Wine and girls' nights in

Who isn't cheered up by a bottle of bubbly?

Whether gathering for a book club, to rehash a particularly dramatic break-up or particularly steamy first date, or simply to commiserate about overbearing bosses, Chicago women love gathering around a coffee table to drink wine and chat.

But which wines should be brought to such a gathering? Here's a guide to what to buy for your GNI (Girls' Night In).

Your Best Friend Just Got Her Heart Broken, and You're Rallying the Troops

So many people reserve champagne and sparkling wines for celebration only, but when someone needs proper cheering up, is there anything better than a beautiful bottle of bubbly?

Pop in the "Sex & the City Movie," break out the reserve stash of mini-Hershey bars, and toast your scorned sister with a glass of Brun Terres Dorees "FRV 100" Sparkling Gamay. This Beaujolais gem is pink and girly with notes of cherry bubble gum, and will cheer your pal up faster than a pair of Manolos (with a much easier-to-swallow price tag of $19.99 at JustGrapes.net). Give your gal pal a giggle with the French pronunciation of "FRV 100," which is "Eff-air-vay-son" (Effervescent! Get it?).

The New Mexican Gruet Grand Rose ($32 direct from Gruet Winery) is another pink sparkler, but this one's dry on the finish. Or if nothing but the real-deal champagne will do the trick, an affordable yet fabulous option is the Duval Leroy Cuvee "Paris" Champagne, available for an unreal $36.99 at Just Grapes. The bottle is silk-screened with images from Paris streetscapes, and is the next best thing to hoping a plane to get away from heartbreak.

You're Celebrating! (Promotion, Birthday, Hump Day, Friday... Does it Matter?)

Toast success--whether professional or simply a fabulous haircut--with a bottle of something special that you and your girlfriends have never really tried before. Like Pinot Grigio? Pinot Gris is made from the same grape, but features earthier notes and sometimes takes on smoky or creamy qualities. Fiddlehead Cafe, which offers its wines and cheeses for retail purchase, sells the delicious 2007 O'Reilly's Pinot Gris for $14.50.

If Cabernet is your go-to "nice red" wine varietal, shake things up with a bold and funky Cabernet Franc or Argentinian Malbec. La Montecchia Godimondo Cab Franc from Italy is full-bodied, spicy, and very food-friendly. Score it at Just Grapes for $19.99, and pick up a smoky brick oven pizza from Graziano's to pair it with.

Celebrate good times with good wine.

Book Club (or Wine Club, Cheese Club, "Desperate Housewives" Night, Whatever)

To help avoid the typical "guzzle and gush" effect wine has on groups of women, when there's an agenda for the evening, choose a wine that's a little lower in alcohol. You can read the alcohol content on almost any bottle of wine you buy. If it's in the 12% to 13% range, chances are even a few glasses will help you get beyond discussing the first chapter. If you're shopping in the 14% and up range, some of your friends may not stay coherent for very long (slurring "True or falsh: Mr. Darshy and Elishabeth BELONG together?" does not count as an intelligent, thought-provoking book club discussion point).