Mar
9
Ten Wine Gift Ideas
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Are you trying to find some top gift ideas for wine lovers on your gift list? Keep reading, because I’ve put together a list of gifts which are sure to delight the oenophile in your life. Now of course, a personal vineyard is the ultimate gift for your favorite wine lovers; but if this is out of your budget, then these ideas may help you find a great gift for that special someone.
10 Great Gift Ideas For Wine Lovers
1. Well, like I said before, you’re favorite wine lover could use their own vineyard. However, there is another option available if you can’t quite swing the whole vineyard. You can become a part owner in many wineries for a cost. This is definitely worth a look – it may not make you or the recipient rich, but it makes a great gift for any wine lover on your shopping list.
2. You cannot go wrong if you select an assortment of wine glasses as a special gift. This will be a welcome and useful gift that will probably see action immediately. Those huge, deep-bellied glasses for richer, full-bodied wines are also lovely just to see perched on a bar or table.
3. A cute and inexpensive gift is the royal purple “Instant Youth” bottle bag. You can fit the drawstring bag around an empty or full wine bottle and present it to one of your friends. The writing on the bag declares “Instant Youth just add wine”. This will get a chuckle from the recipient and if you toss in a selection from a particularly great year, it will be twice as appreciated.
4. Personalized labels. You can order a bottle of Pinot Grigio, Cabernet Sauvignon or Petite Syrah which comes with a personalized label. You can have this printed in any design you like – you can even have a photograph of your choice printed in the label!
5. One ideal selection among wine gifts is a portable wine box or basket. These come in an amazing variety. You can choose one made from leather, wicker, or even wood. Some of these carry single bottles of wine while others have room for 2 or more. There are also higher end models that include wine stoppers, corkscrews, glasses and napkins that make them perfect take-a-longs for a concert or picnic.
6. Both fun and educational, the Wineopoly board game makes a great gift for your favorite wine lover. You can learn fun facts about wine while playing this game in which the game tokens include wineglasses, carafes, cheese and other wine-themed designs.
7. Wine glass charms are always appreciated. These decorative items are collected by many wine lovers and you can even order custom made sets of these wine glass charms from some companies.
8. A wine club membership is a great gift for anyone on your list. This is a wonderful way to introduce them to your favorite winery or vineyard. These memberships have wine lists that can be tailored to please even the most discriminating palates.
9. Cookbooks with wine-related recipes also make great gifts for wine lovers. Food and wine were made to be together, after all. Healthy eating recipes aren’t hard to find, and they will compliment your wine selection very nicely. You could even create your own gift basket featuring one of these cookbooks, a god bottle of wine and any other additions you care to make – some assorted cheeses or napkins add a nice touch to this gift.
10. A novelty T-shirt with an original or inspired saying can be worn by any proud wine lover who is worth a bunch of grapes.
Mar
1
Choosing The Right Wine Glass
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The wine glass you choose to drink out of is nearly as important as the wine you choose to put in it. If you have joined a wine club and have been acquiring a collection of fine wines, you will want to give your glassware some consideration.
Each different kind of wine style has a different wine glass that will compliment it best. First, how people perceive the wine is affected by how it is presented. If the finest wine is served in a plastic cup… well you get the picture. When selecting the perfect wine glasses to sample your wine out of, take into account the shape, clarity, stem, and material.
The shape of the wine glass affects not only the temperature of the wine in the glass, but also the aroma and flavor of the wine. The clarity of the wine glass will affect how the wine appears to the eyes. The stem of the glass will also affect the perception, but more importantly the sturdiness of the glass itself.
There are three kinds of wine glasses most commonly used. Red wine glasses feature a rounder mow wide bowl. This shape allows for better cooling and breathing of the red wine, bringing out the real flavor, and holding in the bouquet. Two different styles of red wine glasses are Burgundy and Bordeaux. White wine glasses are straighter, more tulip shaped. This kind of shape helps keep the wine cold since most whites are meant to be drunk chilled. Champagnes glasses are in the form of a flute, tall sides with a narrow bowl. This enhances the effervescence and maintains a cool temperature.
Don’t forget to consider the stem, as it will likely determine how long the wine glass will last. The glass itself should be no bigger than two servings, with one serving taking up no more than half the glass. Glasses can either be made out of glass, or crystal. Crystal being more expensive, but far more durable and clear. Consider your wine glasses a natural extension of your wine, it should capture the best color, bouquet, and taste possible.
Truly there are endless options when choosing a wine glass. These are just some basic principles to take into consideration.