ALT-1 Wine Gift Advice
There are few things that make a better host or hostess gift than a bottle of wine. Wine is a wonderful present that can be saved for a special occasion or opened on the spot to enjoy with the gift giver. A well-picked wine can go with any meal or elicit excitement and appreciation by those that receive it as a gift. After working in a wine store for a year, I became very accustomed to helping people look for the appropriate bottle of wine to give as a gift. Here is my time-tested quick guide for gifting wine:
1. A higher price tag does not necessarily mean that you are getting a better quality wine. Do not pay over $20 if you are buying a gift for someone who is not really into wine or if you aren't sure what kind they like. If you are planning on gifting wine to many friends for the holidays, be sure to ask about discounts when buying a mixed case. Many stores will give you a free bottle of wine or a 10% discount/credit when you buy 12 bottles at a time.
2. Many people want to be able to buy local wines as gifts for out of town friends. Read the label and make sure the wine is not referred to as an "American wine." That means that the grape juice has been imported from other states (often from concentrate) and mixed to produce that wine. Look for a bottle that says "Virginia wine" or "Maryland wine" if you want wine produced from vineyards that are located in Virginia or Maryland.
3. Utilize any staff that may be available in the store. If there is no one available to help you, think about finding a store with more helpful employees. Reputable wine stores will train their staff so they can better assist customers and will also offer daily wine tasting options to help you and the staff understand exactly what kind of wine you may enjoy the most. The staff at your wine store will not want to sell you an overpriced sub-par bottle of wine to turn a quick buck, they want to help you make a good and informed decision so you will come back as repeat business.
4. If you are bringing wine to a dinner party, do your homework and find out what the hosts will be serving. The Joy of Cooking breaks down food pairings into the following very basic guidelines: Veal, lamb, pork and poultry: White and red; Beef and game: Red; All kinds of foods: Rose and champagne; and Desserts: Sweet wine.
Gifting wine is an easy and fun way to bring cheer to a friend. Remember that you don't have to be terribly serious when choosing the perfect bottle of wine for your friends and price is not the deciding factor on quality as much as it once was. Enjoy the wine buying process and don't forget to pick up a bottle or two for yourself.
