Looking for a great bottle of wine to give as a gift this year?
So tell us why wine is a great gift and your first recommendations?
– one size fits all
– doubles are fine
– it’s easy to re-gift
For an extra festive touch, I’d start with sparkling wine such as these two:
Oyster Bay Sparkling Cuvée Rosé
Marlborough, New Zealand
Gray Monk Estate Winery Odyssey Brut Rosé 2018
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia BC V.Q.A., Canada
You’ve got some more reasons why wine is a great gift, plus a few more bottles for us.
– it’s easy to return for cash without a receipt
– wine doesn’t have to be cared for and it should never be watered
– it’s consumable so it doesn’t create clutter adding to more stuff in your home
I’d recommend these two wines next:
Peller Estates Family Reserve Light Rosé 2020
Ontario V.Q.A., Canada
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio
Alto Adige Trentino D.O.C., Italy
Those are great suggestions. You also have a few reds for us and some tips on how to decide which wine to give?
– match the wine to the person’s taste, if you know it
If not, I’d suggest a switch-hitter wine like Pinot Noir as a red because it’s packed with flavour but not heavy on alcohol, oak or tannin like these two
San Pedro 1865 Tayú Pinot Noir 2019
Buchahueico, Malleco Valley D.O., Chile
Quails’ Gate Estate Winery Pinot Noir 2019
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia V.Q.A., Canada
What if you’re shopping for someone who likes more full-bodied reds?
Santa’s elf has you covered! Try Cathedral Cellars Shiraz from South Africa and Louis Martini Cabernet from California.
Cathedral Cellar Shiraz
Western Cape W.O., South Africa
Louis M. Martini Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California, United States
What’s good for those of us who have a sweet tooth?
If anyone still has room left when it’s time for pumpkin or pecan pie, offer a late harvest wine or icewine, like this one from Riverview Cellars in Niagara or this lovely Rothenberg Auslese 2015 from Germany’s Wegeler winery. If you’re a chocolate fan, try serving a liqueur with complementary flavours such as raspberry or blackcurrant.
Riverview Cellars Cabernet Franc Icewine 2017
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada
Wegeler Geisenheim Rothenberg Riesling Auslese 2015
Rheingau, Germany
Posted with permission from CTV.