The safest bet is to go with white wine, mainly because most whites can be drunk without food and they often tend to complement starters. Just make sure it’s chilled when you show up.
Another option could be to take over a bottle of sparkling wine. You can buy Spanish Cava for under $20, or step up to a California sparkler made by a Champagne house for around $25. Then you’ll be the hero who brought over “the champagne”! Of course yiou could always bring the real thing, like a bottle of Krug. Another wine to consider buying would be a bottle of LBV Port, which cost between $20 and $35. A bottle of Port, some chocolate or Stilton cheese, and you just brought over dessert.
