3 Fun Gift Ideas for the Wine Lover on your List
The holidays are just around the corner and that means lots of great food and wine, crazy shopping malls and the need to come up with unique and fun gifts for everyone on your list. If you are buying a gift for a wine lover, besides wine of course, consider wine gadgets, tickets to wine events or wine clubs.
1. Wine Gadgets these make great stocking stuffers or gifts for under the tree. Consider a wine aerator, stemless wine glasses or a unique wine stopper you can get them with intials, animals, sport team mascots, there really is something for everyone. Wine Charms so people know which glass is theirs are fun gifts as well. For bigger gifts consider a crystel decanter, high end wine glasses,( I like Riedel Glasses) or a wine refrigerator.
2. Tickets to Wine Events Check out www.localwineevents.com for upcoming wine events in your area and buy your wine lover a ticket to a fun upcoming event. If you live in the SF Bay Area I suggest a Sonoma Wine Road Season Pass. For $149 you get a ticket to Winter Wineland a weekend of food & wine in Sonoma, a Ticket to Barrel Tasting in March over 2 weekends, a ticket to a Wine & Food Affair in Novmeber, a wine road license plate frame and a tote worth $205 http://www.wineroad.com/seasonpass/ Or just buy individual tickets to one of the Sonoma Wine Road events. it’s a great way to visit lots of wineries in one day all for one set price and enjoy wine & food. Another great option in San Francisco is ZAP. This event January 23-25 is all about Zinfandel. Set at the historic Presidio overlooking the San Francisco Bay and the Four Seasons Hotel, the All New Zinfandel Experience delivers casual enjoyment along with luxurious style. There are 4 great events to chose from buy a ticket for one or buy a weekend pass for them all, you can select from seminars, food & wine pairings and a Winemakers Dinner & Auction http://www.zinfandel.org/default.asp?cid=1&n1=2&n2=1248 Finally, Passport to Dry Creek is April 24-27 and this year is the 25th anniversary. This event includes 50+ wineries throughout Dry Creek Valley, each offering a unique pairing of premium wine, gourmet food and entertainment. Tickets are $120 for the whole weekend of $70 for just Sunday http://www.wdcv.com/events/passport-to-dry-creek-valley.php
3. Wine Clubs Subscribe to a wine club so your wine lover gets wine year round. If the person you are buying for has a favorite winery then go online and join the wineries wine club to get monthly shipments of that wineries wines. Another option is to select an independent wine club. There are clubs that focus on wine by state, region, country or that provide a mix of all kinds of wines. This is a fun option because it provides exposure to a variety of wines. Le Metro Wine based out of San Diego is a a monthly wine subscription service worth considering. Each collection from Le Metro consists of 6 specially selected wines centering on a unique theme. A monthly shipment costs $175 plus tax and shipping and includes a printed wine zine including interesting facts and information on each wine including suggestions for food pairing. What I really like about Le Metro Wines is that you have the chance to go on Twitter after you receive your wines and participate in wine chats to learn more about the wines you have been shipped and to talk to the curator who selected the wines along with others who have tasted or know about the wines so in additi0n to the printed materials you are sent about the wines, there is an interactive educational opportunity. The December shipment is Underground Bubbles & January is Shades of Pinot Noir. Tina, Guy & Aaron are fun people and they definitely know their stuff so you are sure to impress with the gift of a Le Metro monthly or quarterly shipment http://lemetrowine.com/
There are so many fun and unique wine related gift options out there and a bottle of wine is usually something that any wine lover will appreciate. If you do not know a lot about wine and do not want to join a wine club or get a monthly subscription then go to a specialty wine shop, tell them your price range and ask what unique wines they recommend. You are sure to end up with some great suggestions. Personally I recommend bubbles like cava or prosescco because they are festive, reasonably priced, and are perfect to toast the holiday season. Foreign wines from lesser known regions such as Portugal, South America & New Zealand also privide good finds at great values
Best wishes for a very Happy Holidays to you and yours. Please do let me know what your favorite wine gifts are to give or what wine gifts you would like to receive or have received that you have loved. Cheers!
Tags: Dry Creek, Le Metro Wine, localwinevents.com, Passport to Dry Creek, Riedel, Sonoma, Sonoma Wine Road, ZAP
