Gifts with Taste

Would you like to make some spirits bright this holiday season? If you are still looking for a gift idea for the wine-lover or budding wine-lover in your life, here are a few ideas sure to satisfy. Wine is always in style and always a perfect gift for friends, family or colleagues. That does not mean it's always easy to pick out the right wine gift. You want the wine to match the occasion, the season, and the recipient's personality. Whatever your fancy, there is something to fit the wine-lover on your gift list.

Say it with Bubbles
This season, give the gift of bubbles. I'll use any excuse to pop a bottle of bubbly as there's nothing quite like the magical sound of a Champagne pop during the holidays. Bubbles in the glass represent celebration, fun and holiday cheer. Whether you're heading to a party, want to say thanks for being a great boss, or congratulations on anything and everything, you cannot go wrong with bottles that sparkle. With that said, it's hard to get good Champagne for less than $40 a bottle, so if you want European sparkling wine on a budget, look to France's neighbors, Spain and Italy. Spanish Cava and Italian Prosecco are delicious and affordable alternatives to French Champagne.


Wine Clubs

If you don't want to say it once, but instead what to be remembered all year long, a wine club membership is the way to go. Wine clubs are a wonderful way to introduce wine lovers to new and different wines or help aspiring collectors to build their wine cellar. Whether they are starting from scratch or have been tasting for years, clubs are the perfect way to explore an array of new and different wines delivered right to your doorstep from vineyards all around the globe.

Just Desserts

If you're looking for the perfect wine present, consider a sweet treat. To enjoy one of the world's greatest sweet wines is a decadent pleasure. One we don't often allow for ourselves, which makes sweet wine the perfect gift. Great dessert wines are truly remarkable – they offer a unique balance of sugar and acid and combine the nuances of fine wines with a decadent treat for your sweet tooth. Today, a new generation of high-quality dessert wines are being made with the same complexity of table wines. From Port to Bordeaux's Sauternes and Australia's sticky Muscats, dessert wines deliver rich flavor and pure pleasure!
Gifts for the Cellar
Feeling generous this holiday season? Gifts for the cellar are wines worth splurging on. It is often said that 99 percent of the world's wines are made to be enjoyed within a year or so of their release. Wines worth aging make up the other one percent. This handful of the world's wines will develop and gain in complexity and texture over a period of years and even decades. Some wines are classic collectibles – Bordeaux, cult Cabernets from California and top Burgundies. These wines are ideal for anyone who appreciates quality, patience and age in their wine.

The shopping days are dwindling so whether you're looking for an affordable stocking stuffer or a bank-breaking indulgence for your sweetheart, spread a little holiday cheer with any of these tasteful recommendations and give the wine-lover on your list a reason to celebrate.

Cheers!