‘Tis the season for holiday gift giving. What if you’d like to give someone a bottle of wine? How do you know which one to choose? Here to help us with that is Natalie MacLean, who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes at nataliemaclean.com
Welcome back, Natalie. So if choosing the right bottle is so tricky, why should we give wine or spirits as a gift at all?
When you give the gift of wine, doubles are fine unlike toaster ovens, there are no wrong sizes unlike that ugly sweater and regifting is so much easier compared to fruitcake.
And let’s be honest, has anyone ever said, “Oh no, not another bottle of wine!”
Sounds great! Let’s start with your first wine. What is it and who is it for?
Your personal trainer deserves the Wayne Gretzky Cabernet Merlot, a robust wine of complexity and strength, much like the workout program she’s developed for you.
Wayne Gretzky Cabernet Merlot
Ontario, Canada
Hockey legend, Wayne Gretzky, donates his proceeds from every bottle sold to the Wayne Gretzky Foundation which funds children’s hockey programs, builds community rinks, and donates equipment.
This wine is bursting with dark fruit flavors that will pair with holiday turkey and stuffing. Just don’t tell your trainer you had a second or was that a third helping?
Who’s next on your shopping list?
The Giesen Premium Red and Sparkling are perfect for your psychiatrist, bartender or whomever is giving you good advice lately.
Giesen 0% Premium Red
New Zealand
Giesen 0% Sparkling
New Zealand
Surprise them with these delicious alcohol-free wines from New Zealand. Now you’re thinking out of the box or bottle, and that’s big progress for you this year. They’re available from Amazon and other online retailers.
Of course, they’ll analyze whatever you give them so choose wines like this that are so juicy and mouth-watering they’ll pair well with mashed potatoes and major emotional breakthroughs.
Who’s getting the next gift bottles?
Your boss. Choose this wine carefully: tasteful, but not showy. Complex but not complicated. You want to give your boss a wine that says you’ve thought about the choice carefully, but not obsessively. Go with a winery that’s guaranteed to impress: Caymus Vineyards.
I have their Caymus California Zinfandel and their Bonanza Lot 7, they’d make a lovely gift set, to subtly hint that you’re in it from the long run and your roots run deep. These premium wines are made by the Wagner Family in California and have sumptuous dark fruit flavors and depth. Pair them with prime rib over dinner with your boss to discuss that promotion.
Caymus Zinfandel
California, United States
Bonanza Lot 7 California Cabernet Sauvignon
California, United States
Who are these last bottles for?
Now you’ve shopped for everyone else, don’t forget yourself! I have a lovely Rosé from Gaspereau Vineyards in the Annapolis Valley.
Gaspereau Vineyards Rosé
Nova Scotia, Canada
Glasses of rosé or rosé glasses are perfect for watching the seventh re-run of It’s a Wonderful Life.
In fact, it’s so tasty that it’s also a great accompaniment to off-key caroling and those sugar plums dancing in your head.
Natalie, these suggestions are fantastic! Any final words of wisdom for our viewers?
Here’s to the holidays: a season of giving, receiving, and raising a glass to all that binds us together!
Thank you, Natalie! Where can we find you and these wines and spirits online?
On Instagram , I’m at @NatalieMacLeanWine , and online, my website is nataliemaclean.com .
Posted with permission of CTV.
