‘Tis the season for holiday gift giving. What if you’d like to give someone a bottle of wine or spirits? 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 or spirits, 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 wines. What are they and who are for?
The St. Regis Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir are perfect for your psychiatrist, bartender or whomever is giving you good advice lately.
St. Regis Selection Sauvignon Blanc
South of France, France
St. Regis Selection Pinot Noir
South of France, France
Surprise them with these delicious alcohol-free wines. Now you’re thinking out of the box or bottle, and that’s big progress for you this year.
Feel free to smell or taste.
Of course, they’ll analyze whatever you give them so choose wines like these that are so juicy and mouth-watering they’ll pair well with holiday turkey and major emotional breakthroughs.
Who’s getting the next bottle and why?
This Honest Lot Pinot Grigio is perfect for the person you met through an online dating site.
Honest Lot Pinot Grigio
Ontario, Canada
Feel free to smell or taste.
It has zero grams of sugar per serving and is fully transparent with an ingredients label just like you were with your dating profile that did not use a “recent” photo from 2005.
This vibrant wine is not too light or too heavy. That’s perfect for your third date because you don’t want to be too wimpy or come on too strong. Pair it with oysters or your sparkling wit – whichever is fresher.
Who’s next on your shopping list?
Your hair stylist: Now here’s a person who has a great sense of humour (he laughs at your jokes) yet takes styling your mop seriously. Someone has to. So give him a wine that’s also versatile, layered and modern like this Trivento Malbec, one of the most popular wines from Argentina.
Trivento Bodegas Private Malbec
Argentina
Feel free to smell or taste.
This terrific wine offers sumptuous red fruit flavours and great structure that your stylist loves in a good cut. Pair it with angel hair pasta in tomato sauce.
Great suggestions! What do we have here?
Let’s talk about your travel agent. He’s planned terrific vacations for you. Intrigue him with the El Dorado 12-Year-Old Rum from Guyana, one of the world’s most premium small-batch rums.
El Dorado 12-Year-Old Rum
Guyana
Feel free to smell or taste.
This is a passport to the Caribbean for your senses with aromas of caramelized toffee, molasses, and a hint of dark spice. Most rums put the year of the oldest vintage in their blend. But El Dorado puts the youngest, so you’re tasting a rum that’s much more complex from blending vintages that are older than 12 years.
Who’s Next?
Your personal trainer deserves Licor 43, a premium Spanish liqueur based on a secret family recipe of 43 ingredients, including fresh citrus fruits and botanicals.
Licor 43
Spain
This will take her cocktails to the next level, with its complexity and versatility, much like the program she’s developed for you. You can also use this in desserts like tiramisu and cheesecake to make them more decadent. Just don’t tell your trainer after all that core work she’s done with you.
Who are these last bottles for?
Now you’ve shopped for everyone else, don’t forget yourself! The Glenlivet Twist & Mix Old Fashioned is just the thing when you need something a little stronger to watch the seventh re-run of Miracle on 34th Street.
The Glenlivet Twist & Mix Old Fashioned
Scotland
It’s a ready-to-serve cocktail comforting hints of orange, cinnamon, and nutmeg. No more mixing different ingredients, just twist, mix, pour and share.
Feel free to smell or taste.
Another option is Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey, the adult version of your favourite childhood flavour, proving that growing up doesn’t need to be boring, especially around the holidays.
Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey
California
Feel free to smell or taste.
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.
