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Quick Tips and a Guide to Gifting Wine
With any type of gift giving, the challenge is finding the best fit. In this short article we'll provide tips and find solutions to some common wine gifting challenges.
What is a good wine to buy a collector without blowing your budget?Buying wine for a wine collector can be unnerving. Keep in mind what is inside the bottle not what is on the label. Too often the intention is to be impressive and label design confirms your choice. Resist choosing a wine with bold label imagery such as heavy use of embossed gold foil. The smart way to go is to gift something off the beaten path that will appeal to ones’ curiosity rather than budget. There are plenty of gems to consider from classic, or “mainstream”, wine regions that will allow you to shop in your comfort zone and still be very savvy. Consider Piedmont wines made from the Freisa variety, rather than from Nebbiolo, or try a wine from the emerging Tejo region rather than the established Douro region of Portugal, or perhaps choose a Cabernet Sauvignon from Mendoza over a Malbec. Aim for a thought-provoking wine.
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A vibrant, red fruit-driven Freisa typical of the Langhe region. Tart and ripe cranberry, red cherry, and currant fill the glass with hints of crushed bay leaf and thyme. There is a distinct forest floor note to the wine with underlying violet pedal, bitter baking chocolate, and cedar. The wine is dry, medium-bodied, with fine grippy tannins and refreshing acidity.
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Tip #1: Narrowed it down but still cannot decide? Choose a wine priced $20, or more, than you would typically spend on yourself.
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Wine for Vegetarians?
In contrast to meat-based meals, vegetarian dishes are lighter and easier to chew. Vegetarians who prefer to drink red wines with their dishes will appreciate wines with lower tannins since most vegetable-based proteins are not as texturally rigid, or tough, as meat proteins. Consider wines like Pinot Noir, Mençia from Spain and Dão blends from Portugal. If big, bold fruit-driven wines suits your candidate consider wines from regions with climates that consistently produce ripe reds with softer tannins like California, Argentina, Australia and the Mediterranean.
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A fresh and youthful Mencía from Bierzo. Sour cherry, pomegranate, blackberry, and black currant drive the wine. The fruit is backed by notes of black licorice, cracked pepper, fresh-turned earth, and crushed rocks. The wine is dry, medium-bodied, with refreshing acidity and loads of juicy fruit.
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Tip #2: If you are not certain of your guest’s, or hostess’ wine preferences, consider what they like to eat and play the law of averages.
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What wine can I gift that will not be opened at the party?
Avoid one of the biggest wine gifting disappointments: the bottle you gift the hostess gets immediately served to the guests. Indeed it does give you a good reason to enjoy another glass of wine with the opportunity to assess your own thoughtful choice! To avoid this, consider gifting a classic “after dinner” fortified wine like Port, Vin Santo or Moscatel.
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This tawny has a nutty, oxidative character suggesting an average age of wines beyond 10 years and is an ideal digestive. Notes of honey, figs, dry fruits and spice aromas unfold in layers. Very elegant and smooth on the palate with a long finish.
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Tip #3: Choose a wine your recipient will appreciate but is unlikely to buy for themselves.
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What is the best place to buy wine gifts in Toronto? 30.50 Wine Imports provides custom artisanal wine gifts and fast wine delivery in Ontario.
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