Holiday hosting has a way of sneaking up on you, and so does the question of what to pour. Martin's, the Louisiana wine, spirits and deli shop with two Baton Rouge stores, has two November tastings on the calendar that double as a crash course for your Thanksgiving and holiday table.

Seasonal Wine Sippers, Nov. 19

The first is the most relaxed. On Thursday, Nov. 19, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., the Mid City store at 1670 Lobdell Ave., Suite 101, hosts a walkabout tasting. Instead of sitting through a lecture, you wander the store, sample a lineup of seasonal wines at your own pace and chat with staff about what you like. Tickets are about $31 through the store's Eventbrite page.

Intro to Champagne, Nov. 20

The next night, Friday, Nov. 20, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., the Moss Side Lane store at 6463 Moss Side Lane goes sparkling. This seated class covers Champagne's history, the difference between grower-producers and the big houses, and how to read those confusing labels. Guests taste five Champagnes paired with cheeses: Pierre Gimonnet Brut Blanc de Blancs 1er Cru, Laurent Perrier Brut La Cuvée, Didier Ducos Fils Noir Absolu, André Chemin Brut Rosé and Gaston Chiquet Brut Rosé. Tickets are about $43.

Two stores, two personalities

The Lobdell shop opened in 2019 and focuses on wine, spirits and craft beer, including Louisiana brews. It's open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Moss Side, just off Perkins Road, adds a deli with scratch-made soups, sandwiches, salads and weekly specials. The store is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the deli serving daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It also handles catering, which comes in handy for office parties.

Refunds are offered only up to two days before each event, so plan ahead. Then head home with a few bottles and a story to tell at dinner.

Photo courtesy of Martin's.