Bubbly Season

For good or for bad, better or for worse, lean times, hard times, good times, perhaps all times - there is something about popping the cork so to speak and pouring a toast.

The period between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve seems to be ripe for this. Uncle Ned, wobbly to his feet and raising a glass in praise of the Turducken or mom and dad watching the presents being ripped apart and treating themselves to a mimosa so artfully hidden in the OJ.

Whatever it is, the bubbly associates itself with this time of year and before you go out and get some for a friend's gift or for lugging home to chill until New Year's, we recommend you taste some and learn some about it - why it isn't champagne for instance - and why we have, on Long Island, some of the best sparkling wines going.

Or you can just drop in and say hello and flash a smile and get it returned.

We promise not to play Lawrence Welk and his Champagne Music Makers but then again we just might.