Stemware

Yes, most of us have an abundance of glasses, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t like new ones, especially if they’re unique. One of my favorite gifts was several years ago my brother-in-law and his wife gave my wife and I a set of glasses that I liked so much that I went out and bought more of them so that I’d have a set of eight. The wine lover in your life probably has a good set of regular red and white glasses, but maybe some nice stemless glasses, or some champagne flutes, or even an interesting decanter.

Wine

This doesn’t have to be an expensive bottle of wine, and probably shouldn’t be to be honest. What it does need to be though is special – something memorable. For example, some years back for my Father I bought him a bottle of Portugese wine (his family is from Portugal) that was imported into the small town just outside of Boston where he grew up. The wine was good enough, only cost me about $20, and he loved the significance of both where the wine originated from and where it was brought in through.

Accessories

Yes, I have a lot of corkscrews, but that doesn’t mean I’m not interested in new ones if they’re interesting. Giving a basic corkscrew may not be the best choice, but an interesting one that is either large and as much a decoration as anything or something special that uses compressed air or one that attaches to a key chain are all unique enough to be a great stocking-stuffer even for those of us with plenty of corkscrews.

Decorations

Paintings, bottle or glass storage units that are as much decoration as functional unit, and even tins that can store bottles for giving them as a gift and then have the tin used as a decoration on a shelf are all great options. Not only are you supporting their love of wine, but helping them to beautify their home at the same time.

It’s the Thought

It’s something we’ve all heard for years, but it really is the thought that counts when it comes to wine gift giving. Acknowledging their love of wine in your gift giving choices will be appreciated no matter what you give.

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It’s not because I’m tired of wine or I don’t love wine, it’s because I’m starting to think I don’t have the pallet or the nose for it.  I know that all wine is subjective and we don’t all like the same things or even perceive things the same, but sometimes I feel like a lot of things are going right over my head.  Sometimes my duties as Assistant Taste Technician involve more “formal” tasting events, where we’re not just opening a bottle of wine with dinner, we are staring down six to eight bottles of wine that are all to be opened and tried and often tweeted about.  It’s situations like theses where I find myself a bit out of place, throwing around tweets like “Mmmm… this one is good.” Mean while others at the events or on twitter are talking about the hint of Lychee or the Cassis or who knows what.  I can honestly tell you that I’ve never tasted Lychee or Cassis, at least not knowingly, and therefore have no point of reference for those flavors.  I often find myself coming up short when trying to put into words what something smells or tastes like to me. Partly because I seem to be uncomfortable assigning non food terms to wine. It took me a long time to say things tasted like leather or petrol until others started using those terms to describe something I was drinking and I had an “OOOOH! That’s what that is!” moment.

We once held a tasting at our house with friends and we all contemplated the wine in our glass for several minutes failing to put our fingers on what it was that was odd about our wine, that weird taste, that strange smell. Then one of our friends in attendance hit the nail on the head with “It tastes like new leather shoe,” which somehow amazingly enough it did. Needless to say it wasn’t our favorite selection of the night, and as someone who prefers to keep my beverages and footwear separate it’s a pair of dots I never would never have connected on my own.

The Guru recently obtained a Wine Aroma Wheel from someone, somewhere and I’m still a bit shocked by some of the things on it and why on Earth I would put in my mouth something that smelled like some of these things. I’ll make my case with: Skunk, Cooked Cabbage, Wet Dog and the entire “Microbiological” category.  I remember once seeing on the posted tasting notes at a wine shop that a certain wine smelled like “dirty dish rag.” I don’t think I’ll ever be one to think quite in those terms, if only because I’d like to be able to enjoy the wine I’m drinking.  I am, however, going to hang on to this aroma wheel and maybe get my hands on a taste wheel so that the next time I can’t quite put my finger on it I may be able to come up with a more worthwhile opinion beyond “it’s fruity.”  And while I’m at it I really need to find some lychee and add that to my mental flavor library.

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Breezaire

The Breezaire wine cellar cooling units range in price from around $650 to almost $1600.  Designed to be nearly vibration free as well as running quietly, the line of Breezaire cooling units provide cool air to help maintain both temperature and humidity in your wine cellar, protecting both the wine and the labels and corks contained within, and can cool 2,000 cubic feet of space.

WhisperKOOL

The WhisperKOOL wine cellar cooling units can also cool down 2,000 cubic feet of space, and range in price from $1370 to $4240.  Capable of handling temperature variances of 55 degrees, depending on the model, these cooling systems are ideal for maintaining wine integrity no matter the external temperature.

CellarPro

Top notch design and technology combine in the CellarPro cooling units.  Ranging in price from $950 to $3200, the CellarPro line of wine cellar cooling units are popular as replacement units as they are built to the same dimensions as many of the popular cooling units and have flexible mounting and exhaust systems.  Each unit also comes with a digital control panel for precise temperature management.

Wine Guardian

Capable of cooling space up to 5500 cubic feet, the Wine Guardian line of cooling units range in price from $2400 all the way up to $6000.  The most installation friendly units on the market, the Wine Guardian units are self contained and require no external piping for installation.  For those in dryer climates, Wine Guardian units come with the option to add a humidifier or heating coil to your cooling unit to maintain proper temperature and humidity in your wine cellar.

Koolspace KoolR

Ranging from $500 to $1000, the Koolspace Koolr units (previously known as ChillR) sense the temperature in your wine cellar and adjust the temperature to maintain your settings for both temperature and humidity, taking away the need to constantly check on your settings.  Featuring superior energy efficiency, are compact and perfect for smaller wine cellars.

No matter your budget or cellar size, one of these cooling units is sure to fit your needs and help you preserve your wine.  When you’re ready to get a cooling unit, check out one or all of these I’m sure you’ll find one that fits exactly what you need.

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I’ve been thinking about writing a piece on boxed wines for a while, but had been having a hard time trying to think of a good argument in favor of boxed wine.  Sure, you get a lot of wine in a single package for a better price than the same number of bottles would cost, but you’re often sacrificing quality to save that money, and there are plenty of wines in a bottle out there that are affordable and quality.  Then I got some samples of the Octavin Home Wine Bar.

The first thing that I noticed in the Octavin was the packaging.  As the name would imply, the boxes are eight-sided, taller than they are wide, with a top of the line twist-to-open spout that prevents leaks and are, most importantly, stylish.  Unlike most boxed wine which comes in a simple square or rectangular package, the Octavin Wine Bars are stylish packages that you won’t be ashamed of to put out at a party.

On top of quality packaging, Octavin has come up with a great selection of wines to put in their stylish boxes.  Big House Red and White, Monthaven Chardonnay, Pinot Evil Pinot Noir, Boho Vineyards Zinfandel, Silver Birch Sauvignon Blanc, and Seven Spanish Red Wine Blend – a wide selection for every occasion and every palate with prices ranging from $22 to $25 each (SRP).

If you’re anything like me you’re always looking for wines that’s great for putting out at parties or you’re just looking to have a single glass of wine.  The Octavin Home Wine Bars are perfect for both needs.  I sampled the Big House Red, the Monthaven Chardonnay, and the Silver Birch Sauvignon Blanc.  I’d had Big House Red before, and I found that I actually enjoyed it more in the Octavin Home Wine Bar than in a bottle.  Not that I felt it tasted different, but I liked having it available for a single glass as a table wine from the Octavin – something that having a bottle of it didn’t offer.  In addition, my in-laws were visiting when I received the samples and my father-in-law loved being able to take just a glass whenever he felt like it without having to open a bottle.

For the same reasons I enjoyed the Monthaven and especially the Silver Birch Sauvignon Blanc.  With the temperature continuing to climb here in Virginia, a refreshing glass of wine is always welcome on a hot day when trying to relax on the weekend or for pairing with a quick lunch or dinner.

I’m not saying that boxed wine will ever replace bottled, but the Octavin Home Wine Bar is certainly a great step in the direction and perfect for anybody looking for a quality table wine that’s perfect for parties or just a wine by the glass.  If you see this at your local store I would definitely recommend giving it a try.

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Varietal: Blended Red Wine (Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon)
Region: California – USA
Cost: $8 – $10

Dark coloring with forward flavors of fruit and cherry with a smooth finish.  Pairs well with chicken, pork, and sharp cheeses.

Recommendations: I picked up this wine with a pretty good idea of what to expect, and not necessarily in a negative way.  I’m a firm believer that there’s a niche and drinker for every wine, and while I might not like them all, it doesn’t mean that others don’t.

There are plenty plenty of wine drinkers like myself, ones that run websites voicing our opinions, that look down on wines that know their niche and don’t aspire to more.  I am not one of those people.  With that in mind I opened up the bottle of Middle Sister Rebel Red.

My wife and I were hosting our brother and his wife for a post-Christmas get together and that meant the wine was flowing.  I had purchased the Middle Sister wine figuring it was going to be very similar to Menage a Trois’ red wine – and it was.

Fruit forward in the style of many California red wines with big flavors of cherry, the wine was perfectly fine for sipping at while enjoying some good company.  While certainly not a game-changing life-altering wine, Middle Sister does a great job of working its way into the affordable table wine niche and not trying to be something it’s not.

If you’re a fan of the Menage a Trois line of wines than you should certainly give Middle Sister a look.  Worth picking up for a casual night at home when you want something simple and straight forward.

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Varietal: Malbec
Region: Argentina
Cost: $20

Smooth on the nose with flavors of blackberry, plum, toast, and vanilla.  Dark in color, pair this wine with casual foods such as hamburger, chicken wings, pizza, pasta, or steak.

Recommendations: Having enjoyed the 2007 Gouguenheim Malbec, I was excited to receive the 2008.  The first thing I noticed about this wine was the deep purplish-red color.  On the nose the wine was subtle, which was surprising giving that it carries nearly 14% alcohol by volume.

In the mouth the Malbec was full of fruit flavor, especially blackberry.  While I was bad and didn’t pair this with anything (it was movie night in the Perry household), this is absolutely the perfect wine to pair with pizza, as the bold flavors of fruit will be a perfect pairing to the pizza sauce and toppings.

This is a great wine to keep on hand for a casual evening at home making a quick dinner after work as it will go with just about any casual, throw-together meal that you can come up with.  The 2007 was good, the 2008 is great.  Definitely worth a try.

Special thanks to the International Wine of the Month Club for supplying the wine for this review.

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There are a lot of different ways to share your love of wine with the special people in your life, such as dinners, wine of the month clubs, or trips to vineyards.  However, one way to show your family in friends that you appreciate wine, and that you know they do too, is to send them a wine gift basket.

A Great Alternative

While a fan of wine of the month clubs, a wine gift basket serves as a nice alternative for those looking for a wine gift without a recurring monthly cost.  Also, many gift baskets feature food such as chocolate or cheese that has been specially selected to pair with the wine in the basket, great for the recipient as it gives them to enjoy with the wine that they know will pair well with it.

A Nice Introduction

For your friends that are just getting into wine, there are many inexpensive options out there to introduce them to new wines while avoiding either you or them having to invest heavily in a trip to the wine store, a vineyard, or signing up for the more elaborate wine of the month clubs, which can be very pricey.

Something for Everybody

While there are certainly wine gift baskets that reach a price tag of more than $150, there are just as many quality baskets that can be had for under $40.  No matter what your price range is for gift giving, you can find a wine gift basket to suit your pocketbook.

Always in Season

Wine is always in season, and is a great gift for any season.  Birthday, Christmas, Valentine’s day, Mother’s day – it’s all a great reason to give the gift of wine.  If the person you’re giving it too appreciates wine, it won’t really matter what the holiday is, of even if there is a holiday.

No matter your reason for sending it, a wine gift basket is a great way to let the people in your life know that you appreciate your shared love of wine.  There are plenty of great places to get a basket to fit your budget, so why not go show somebody that you’re thinking of them?

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Varietal: Tempranillo
Region: Spain
Cost: $13

Purple coloring with aromas of ripened fruit.  Fresh, light, and fruity on the palate, this will pair well with most food, including fancier food such as elaborate pasta dishes, or with hamburgers and BBQ.

Recommendations: I picked this up on a recommendation from John, my wine guy, and was pleased by the results.  A bit of alcohol on the nose doesn’t completely mask the aromas of ripened fruit.  A fairly fruit forward tempranillo, this will be a great pairing with just about anything, including whatever you cook on the grill, or while watching TV on a Sunday with the wife (which is what I did).

One neat feature about this bottle is that, much like Coors Light is doing, they’ve placed a ring around the logo on the label that turns blue when the bottle is at the correct temperature for drinking, a nice feature that can take the guess-work out of what the correct temperature to serve a bottle is.

For the price this is definitely a Tempranillo worth trying out, if for no other reason than the novelty of the color-changing ring.  With less alcohol on the nose than a lot of other ones, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one as much as I did.

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A popular blend of a Portugese and Virginia grape, this red wine offers light garnet coloring, rich aromas of plum with balanced acidity and just enough soft tannins to make it an excellent pairing for pasta or red meat such as veal.

Recommendations: If you’ve been reading this blog at all, you know that I’m a big fan of Grayhaven Winery.  The Sojourn is no exception to that.  Light in color but with great flavors, this medium-bodied red pairs well with various foods, but is just as enjoyable by itself.  The light tannins on the finish make it a good pairing for pasta, but as they’re not overwhelming you can pair this with somewhat lighter fare and it will still compliment whatever you’re eating.

If you’re a fan of either Touriga or Cabernet Franc, or just looking to try something new, the Sojourn from Grayhaven is definitely worth trying.  Go visit them too, everybody there is incredibly nice and they have a great winery to spend an afternoon at.

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Varietal:  Chardonnay
Region:  Australia
Cost:  $7.99 – $9.99

Deep straw coloring leads into a light to medium-bodied white with a floral bouquet and an almost tart finish.  Pair with grilled white meat for best combination.

Recommendations:  Far be it from me to say that Yellowtail anything is some type of earth-shattering life-altering wine.  Now, with that out of the way, I can say that Yellowtail Chardonnay is a good gateway chardonnay.  By that I mean that if you’ve been afraid to really get into chardonnay because you’re not a fan of the buttery finish of oaked chardonnay, Yellowtail can help you ease into it.

With just enough buttery/oaky finish to it, the Yellowtail chardonnay will pair well with a range of white meats with the possible exception of some of your more delicate fish meals.  Grilled chicken and pork are a good pairing.  While this isn’t even approaching my favorite white wine, if you’re throwing a party, this is a good one to grab for your white as it’s affordable and will appeal to a range of white wine drinkers.

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