I have a gift stash–just a little something for those last-minute gifts and the always-ready thank you gift. You probably have one too. Yours might include, gift soaps, stationery, books—mine is wine. I love giving wine. It’s the perfect gift, it is always ready, it is consumable, it improves with age, is gender neutral, and most importantly it is personal. To be sure that I’m always ready I keep between six and eight bottles of wine on hand, along with wine gift bags, and tags.
Which Wines to Give
You don’t have to be a wine devotee or a sommelier to give perfectly suitable wine. The key is to know a few key things about wines. For my wine gift stash, I have a white, a red, and a blush.
White wines
For white wine gifts, I choose a Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, or a Riesling. Chardonnays are universally popular, and depending on the winery, may have a hint of butter, melon or citrus. For a slightly more acidic taste and an insinuation of apples, pears, and grass, a good Sauvignon Blanc is hard to beat as a wine gift. My personal favorite is a Reisling which is a happy medium between sweet and acidic.
Red wines
Gifts of red wine can run the gamut from Merlots to Shiraz. I usually select a Merlot, Zinfandel, or a Pinot Noir. What I like about Merlots is that they are very smooth with an intimation of herbs and berries. Zinfandels, on the other hand, are hearty and are the ideal wine gift for that person who loves pasta and pizza. Of the red wines, the Pinot Noir, is always a wine gift hit. Most Pinot Noirs have flavor undertones of tea leaves, plums, or cherries.
Blushes or Rosè
A good Rosè or Blush completes my wine gift stash. Blushes are very popular and have reputation of going with just about anything. So no decent wine gift stash would be complete without them. Blushes are festive and light and feel almost as celebratory as sparkling wines.
So now when the guy next door fixes my lawn mower and refuses payment, or when I suddenly remember it is a friend’s birthday, or the neighbor’s dog dies and I want to offer my condolences, I go to my gift stash, pick out an appropriate bottle of wine, a wine gift bag, and a gift tag and I am ready to go.
Not only is wine a great last minute gift, it can be the centerpiece of a gift basket complete with the recipients favorite cheeses, breads, and maybe even chocolates. Putting together a wine gift basket for a special occasion is nearly as satisfying for the giver as the receiver–even more so, if they offer to share. So if you like to keep a few gifts on hand for the unexpected occasions in life, a wine gift is hard to beat.
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