The New Year is almost here, and with it comes champagne! But picking out the right bottle to pop is never as simple as it seems. Do you play it safe, giving your host—or yourself—a bottle of Dom Pérignon or Veuve Clicquot? (We break down what those bottles say about you here.) But we would argue you should go with something more original, something with a personal touch—something like Telmont. Produced since 1912 by four generations of the same family on an estate in the heart of the Champagne region’s Vallée de la Marne, this house is working toward becoming fully organic by 2031—a mission requiring a little help from its investors, among them Leonardo DiCaprio. The best part? It tastes very good. (from $69.99, champagne-telmont.com) —Jeanne Malle

Ingvild Rishøi, the Norwegian author of the Christmas novella Brightly Shining (2024), is back with a triptych of tender portraits set in the frigid Oslo winter. A young mother tries to steal a pair of underwear for her daughter; a man fresh out of prison struggles to buy a pillow for his son; siblings run away from home to escape child services. Rishøi renders each character’s inner turmoil with beautifully constrained prose. For fans of Claire Keegan’s Small Things Like These and Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead, Winter Stories belongs on the same shelf. ($22, amazon.com) —Paulina Prosnitz

Thinking of gathering auld acquaintances for a New Year’s party? Be wary of a lively catch-up interrupted by the accusatory, “I’m pretty sure that’s my drink.” They, the auld acquaintance that should’ve been forgot, are pointing at you, by the way—and the dirty martini in your hand with two olives skewered on a pick. You’re sure it’s yours. Still, you blush. Are you drunk? You certainly look it now. How to prove your innocence? Point to the stylish Heath Wagoner Western-themed Marfa sterling-silver cocktail picks and make your case: “You had the cactus. I had the boot.” Duh! The prosecution drops it. And you thank heaven (your mother) you received these as a stocking stuffer for Christmas. ($805, abask.com) —Carolina de Armas

I’ve failed many times at finding the perfect Fair Isle sweater. (Too itchy! Too frumpy! Too grandmother-y!) That is, until I stumbled upon cool-girl brand Nili Lotan’s re-interpretation of the preppy classic in 100 percent cashmere—no scratchy wool here. Knitted in sophisticated colors, the Josefa Cardigan is a fashion-forward alternative to the winter staple and suggests you know your way around La Garçonne, in Tribeca, as well as you do an RS Quest. ($890, nililotan.com) —Gracie Wiener

A new Netflix documentary spotlights an unsung hero of print media: Seymour Hersh. And under an increasingly opaque political climate, there may be no better moment to revisit the work of the muckraker who exposed the My Lai massacre during the Vietnam War—where hundreds of women and children were killed—as well as the Abu Ghraib scandal, which revealed the U.S. Army’s abuse and torture of prisoners during the Iraq War. Tracing more than half a century of reporting, the film is a bracing reminder of journalism at its most fearless—and America at its most terrible. (netflix.com) —Maggie Turner

Can’t think of New Year’s resolutions for 2026? Perhaps Bridget Jones—of Bridget Jones’s Diary, by Helen Fielding—can help with not one but two lists. One features the things she will do (“Stop smoking. Drink no more than 14 alcohol units a week. Reduce circumference of thighs by three inches”) and the other keeps count of all the things she won’t do (“Drink more than 14 alcohol units a week. Smoke. Behave sluttishly around the house, but instead imagine others are watching.”) Now, on its 30th anniversary, the novel is as relatable as ever and serves many nuggets of wisdom. Just make sure not to “snog” your boss. ($18, amazon.com) —Carolina de Armas