(NAPSA)—From office parties to snuggling in front of the fire with a cup of egg nog, from a romantic candlelit dinner to family feasts, there are plenty of ways to get into the “spirits” of the holidays—and a pair of handy guides can be of use, either as references for the hosts or themedgifts. Wine For Dummies, 3rd Edition (Wiley, $21.99) is an accessible, unpretentious “wine lover’s bible” that opens up the world of wine for anyone. In it, authors Ed McCarthy and Mary EwingMulligan take out the mystery and put in the fun, with a complete immersion in tasting, buying, storing, serving—even talking about wine. Flipping through this compendium, you'll find tips on pee everything from navigating a wine shop and a restaurant wine list, to marrying wine with food and how to taste ‘Reference for the Rest of Us! wine. Bartending For Dummies, 2nd Edition (Wiley, $16.99), by Ray Foley, is packed with recipes, background information on liquors, wines and beer, and advice on glassware and barware accessories needed to make any gathering a success. The tome offers an A-to-Z listing of more than 1,000 cocktails, as well as methods for cutting fruit garnishes, shaking drinks, opening bottles and setting up a homebar. Both books are available at bookstores and on the Web at www.dummies.com.
