Not often does the last column of the year actually hit the streets on New Year's Eve, but that's the case in 2008.

I wanted to make this a celebration of the past year, but there doesn't seem to be much to celebrate right now, with the news out of Washington and everywhere else incessantly bleak.

But regardless of the depressing economic outlook as we head into 2009, it's still important to use the end of the year to assess one's progress in accomplishing life's goals. So today I'm going to make my annual wish list public in the hope that some of it will actually come true.

WHAT I WISH I HAD MORE OF: There are several wines I wish I had significantly more of in my cellar, starting with the luscious and fruity Jardin Chardonnay from Stellenbosch, South Africa, loaded with ripe pears and melted butter, a full-bodied wine that also rests lightly on the palate, sort of like silk scarves on a chaise longue.

Another wine I've grown fond of for everyday drinking is Wakefield Dry Riesling, from Australia's Clare Valley, its flinty aromas of lime peel and petrol fading seamlessly into a yellow plum and apricot finish. Always a winner and not a name that most people know much about, but it's fine juice to be sure.

As for reds, I definitely want more of the Ravenswood Petite Sirah from California, brambly and rustic, with ripe blueberries and blackberries peeking through the almond-orange finish.

It produces a surprising amount of pleasure for such reasonably priced juice.

I'd also be measurably merrier if I saw a bottle of Fairhope Cabernet Sauvignon North Coast, also from California, show up on my doorstep. Its brooding flavors of dark chocolate and cherries go on and on, eventually melding into highlights of mint and black tea that stay in the mouth for at least a minute after the wine has been swallowed.

GREAT ORGANIC WINES: I wish more great organic wines were available at reasonable prices, bottles like Bonterra Viognier, from Mendocino, Calif. I particularly like the honeysuckle and limeade elements of this wine as they melt into the delicate kaffir-lime follow- through.

Another top-notch organic wine is the Benziger Pinot Noir out of Sonoma County, with its ripe plum and fresh herb accents. I'm quite fond of the dried currants that flavor the midpalate, and I also appreciate the cedary oak that rounds out the tangy structure.

BETTER PRICING ON EUROPEAN WINE: Too much European wine costs much more than it did a few years ago, mostly due to the euro's appreciation against the dollar. That appreciation has now reversed somewhat, and I've noticed that we've started to see better pricing on wine from across the pond. Let's hope that trend continues.

In the meantime, check out the Dr. Thanisch Riesling Classic from the Mosel Valley, Germany. I've always been a sucker for great German Riesling, and this bottle has the goods. Its lip-smacking, high-toned floral and citrus flavors dance on the tongue for what seems like an eternity.

Also seek out the Joseph Drouhin Chorey-les-Beaune, from Burgundy, France, a delicately scented mass of roses, violets and cinnamon. Why can't more delicious Burgundy be in this price range? Every vintage of this wine I've ever tasted has been a terrific value.

I spent a fair amount of time wondering whether making a wish list in the middle of a recession would seem a bit elitist, perhaps even out-of-touch. Sure, most celebrations have been scaled back this year, but it's human nature to look for things to commemorate, even during hard times, maybe even more so because of them.

In the end, what's important to me is being able to share with you my thoughts and feelings about wine. So here's to the future, whatever it may bring. Good luck to all, and to all a safe, healthy holiday season.

benweinberg@comcast.net