a 9-year-old Rioja that scored 92 points and retails for only $30.

Impressively polished Oregon Pinot Noirs up to 94 points as well as stunning single-vineyard bottlings from South Africa's Sadie Family lead the way in this week’s blind tastings. Napa Cabernet fans should check out the 11 under-$100 outstanding bottlings featured this week. For Barolo lovers, this Insider Weekly includes 5 new releases from leading producers with scores up to 95 points. Lastly, don’t miss the 4 Hot Wines covering 4 countries as well as a seductive Syrah from France scoring 93 points and priced at just $29.

The 2016 vintage of Califonia Cabernets continues to impress, with new releases earning scores up to 94 points in this week's tastings, while 7 Pinot Noirs from the prized Chambertin appellation earn classic ratings. Chardonnay lovers should check out the vibrant and nuanced versions from Oregon featured here. And a non-blind vertical tasting back to 1991 from a leading winery from Spain's Rioja appellation, Señorio de San Vicente, shows marks up to 97 points. Don't miss this week's 4 Hot Wines, from Piedmont, Tuscany and the Rhône, or our value pick, an alluring California Sauvignon Blanc earning 93 points and priced at just $28.