In a perfect world, DCist would purchase its holiday gifts straight out of “Fantasy Gifts” section of the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book catalogue. Unfortunately, we lack the $3.5 million to purchase the Jetsonian M400 Skycar for Dad and the $1.5 million to lock up the private Elton John concert for Mom. Considering both our relative poverty and our reluctance to be a Cell Phone Bandit copycat, we must turn to other – significantly cheaper – options to show our relations our appreciation.

Fortunately for us, Continental Wine & Liquor is selling more than 170 wines at discounted prices at their store and at TasteDC.com’s annual Holiday Wine Expo this Saturday afternoon at downtown’s Wyndham Hotel, located at 1400 M Street, NW. For $35 (or $50 at the door, if tickets remain), you may roam through the Wyndham’s ballroom, tasting any (or all, if you think you’re a Dudley Moore character) of the available wines at your leisure. Like Madeleine Kahn’s Empress Nympho, you may then go “no-no-yes” on the wines, placing orders at reduced prices for ones you like and casting aside the others. The wines that you order will then be available for pick-up a few days later at Continental’s store at 1100 Vermont Avenue, NW. And, of course, you may choose to go simply for the slow jams, tasting the wines that are open and purchasing nothing at all.