Wine lover —noun; a connoisseur of fine wines; a grape nut
Chances are if you are not a wine lover yourself, you at least have one in your family or close circle of friends. We’re everywhere, really. We are those people who when poured a glass of wine automatically inspect the bottle, looking for vintage, variety, location. Then we sniff, swirl and sniff the wine again before sipping (and yes, slurping). Then we begin to describe what we taste. Sometimes it’s just quietly to each other, but when we identify other wine lovers in the group, we readily discuss the wine with anyone who is interested. We can’t help ourselves. Wine is meant to be shared.
Wine lovers often fall in love over time. At some point we taste a wine that stands out to us or tastes particularly pleasing. That’s often what piques our interest. Where did that wine come from? Why do I like it? How do I describe what I like? How were the grapes grown and the wine made? The questions are endless.
With the Holidays fast approaching, you may have a wine lover or two on your shopping list and be in need of a suggestion or two. Here are a few gift ideas for the wine lover in your life.
Wine Club Membership
Thinking back to my early experiences learning about wines, the gift of a wine club membership helped me enormously. I lived in a small town without a wine shop. Wines in the grocery store were my only choice. I received a wine club membership as a gift and for a whole year, I received wines from various regions. With each wine delivery came a description of the wine and a bit about the variety. I learned so much about wine that year. Here are several wine clubs we have experience with that you might consider.
International Wine of the Month Club offers you a world of wine in one of three club memberships. You choose if you want two white wines, two red wines or one of each in every shipment. You also choose the number and frequency of the shipments. Included with your shipment is Cellar Notes, their publication with information about the wineries, vineyards, tasting notes and even recipes. We are members of this wine club and have enjoyed every wine we have received.
In case you are looking for a gift for the beer, chocolate, cheese, cigar or flower-loving person on your list, they have you covered as well. Memberships are available for all of those specialties, or you can create a custom combination of memberships. Have it your way!
California Wine Club All wines are selected by owners Bruce & Pam Boring. Choose one of five club memberships. We have experience with the Premier Series membership, which included two bottles of wine and a copy of Uncorked, their wine publication with information about the family producing the wine and more. We received and reviewed several very good wines that were sent to us as tasting samples.
Uncorked Ventures specializes in wines from California, Oregon and Washington state. You can choose from among three wine memberships and choose the frequency you prefer. We received and reviewed several very good wines that were sent to us as tasting samples.
We are fortunate to live in California where receiving wine shipments is not an issue. Not so in every state, check the details.
Wine Accessories
Vertical Rabbit Corkscrew – PullThatCork with little or no effort using one of these devices. No worry about twisting the corkscrew into the cork, the appliance does it for you. We have used one of these, which we received as a Christmas gift, for years. Easy.
Hinged Corkscrew – once you have some practice with a corkscrew, this model will become very easy to use. Look for one with a good quality foil cutter included in the handle.
Billy The Artist Wine Bottle Carrier – you can purchase one for yourself, they are very useful, or give one as a gift. We used and reviewed this very colorful, well made wine carrier that we can highly recommend. It is available in one and two bottle styles. A number of other items are available in this vibrant neoprene print as well. The compliments on any of these items will be constant.
Le Creuset Wine Cooler Sleeve – a must-have for your wine friends who love to sip white wine outdoors in the warm weather. Made of sturdy nylon fabric with heavy elastic bands on either side and a tapered top. Chill in the refrigerator or freezer to cool the two inner jell-filled packets prior to use. Just slip a chilled bottle into the sleeve and you’re set. It securely fits a 750 ml bottle and easily fits a Champagne bottle too. We like this wine cooler so much, we bought a second one. I know it’s winter now, but it will be summer again in no time.
Books
This year has been an amazing year for wine books. We purchased several this year, all of which I would recommend.
The World Atlas of Wine, 7th edition, by Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson. This new edition is significantly more comprehensive than the 4th edition, which is what we had been using. The maps and descriptions of wine regions are very detailed and include climate, soil, grape varieties and noted producers by region. I am a lover of maps, this book makes me very happy. It is a very readable as well as beautiful book. It’s perfect for the coffee table. If you prefer, there is an iPad version available as well. 400 pages.
The New California Wine by Jon Bonné. Bonné is the wine writer at the San Francisco Chronicle and is an East Coast transplant. He came to California with an admittedly un-California palate. His tastes tend toward less ripe, less manipulated, cooler-climate wines. This book steps the reader through his process of finding the kind of wine he likes in California. They are here and he introduces the reader to the grape varieties, vineyardists, winemakers, and terroir that produce them. An interesting read for anyone who loves wine. Available in electronic format as well. 304 pages.
Wine Grapes by Jancis Robinson, Julia Harding, Jose Vouillamoz. This book was actually released in October 2012, but I just have to include it. It is the most amazing, comprehensive book I’ve seen. It describes the origins, viticultural characteristics, where varieties are grown and flavors of 1368 grape varieties. Yes, that’s right 1368 varieties. The varieties are organized alphabetically and include beautiful color plates and family trees. This book isn’t for everyone, but at 1280 pages it is a great reference, which is how we use it, and lifting it will keep the arms strong. An electronic version is also available (for those of you who insist on going to the gym).
So, have no fear when shopping for the wine lover in your life. There are many wonderful gifts out there that are sure to please.
Have a great Holiday.
Cheers!
