The Gift of Wine
The holiday season brings with it invitations to parties, celebrations, dinner events and open-houses – nothing wrong with that….unless you happen to be someone who worries about what to bring as a gift for your hosts!
Worry no more for the gift of wine is always appropriate no matter what the occasion. And whether you’re buying for the wine aficionado or a grape “novice”, the questions to ask yourself before purchasing are really not that different!
What’s being served?
If you’ve been invited to a dinner party or celebration where food features prominently, find out in advance what’s on the menu. Traditionally, red meats, heavy meals and pastas made with hearty tomatoes sauces call for heartier red wines such as a Chianti or Cabernet Sauvignon. White meats like chicken, fish and seafood, and lighter pastas and salads usually call for crisp white wines such as a Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc.
However there are no rules written in stone when in comes to bringing wine as a gift. Take the type of wine that you know or think your hosts will enjoy. A great Pinot Noir (the lighter side of reds) is always appropriate or a special ice wine or fortified wine may be particularly appreciated with dessert.
What do they normally drink?
If you know your hosts well and have noted what they really enjoy in the wine department, then you definitely have the leg up. You’ll know whether they prefer white over red, and perhaps even whether they enjoy old world style over new world style wines.
Take all this information to your local store and ask the staff for a recommendation. Your hosts will appreciate the opportunity to try something new in the style that they most typically enjoy.
What do you like?
If you don’t know your hosts all that well, or are unaware of their tastes in the wine department, just stick to what you enjoy. Trust in your own tastes and preferences, and gift your host with a bottle of your favourite wine. Whether it is exactly to their tastes or not, the knowledge that you’ve shared something that you enjoy with them will be appreciated. And you never know, you may open their eyes to a whole new type of wine to be appreciated.
What’s the occasion?
If you know the celebration is a special one, such as New Years, an anniversary or a particularly formal or fun event, you can rarely go wrong with a bottle of sparkling wine or champagne. Again, there are plenty of great sparkling wines and champagnes in a variety of price ranges, so ask at your local retailer for a recommendation. Even guests who are not crazy about champagne will have a glass to toast a special occasion.
How much would you like to spend?
This particular question is really more for you, the purchaser, than for the recipient. Good quality, fine-tasting wines can be found at every price point. So don’t break the budget; instead take the extra time to find an alternative in your preferred price range.
Go online and look for reviews or find some recommendations made by local sommeliers. Make note of great-tasting wines that you encounter while out for dinner or at events. If you’ve heard your hosts raving about a particular type of wine, ask the expert at your local retailer or specialty shop about obtaining the same wine or a wine with similar qualities in your price range. They’ll be happy to help.
How should you present it?
And never forget that the devil is in the details, or in this case, the presentation…so wrap it up or decorate it appropriately. Most wine retailers sell gift bags made especially for wine bottles, but there are lots of ways to make the gift of wine unique and special, including using a basket with special cheeses and crackers, pairing decorative corks or an opener with the bottle, or just a cheery bow or wrapping can make the gift that much more memorable to your hosts. CLICK HERE for other unique ideas on how to wrap wine this year.