Holiday Wine Giving Tips

and The Best Wine Gift of 2006

(ContentDesk) November 15, 2005 -- Gifts, like it or not, say something about the giver, so make it special. Will your host recognize the bottle as the most heavily promoted wine from the tallest most well positioned tower of wine at a local liquor store? Or will the bottle stand out as something new with a taste to be remembered?

While there is no one right wine gift the simple guidelines below greatly improve the chances your wine gift is a success.

Number one, make your wine a special gift. Merriam Webster defines special as “distinguished by some unusual quality; especially: being in some way superior.” Let’s be honest, liquor stores are confined to their distributors choices in wine which are largely based on shelf movement and profit margin.

Yes, there are some great wines at your liquor store, but most online wine shops specialize in rare or unique wines, not wanting to compete directly with your local liquor store. So, increase the chances of the originality of your gift by simply using Internet wines shops.

Number two, know something about the wine you’re giving. This is an opportunity to introduce others and yourself to something new. Parties are great occasions to both try new wines and discuss their attributes. So, read up a little on the wine in order to have more to contribute.

Wine gifts will likely be appreciated much more if it is accompanied with some information regarding its bouquet, color, flavor, and finish. A great wine can easily fade into the background in a holiday party atmosphere so prompt a little discussion.

Number three, and on a less serious note, find a wine with a label that shows you know your host. Besides being fun and taking away the aura of pretentiousness, your wine gift will stand out even before its opened. This might sound like too much work, but with so many wine choices out there it’s not as difficult as it sounds. The label may represent a friends’ interest in travel, art, nature, hobbies, or even politics.A good wine gift like any other good gift requires a little more research and planning.

So if buying from the Internet buy now because some states require three-tier shipping which means your wine purchase must first go to a state licensed wholesaler or distributor before being shipped to the final destination. This affects the buyer in delayed shipping time.

Below is our favorite wine gift for the 2006 holiday season and it meets the rules above. Our favorite gift this season is The Party Wine’s 2001 Republican and Democrat Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon, a particularly good year for Cabs in that region (2 different labels, same wine). These wines make an excellent selection for both lovers of wine and those with strong political views. Here are your tasting notes.

This Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon boasts aromas of cherry, berry, tobacco and cassis. It’s full-bodied, has superb structure, intense fruit and cocoa flavors, and lingering silky finish.

• More information regarding Democrat and Rebublican wines can be found at the Party Wine's website www.thepartywine.com. Cheers and happy holidays.

Gourmet Fruit Basket with Wine Your selection of Merlot and/or Chardonnay is hand delivered with fine gourmet items such as cheeses, crackers and hard salami. The attractive wicker basket is also filled with fresh fruit such as apples, oranges, bananas and grapes. Exact basket, fruit selection, and wine may vary by season and delivery location.

Wine Gift Links:

California Wine of the Month Club Gifts
Delivering award-winning, hand-selected boutique wine gifts since 1990.

Personalized Wine - Unique Gift Idea
Personalized wine is a unique gift idea for any occasion- corporate giving, birthday, anniversary, retirement. Featuring fine wine with custom labe...

Cellar! - Wine Enthusiast Software
Since 1995, wine enthusiasts around the world have been using Cellar! to record their wine experiences and manage their wine cellars. Download the ...

Wine Gifts Delivered Today by 5 PM
Send to any town. We can deliver most orders today for a gift-wrapped bottle of fine wine and your note. Like flowers-by-wire. Since 1998. Also Can...

Great Selection of Gifts for Wine Lovers
Great selection of incredible gifts. Find the perfect gift today.

Exclusive Wine Club Gift
Give the gift of wine with the Vineyard Wine Club. Each month, we send two bottles of premium red wine from our exclusive wineries. A gift to be tr...