The toast of the holidays and a year-round favorite thanks to more than 110 Lone Star State wineries, Texas wines are as varied as the people who enjoy them. And just as certain wines pair better with certain foods, various Texas vintages often pair better with particular personalities.

With that in mind, the Texas Department of Agriculture and its GO TEXAN wine program invite you to play matchmaker. Are you buying a cabernet for a cabernet? A merlot for a merlot?

How well do you know your favorite wine drinker? How well do you know yourself?

Find your wine personality below and then find the telling traits of your favorite wine recipient.

When it comes to great-tasting Texas wines, we may find we are what we drink.

The Cabernet: You're bold and you're strong, but with a warm side that only comes out once we've gotten to know you. Same goes for that bone-dry sense of humor. It's no wonder the sophisticated set loves you - not that you care. You're just as happy at home with backyard burgers as you are at a banquet with filet mignon. If you were a car, you'd be a classic - but not the kind people are afraid to touch. You've got some power, and you were born to use it.

The Merlot: There's a mystical side to you, slightly mischievous, but that only makes you the life of the party. The fact that we can't really know everything about you makes you all the more intriguing. It's just so hard to nail you down - sometimes you're subtle, other times you're adventurous. If we could forget about you we would, but who are we kidding? You had us at "hello."

The Pinot Noir: There's no getting around it. You're difficult. You're demanding. But oh, oh, oh so worth it. You're the kind who has to have things just "so" before you're willing to open up and share your secrets. But we don't mind going to a little extra effort. The way you see it (and we tend to agree), that doesn't mean you're a prima dona - it just means you're great.

The Muscat Canelli: There's just one word to describe you - sweet. Of course, you're deeper than that, but there's no denying that's the overwhelming characteristic that makes you, well, you. Still, you're no lightweight. If we could spend real, quality time with you, we'd discover your true nature. 

The Port: Look at you, Smooth Operator. You are so silky sleek you don't walk into a room, you glide. You appreciate sophistication, but you're anything but stuffy. There is a refinement in the way you express yourself. If one is willing to take a step up the ladder, they'll find you're happy to meet them halfway. That's because, once you get past the stately surface, you're just as sweet as you can be.

The Shiraz: You know who you are - the toast of the town. You're boisterous - make that joyous - and you light up a room just by walking into it. Your motto? Life is too short to be a wallflower. Of course, there's no danger of that happening to you. So what if you're not to absolutely everybody's taste? Those who really know you don't just like you - they honestly, insistently, unconditionally love you.

The Riesling: Still waters run deep. No, you're not the showy type. You're a little more reserved. You're the perfect friend. You're comfortable, and yet - you still surprise us now and then. And if we found ourselves stranded on a desert island, we can imagine growing tired of just about anyone after a while - but we'd never grow tired of you.

The Chenin Blanc: You're from Texas, right? We knew it the minute you came in. There's just a trace of that delightful accent. It makes you a little spicy. And then there's that slightly southern way you present yourself - cultured without being pretentious. Nobody can accuse you of not being completely down-to-earth. There's nobody we'd rather hang out with on a Saturday night.

The Blush: Hey there! No need to put on airs, you're exactly what you seem to be and everybody - I mean EVERYBODY - likes you (whether they choose to admit it or not). Oh, you're not likely to dine with royalty anytime soon, but that's their loss. You've got a good heart and a pleasant disposition, and you just make people feel so good. What's wrong with that?

The Chardonnay: It's hard to describe you, but if we had to put a label on it, we'd say that you're totally, completely, heartwarmingly pristine. There's something absolutely pure about you. And while you seem lighthearted, there is a certain elegance in the way you hold yourself. We wouldn't be surprised in the least to find you charming heads of state one day - and the next, swinging a picnic basket on your way to a beachfront getaway for two.

The Gewurtztraminer: It's true, you make no attempt to fit in with the crowd - but that's only because that's the way you like it. How boring to be like everybody else! You're having too much fun being the outsider. But at the right time, in the right place, you know how to grab the spotlight. And maybe that's exactly where you belong.

Did You Know?

So you've figured out what wine pairs with what type of personality, but did you also know?

• "Texas is the fifth-largest wine producing state in the nation and one of the fastest growing wine regions on earth," said Bobby Champion Jr., TDA's state coordinator for Texas wine marketing. "Look at a map - it's a big state with varied terrain and every climate you can imagine. And in every part of Texas, they're making premium wine. Every label is unique, and there's a Texas wine to satisfy any taste. The secret's out - this state makes truly amazing wines."

No wonder they say Texas wine people are the best people in the world. Learn more about your favorite Texas wine and how to have it shipped right to your door at www.gotexanwine.org/.