No whining, only WINING — Tips to select Wine and how to get out of gifting a bad one!
Can you think of a better gift than a wine bottle to gift to your host — specially when the host enjoys wine. But is the selection overwhelming? Let me take you through to some pointers on selecting the right bottle & presenting it the right way.
Tips for Selecting Wine
Know your host. Do you know if she prefers sweet wines? Then you may like to consider a sweet German Riesling or a dessert wine.
Dry wines anyone? Consider a California Chardonnay for a white or an Australian Shiraz for a red.
Are you aware that your host spent some time recently in Italy? Then get her an Italian wine. And if she’s into beers, get her a local brew!
Ask the Subject Matter Experts
Go to a wine shop. We normally feel scared to ask the wine shop owner for his recommendation. We fear either he would try to push his non-moving stock to us. Or we are just naturally embarrassed for no reason at all. But it is better to ask than to err. Even if you don’t know first thing about wine — just ask the professionals, yes I mean the wine shop owner. Trust me, it will take the pain out of the entire process. If you are that methodical I can also ask you to keep pictures of the labels of the wine you have enjoyed in the past on your phone. Take your phone out, a swish here — a swoosh here and voila you land onto the exact wine label you are looking for.
Not all good things in life are costly
And that holds true for a bottle of wine also. Comforted! If you find a bottle of wine that is recommended and you feel is perfect but costs $9.99, don’t think too much. It’s all about the quality and your thoughtful intent, not the price.
Not all information is freely available
If you are not aware of your host’s wine preferences and you have no idea what you can get for her — buy a moderately priced pinot noir. It is a very safe choice — a red that is tasty and subtle but not too full of tannins (tannins make your mouth water).
Well Presented is Well Done
You have done all the hard work. You kept the preferences of the host foremost. You got her the best wine bottle for her taste & preferences. You took so much time in doing everything right but you forgot to present it well. That is so much effort & time down the drain.
Don’t expect your host to serve your wine that night; he or she may have selected specific wines to pair with the appetizers, meal, and dessert. Do put attach a small greeting card, as your host may receive a few bottles. Consider sharing why you bought that specific bottle of wine on the card: “I know you love Gewürztraminer. I hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoy your company. Happy Holidays from Harry.”
And yes, do not forget to slip the wonderful bottle of wine in equally wonderful Wine Bottle Tote Carriers from Old Man Artist. The Old Man Artist, Harry Traulsen Jr., creates unique hand-drawn artistic Greeting Cards, Stationery, Invitations, Thank You Cards and Canvas Tote Bags.
His themes are whimsical caricatures of Wine Glasses, Wine Bottles, Coffee Mugs and Urban Architecture.
The Old Man Artist’s stylish canvas tote bags make a unique sophisticate statement. Particularly for wine lovers who would like to carry a bottle of wine as a gift for their friends or families, the wine bottle tote carrier is a perfect accessory for the wine bottle. Old Man Artist gives a lot of emphasis on the quality of the canvas tote. And that’s why he is famous!
In fact when he launched his site www.oldmanartist.com, his satisfied patrons from press got so excited that they decided to cover this news on various sites.
So whenever you go next into a wine store, just take a look around, it is quite possible that you will find a canvas tote bag to carry your wine bottle in style. Why miss it, when you are sure people will love it.
Don’t forget to take the price tag off! There is no shame in giving an inexpensive bottle of wine, but you don’t need to blow your trumpet here.
When you get it wrong
It could so happen that you are the host. And despite your guest giving a best thought to their gift — have gifted you that terrible, horrifying, name-brand wine that you avoid at all costs during your weekly wine- buying run. In fact, it’s pretty awful for your standards that you can’t even think of re-gifting it to someone else. So what are you going to do with this bottle? Here are few ways to salvage that gag-worthy gift into a more enjoyable situation:
TIME TO TELL YOUR MOTHER YOU CARE
Yes, do a get together — tell them you care. When you are having a great time together, the alcohol won’t matter much I am telling you.
PASS IT TO THE NEXT GENERATION
Remember when you were young — what would matter to you was the cheapest bottle to drink. They were not used to the fine stuff till that time. Nothing tastes better than free. Why not get them obliged.
BRING IT TO YOUR NEXT GIRLS’ NIGHT
You know how they go. Everybody needs that “last bottle of the night”. The only requirement — it should have alcohol in it. Be the savior — donate the bottle.
MAKE EXPERIMENTAL COCKTAILS
There is a no dearth of cocktails that require wine as an ingredient, ranging from the classic French 75 all the way to frosé. Mix your undrinkable bottle onto your bar cart for a night of experimental cocktail crafting — who knows what ambrosia could possibly come out from your almost discarded bottle?
AND IF IT’S REALLY THAT AWFUL…
Re-gift! That’s how you got it in the first place. Time to get wicked & even!