Christmas Gifts for a Wine Enthusiast
The tradition of wine seems to be as old as human civilization, and has evolved along with man to the modern day.
Wine will make an excellent Christmas gift, but there are so many varieties of wine that its very variety may probably flummox you. Further, you may not know which wine to buy for a wine enthusiast who might already be having a good collection of wine. The following guidelines will help you to choose the right wine for a wine lover.
Your first job is to discover the gift recipient’s preference of the type of wine. There are red wines like syrah, cabernet sauvignon, and merlot, white wines like Sauvignon Blanc, pinot grigio, and chardonnay, and other variations like sweet, dry, and sparkling wines. You can try to confirm your friend’s preference by having some wine with him one day.
Find out the ratings of different wines through magazines or the internet. All wines may not be rated the same way in all areas. A wine rated best in one place may get a lower rating in another place. Wine contests are also organized in different places with differing selection criteria. Checking the results of these contests will also help you in making the choice.
A gift to a wine enthusiast need not necessarily be wine that he can drink. A wine accessory kit, which will contain things like a wine carrying case, bottle rack, bottle opener, corkscrew, chillers, coasters, and aerators, will make a good Christmas gift. A wine decanter, a set of wine glasses, or a combination of both, will also make a proper gift for a wine enthusiast.
Another option is a wine gift basket. You can go in for a readymade wine gift basket which many wine companies display during the Christmas season, or you can put one together yourself. You can design a gift basket with a selection of big and small bottles of wine, or you can design one with a few bottles of wine plus packets of nuts, crackers, and some Christmas sweets as well.
Books on wine will also make an attractive gift for a wine lover. Wine is such a popular drink and wine-serving is such an old tradition, that there are a lot of things to be learned about wine. There are books on the different types of wine and the methods used for brewing them; on the rules of storing and serving wine; on the importance of decanting wine; on wine glass traditions and wine glass varieties; on the style of pouring wine and wine tasting traditions; and on wine contests. Select one or more of these books for a gift.
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A wine lover will enjoy participating in a wine festival, a vineyard tour, or a wine tasting program. So check the dates of such events and gift him a ticket for any such program. It will be best if you accompany him or her on the tour as well.