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Choosing a bottle of wine as a gift is a quite difficult task, especially if you do not know what drinks the recipient prefers, whether he understands wines and how he feels about them in general. Some people only drink red, some do not like sweets, and some choose beer. Therefore, before looking for a wine gift, I advise you to answer a few questions:
- Does the person like wine? If not, then you should think about another gift;
- Does he study wine? If so, then a premium cuvée from a famous appellation, or something unknown and curious will be an excellent choice;
- Maybe he is a connoisseur or collector of rare cuvées and vintages? If so, then it would be ideal to find out which appellation he prefers, whether he has any favorite drinks or those that he dreams of trying. In any case, it is worth looking for something exclusive;
- What kind of wines does he prefer? White or red? Maybe sparkling or fortified? The more information you have, the easier it will be to choose a gift, and the more likely it will be appreciated;
- What occasion are you giving a gift for? The answer to this question will indicate its approximate price. For important holidays – birthdays, New Year, Christmas – expensive things are usually given, and for a party or a meeting of friends, where communication is more important than food and drinks, you should choose simpler drinks.
If you are simply invited to a party and want to thank the host of the house, responsible for the table and snacks, then it would be reasonable to choose a cuvée that will appeal to most guests – drinkable, unpretentious, but of good quality (and not necessarily Grand Cru).
How to give a bottle of wine is also a separate topic. A chic collectible cuvée of a rare vintage or a premium Grand Cru deserves appropriate packaging – a wooden box for one bottle, in which such drinks are usually sold, will look very stylish. For simpler options, this may not be done, so beautiful paper gift wrapping will also work. You can simply give a bottle with a beautiful classic label, which in itself will be a decoration, especially if this gift is intended for a common table.
Wine as a gift for a woman
What kind of wine to give a woman? It doesn’t have to be rosé, sparkling or sweet, but it’s still worth making an allowance for her knowledge. I also advise you to move away from the generally accepted idea that women need something lighter and sweeter, and men need something more powerful, because according to surveys, half of the female wine audience also appreciates red wines. Some ladies will not refuse a tannic, structured Pauillac or an Amarone or port, high in alcohol. But in general, women really prefer refined drinks of medium strength.
Of the reds, the names of the following regions are suitable:
- Burgundy: elegant young Montélie or Volnay, the most feminine, soft, delicate wine from the Côtes de Beaune, in contrast to the richer drinks of the subregion.
- Bordeaux from the Right Bank aged 5-10 years, for example Saint-Emilion or Fronsac. They have softer tannins than those from the Left Bank (Médoc and communal appellations).
- Valpolicella Classico (Valpolicella Classico) is a juicy, fruity wine from the Veneto region in northeastern Italy, where Prosecco is also produced.
- Pinot Noir from the New World (Marlborough in New Zealand or California’s Sonoma Valley), where the maritime influence and moderate climate make this popular variety concentrated and balanced.
- Cru Beaujolais Saint-Amour (Beaujolais) is popular for Valentine’s Day. Saint–Amour), one of the most delicate Crus (unlike, for example, the powerful Morgon). In addition, the name translates as “Holy Love”.
Rosé wine as a gift for a woman (preferably sparkling wine) is considered a classic option:
- Champagne Rosé is an indisputable classic, practically a symbol of Valentine’s Day. Champagne Rosé has less pronounced acidity than white champagne, and therefore seems more drinkable (but here it is also a matter of taste, some prefer the bright mineral-citrus Blanc de Blancs).
- Crémant Rosé from Bordeaux or Burgundy – as a more affordable alternative to champagne.
- Sparkling rosé from Pinot Noir from the Italian region of Oltrepò Pavese (Oltrepò Pavese) – if you want to surprise a wine enthusiast.
- Tavel (Tavel) – representatives of this appellation in the Rhone Valley are only pink. Together with Bandol rosé, they are considered the most “winey” in their category.
- Rosé de Provence (Rosé de Provence) is a famous rosé wine from the south of France, which is perfect for a casual evening.
- Cabernet d’Anjou (Cabernet d’Anjou), Rosé d’Anjou (Rosé d’Anjou) are sweet pink wines from the Loire Valley.
- Sancerre Rosé – dry roséfrom the Loire Valley.
And here’s what you can surprise with in white:
- White champagne brut from the House of Lanson or Besserat de Bellefon, for those who love a subtle mineral style and high acidity, or Bollinger for fans of “vinous” champagne.
- Pouilly-Fumé or Sancerre with pure mineral notes.
- Elegant and multifaceted Montrachet from Burgundy.
- Crystal-fruity Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough.
What wine gift for a man
It is believed that a wine as a gift for a man should be generous, with powerful tannins and preferably barrel-aged. However, following this stereotype, you can make a mistake in choosing a gift, because men’s tastes are also different. The most rich, dense, tannic, stereotypically masculine will be:
- Madiran (southwest France) from the Tannat variety – one of the longest-lived and tannicwines. The name of the variety itself indicates its high level of tannins. It is advisable to give aged cuvées of five, or even ten or fifteen years. The level of astringency after such aging will not decrease, but the texture of tannins will become much more pleasant;
- Communal appellations of Médoc (Bordeaux) – Pauillac or Saint-Estèphe – the most tannic representatives, Margaux and Saint-Julien – a little softer, but not inferior to their neighbors in quality and longevity;
- Nuits-Saint-Georges, Burgundy – Pinot Noir of the famous appellation, distinguished by its richness;
- American Zinfandel (Zinfandel) from Lodi or Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley – sunny and rich drinks;
- Priorat – incredibly expressive wines of Spain, which are considered among the most expensive in the country.
However, this does not mean that the more tannic the drink, the more suitable it is as a gift for a man. A connoisseur of fine cru will definitely appreciate the delicacy of aged cuvées with velvety tannins and a refined bouquet, the notes of which are not so easy to catch.
Rosé and white wines will also be a good gift, because the fact that “men prefer red and tannic” is not an absolute rule. But still, if you make an allowance for it, here is what you can choose from the drinks in this category:
- Condrieu (Condrieu) is a prestigious name of the Rhone Valley, where only the juicy Viognier variety is allowed;
- Meursault (Beaune Premier Cru) is an elegant Burgundy with a rich, but integrated barrel bouquet;
- White cuvées from the south of Italy or France, whose tropical bouquet has absorbed the generous warmth of the Sun;
- Wine rosés Bandol (Bandol) or Tavel;
- Vinous champagne, such as Bollinger.
Wine Accessories as a Gift
A wine accessory will be a very useful gift, but the choice of item will depend on the knowledge of the person you decide to give the accessory to. For the novice connoisseur, the following will do:
- a good notebook designed specifically for tasting notes;
- bottle covers for blind tastings;
- a special INAO tasting glass;
- a black glass for a completely “blind” tasting, in which even the color of the drink will not be visible.
Also pay attention to various useful gadgets and simply little things that will help you serve your drink closer to perfection:
- a thermometer in the form of a bracelet on the bottle to monitor the serving temperature;
- a decanter with a wide base – for aeration, softening and revealing the bouquet of a young cuvée;
- a decanter with a narrow base – for separating aged wine from the sediment that accumulates at the bottom as a result of the polymerization of tannins and anthocyanins (pigments), i.e. the connection of their molecules with each other during the maturation process;
- a high-quality professional sommelier corkscrew;
- a nozzle on the neck or a special insert in the neck to prevent drops from dripping onto the label;
- an ice container that will help quickly cool the drink.
At the same time, decanters can be both purely functional and decorative.
A great idea would be a set of specially selected quality glasses, as the organoleptic profile can be emphasized by the right glass, or hidden if the glass does not suit the wine.
The purpose of the glasses can be determined by:
- appellation – glasses for Bordeaux and Burgundy are completely different from each other;
- variety – glasses for Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc are more elongated and narrowed towards the top to “collect” their light volatile aromatic molecules. A glass for barrel Chardonnay is more like a wide bowl, where there will be enough space for the rich bouquet of this drink to open up;
- origin of the variety – a glass for Burgundy Pinot Noir will be slightly more compact and narrow, and for Pinot Noir from the New World – a little wider, with a slightly straightened neck, which will develop a juicy bouquet, and also correctly “present” the tartness of this drink.
Pay attention to the companies Riedel or Spiegelau – the most famous companies producing high-quality wine glasses, which are highly valued by restaurateurs.
Gourmets who select different drinks for different dishes often face the problem of storing an open bottle. You can, of course, give a cookbook with wine recipes and ideas for recycling an unfinished bottle. But wine connoisseurs are unlikely to put a unique cru into a sauce, so the best solution would be special devices that will extend the life of an open bottle:
- a special vacuum closing, which allows you to pump out air from an open bottle, hermetically sealing it. Under such a lid, the drink will live not 2-3 days, but about 2 weeks;
- a champagne closing, which fits tightly to the neck and does not release gas from the valuable drink;
- Coravin is a special system that allows you to pour wine from a bottle without removing the cork. In simple terms, this is a design of a special needle and cylinders with argon gas. The needle pierces the cork, the drink is poured through a channel in the needle, and the amount of wine taken from the bottle is replaced by gas. Argon is heavier than air, so it adheres to the surface of the liquid, protecting it from oxidation, and the hole made by the needle in the cork closes itself thanks to its elasticity. Coravin will be a very useful tool both for a gourmet dinner and for a student sommelier who can prepare for an exam by arranging comparative tastings of representatives of several varieties or regions. The disadvantages of the system are the impossibility of using it for sparkling wines and for bottles with synthetic or screw iron corks.
What to give a wine connoisseur
A person who collects rare cuvées and is very knowledgeable about them should be presented with an expensive and exclusive gift:
- Classic – wine of the vintage of the year of birth. Depending on the age and quality of the vintage, such a gift may be difficult to find. In addition, it may already be unfit for consumption. But if the bottle is intended only for a collection, then such a gift will definitely make an impression;
- Wine for a collection – a drink of an exceptional year with the potential for long-term development, will be an excellent investment in the collection and will allow the collector to choose the moment when to open it;
- Cuvée of a legendary château, for example, Grand Cru Classé Medoc, Saint-Emilion, Burgundy, Tuscany or Champagne (but for such a gift you need to provide a fairly high budget). Here are just a few famous examples:
- Château Cheval Blanc;
- Château Ausone;
- Petrus;
- Château Margaux;
- Château Mouton Rothschild;
- Château Lafitte Rothschild;
- Sassicaia;
- Krug;
- Dom Pérignon;
- Cristal Louis by Roederer.
- Representative of the prestigious Bordeaux appellation, for example:
- Pomerol;
- Pauillac;
- Margaux;
- Saint-Julien (Saint-Julien);
- Pessac-Léognan.
- Or Grand Cru Burgundy:
- Corton;
- Chamberin;
- Chablis;
- Chevalier-Montrachet (.
And here are the accessories that will suit such exclusive drinks:
- Expensive crystal glasses from the French companies Baccarat or Lalique;
- Elegant crystal decanter;
- Special tools for removing fragile corks from bottles with aged drinks;
- A special basket for serving very mature cuvées.
Photo sources:
- www.maisonalpin.fr;
- www.vinatis.com;
- www.riedel.com.
