The Perfect Holiday Wine Gift

The Perfect Holiday Wine Gift

Whether you need a host/hostess present or any gift for the holidays, consider giving wine. Wine makes an excellent offering and is available at every price point imaginable. If you have visited your local wine merchants lately, you will have noticed that many of them are offering gift baskets filled to the brim with wines as well as other delicacies. I like these pre-wrapped gift baskets, but usually ask for permission to fill my own. Good wine merchants will not mind this and usually have empty baskets for this exact purpose.

How to build your own wine basket

Always try to give people what they like. If I know the recipient only drinks red wine then Istick with that. That being said, if I am unsure about the recipient’s preferences, or if I am giving the basket to a couple with mixed preferences, I like to give either two reds and one white, or two reds and one sparkling wine. 

What to spend

The baskets I give usually consist of three bottles and cost me between $50 and $100. I like to include one less expensive bottle ($10-$15) that is meant for everyday consumption, one bottle that is more expensive ($15-$30) that is meant for a spontaneous special occasion, and one really fine bottle of wine ($30+) that I ask they place somewhere dark and cool and forget about for a few years. (You can also use these guidelines to grab a single bottle for a last-minute gift.)

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The less expensive choice: $10-$15

Look for a wine that is ready for immediate consumption. A lot of warm climate ‘new world’ countries, such as Australia, South Africa, Argentina, Chile and the United States, produce delicious medium to full bodied red wines that

are often fruit forward and have soft tannins. Go for an Australian Shiraz, a Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile or a Merlot from California. A Carmenere-based wine also works if you are looking for something different. For a lighter bodied wine I tend to go with a supple Pinot Noirs from California or Oregon. New Zealand, which also produces great Pinots, is an outside-of-the-box choice.

The special-occasion choice: $15-$30

What's better than something sparkling? The obvious choice is to go for a French Champagne. The problem is that the good ones from this region are generally pretty expensive. As an alternative you may want to look at a Prosecco from Italy or a Cava from Spain, a country which produces some great bubbles. If you decide to go with a white wine, I recommend a Burgundy in the $25-$30 price range. Another region that produces spectacular Chardonnay, and which is usually cheaper than Burgundies, is California. Look for one from Sonoma County. This specific county has produced amazing Chardonnay over the course of the past five years. Most Chardonnays can sit around and doesn’t have to be consumed right away (in fact they often improve with a little bottle age).

The really special wine: $30+

Go with a big, bombastic red! My favorites include the Nebbiolo based Barolo or his brother from another mother, the Sangiovese based Brunello di Montalcino. If you are looking for something a little lighter, but still want to make a red statement look for a French wine that bears the Southern Rhone Valley appellation of ‘Chateauneauf Du Pape’. These Grenache-Syrah-Mouvedre-based  blends are spectacular. Pick any vintage after 2003 and you can’t go wrong. While Barolos, Brunellos and Chateauneuf-Du-Papes can get very expensive, there are a lot of well priced ones out there as well. All three types of wine can last from 5 to 20+ years.

The added touch

I like to print out the tasting notes of the wine and give them alongside the wine. Almost all wineries have Web sites and finding these notes is not difficult. Tasting notes spark discussion about the wine as it is consumed and makes it a more enjoyable experience. Focusing on the aromas and flavors in a wine often enhances the enjoyment of drinking it. Most Web sites will also have food pairing recommendations as well.

Have fun shopping

As you walk around the aisles of your local wine store, don’t be afraid to ask for assistance. A knowledgeable wine merchant likes to talk about wine and loves to help his or her costumers out. Throw the wines you pick in the basket, along with some good cheese, crackers and dark chocolate and you are good to go!

Besides from writing about wine Steffen Rasch also consults, hosts lessons, tastings and other types of wine events privately, as well as for businesses. If you are interested in knowing more please contact [email protected].