As the holidays roll around we often find ourselves asking the age old question year after year, “What wine should I give as a gift?” With the vast selection of wines to choose from, we often get flustered and worrying more about our choices than the intentions of our actions. There are a few tips to follow to help you choose the right gift.
One of the first things to do is to figure out how much you would like to spend. This is where people get intimidated. Many believe in the age old myth of “if it costs more, then it must be a good wine.” This is so far from the truth and you should realize that cost doesn’t always reflect quality. It is possible to find a great wine in any price range. Besides that, the whole purpose of buying someone wine is to show your appreciation and the wine is meant to be enjoyed.
The next step is to decide what type of wine you would like to buy for that special someone. This is probably the hardest part and unless you know what style of wine the recipient likes, then it can be very challenging. The styles of wines range from dry to sweet, red to white, new world to old world, etc.
One thing you should always keep in mind is to enjoy yourself when your shopping and don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you go to the right store, then the salesperson should be knowledgeable and should recommend some really good choices. If you are buying wine before going to a friend’s house for dinner, then you should consider the type of foods being served. Also do a little research online or from major wine publications such as Wine Spectator, Wine Advocate and the Wine Enthusiast. These magazines are pretty helpful with rating systems and accurate descriptions of many of the wines that are popular and in you local stores.
Wrapping your gift puts a personal touch on your wine selection. There are many nice and affordable custom made bags for wine bottles. Bows and wrapping also shows the recipient that you put some time and effort into the gift. So hopefully this article will help you and always remember to enjoy yourself.
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