For Wine Wednesday II’ve put together a list of a few gifts for the wine lover on your list. Wine is such a slam dunk of a gift if you are stuck. It’s perfect for a host or hostess. Anyone serving dinner or throwing a party could use and most likely would appreciate a bottle of wine.
It’s so easy to grab a bottle of what you know. However, why give a bottle that they can also grab at their favorite retailer? Instead, give the gift of an experience as well. A new experience with wine.
Explore new wine regions in your gifting, like these delights from Georgia, the country not the state.
New gifts for the wine lover on your list
Try wines from countries that are off the radar. Or those still from famous wine making countries, but not the grapes you might expect. The idea is take a stab at something new, a gift that your intended wont just walk down the aisle at a grocery store and pick up on their own.
Wines from Georgia are getting more attention in the U.S. Most are aged in clay pots or amphoras and many lean to the natural side. The word kvevri describes the process. In addition, a majority of these wines are not overly manipulated like many have become in the United States.
If you have a gadget guy or gal on your list, check out the Bocavin electric wine opener. I have a video here. This wine opener works great and is a fraction of the cost of others like it.
Here are some gifts for the wine lover on your list. FYI, I will be updating this list throughout the week. Be sure to check back. I also have a few more ideas in this story recently published in the Fort Myers NewsPress and Naples Daily News.
Out of this country
These wines from Georgia, as in the country not the state are super cool. Georgian wines are finding more and more of a foothold in the United States. They are typically affordable and really interesting. You might have to ship them as distribution can be spotty.Teliani Valley Glekhuri makes a Saperavi (saperavi is the grape) that is a lighter in style, a little rustic, with dark fruits like plum. It’s high acidity makes it a good food wine. A nice white wine from Teliani Valley is Tsolikouri. It’s dry with some similarities to riesling. It’s another good food wine. Delightful.
Sip and Savor Set
St. Francis Winery has some great gift sets, some of which include food pairings. The Sip and Savor for instance includes two bottles of wine and artisan salami from Sonoma and all the accessories needed to enjoy it ($125.) The winery also has a port and chocolate gift set. They have some special bottling for the holidays as well.
St. Francis has been a part of Sonoma’s landscape for some 50 years. Sustainable practices are big here. The wines are solid and there are a lot to choose from.
Multi Vintage
While Multi Vintage is a style of winemaking used in Champagne. Different vintages are blended to create consistently outstanding wines. The concept is spreading to many higher-end wineries. The Mill Keeper is one of them. The brand is the brainchild of third-generation Napa Valley farmer Tom Gamble and was inspired by the pioneering spirit of Napa’s first Mill Keeper’s in the 1800’s.
I love the vintage labels. The Mill Keeper Multi-Vintage Chardonnay ($28) has that vanilla characteristic that so many love along with the roundness of fruits like peach. The Mill Keeper Multi-Vintage Cabernet Sauvignon ($35) has some nice spice, dark fruit and acidity good for food. Both are keepers.
Rose from across the way
Rose from Provence in France are thought to set the bar. However, rose wines are so much more. They are made all over the world and from all kinds of red grapes. They are fantastic wines for dinner parties and not just as an aperitif.
On the left is from Tavel in the Rhone Valley of France, in Tavel, all they can legally make is rose and it is amazing. This one is from Alain Jaume, Le Cretace. It is a substantial rose, dry complex and one that can last through multiple dinners courses. The bottle is also elegant.
Next in the photo is a surprise from Sicily. It’s made of syrah. Tenuta Sallier de la Tour. It’s fruity and almost effervescent. It is dry but has a richness. The label is beautiful and would look great on a holiday table.
Finally, Chateau Mourgues Du Gre’s Galets Rose is from Costieres de Nimes in the Rhone Valley. It’s a vibrant bled of Grenache Noir, syrah and Mourvèdre that is balanced and lovely with charcuterie and cheese.
Bubbles other than Champagne
Bubbles are almost a requirement for the holidays. Champagnes are expensive. Try Unanime from Argentina for a fraction of the price. When you think of wine from Argentina, Malbec is typically top of mind, not sparkling wine. It’s made in the same method of Champagne and has a little bit of almond and fresh fruits. It’s a great starter or sipper.The malbec is also a keeper. Especially if you are grilling meats this holiday season. It’s a beautiful bottle all the way around
Get out of Tuscany
When it comes to Italian wines, try some outside of Tuscany or Piedmont. Look to Sicily. Sicily is known for Nero d’Avola so when I saw this syrah, it caught my attention. From Tenuta Sallier de la Tour it has great red fruit like cherry. It’s a tad bit rustic and it was a big hit at a recent dinner. A great surprise. And one again, that label is spectacular.
By the way, they do make a Nero d’Avola as seen above. It was balanced, a little mineral and one I would buy again.
