RAISE A GLASS
Wines: Perfect for holiday parties and gifts
| • | Giving thanks feeds the soul |
By Kim Karalovich
Wine — a gift that keeps on giving. Whether you bring it to a party, present it to your boss or co-worker, or choose it for that "hard-to-find-gifts-for" person in your life, wine is a great holiday gift.
Wine is the perfect package to bring to a party because even if the host does not really drink, they will still be grateful to have a wonderful wine to share with their guests. You can impress a nondrinker host by bringing a bottle of wine that matches their menu. For example, if sushi is on the menu, bring the host a chilled bottle of a lighter white wine such as a dry riesling or pinot grigio. If it's a holiday dinner with turkey and ham, select a lighter-style red wine like a pinot noir and mention that you selected the wine to match with dinner.
Don't disappoint your host by bringing an easily identifiable cheap wine. You can enjoy bulk wines at home, such as Yellow Tail from Australia, but this $5.99 bottle of wine that you see in the supermarkets is not the wine to bring to a party, especially if the host has cooked all day or hired a caterer. I don't mean to sound like a wine snob, but I've heard countless stories from disappointed hosts about guests bringing boxed wine or jug wine, who then drink up the good wine and leave the unopened bulk wine for the host.
You don't have to spend a lot to impress; seek out interesting wines not so commonly found. Here are a few great, value-priced wines to bring to a party or give as a gift.
When you really want to impress the host or recipient and budget is not an issue, consider a nice boutique wine. Boutique wines are not as readily available because their quantities are very limited. Shop early for impressive higher-end wines because when Christmas rolls around, most limited boutique wines sell out. Here are a few suggestions:
More than likely recipients of these wonderful wines will save them for a special occasion, so personalize your gift. Use a bottle writer pen and sign the bottle with a short message and your name. Cheers!
Kim Karalovich is a wine buyer and consultant at The Wine Stop in Honolulu, www.thewinestophawaii.com. Raise a Glass, written by a rotating group of beverage professionals, appears here every other Wednesday.
