Tag Archives: holiday gifts

Winebits 259: Holiday gifts

Some suggestions from around the cyber-ether for wine-related holiday gifts:

? Less than $25: From the Reverse Wine Snob, who nicely mixes the practical — the always sensible Vacuvin gift set, which has shown up here in years past — with the silly. How about a life preserver for wine bottles?

? Less than $20: The legendary Sandy Silfven offers seven wines that provide quality and value, including a Tasca d ?Almerita nero d ?avola from Sicily, and we know how the Wine Curmudgeon feels about Sicilian wines. Best yet, she pairs the wines with holiday entrees.

? Not especially cheap at all: But anyone who ever watched the classic BBC comedy ?The Good Life ? will appreciate a Fortnum & Mason Christmas wine hamper. That ?s what Margo would have done, of course.

Winebits 206: Holiday gift guide

A sampling of what other wine types recommend:

? The Napa Valley Register: The Wine Curmudgeon was stunned by these suggestions — New York riesling from Dr. Frank and Todd Kliman's "The Wild Vine," about as regional as wine gifts get. Several other good ideas, including a mini-vertical or mini-horizontal from your favorite wine or region. The former is the same wine from a couple of different vintages; the latter is the same vintage from a couple of different producers.

? Northwest Wine: The advice focuses on the Pacific Northwest, but the approach makes sense no matter where you live. Chocolate wine, anyone?

? The Guardian: The English newspaper includes a reciple for mulled wine, making it worthwhile just for that. The point here is not whether the suggested wines are available (though some are), but, again, the approach to take. There is good advice on buying pricy gifts, as well as one of my my favorites, buying wine at the local convenience store.

Winebits 157: Holiday gift guide

? Dave McIntyre on books: The Washington Post wine columnist suggests efforts by importer Terry Thiese, writer Matt Kramer, and Laura Catena on Argentine wines. High praise for the Thiese book: "And if you wonder why wine matters so much to a loved one in your life, let Theise explain."

? Jon Bonne on wine: The San Francisco Chronicle wine writer offers a variety of gift strategies, and our old pal, Pine Ridge's chenin blanc-viognier blend, shows up as one of the best wines to bring to a party. Great description, too: "like wet pine needles after rain".

? Tom Johnson on kitsch: How does the proprietor of the Louisville Juice blog find this stuff — a moose horn wine glass, brass knuckles wine opener, and bathroom humor wine labels?