With the festive season rapidly approaching we thought we’d share our recommendations on how to select wine as a gift. Many think it’s a sure bet when it comes to gifting wine, however, it can be a much more personal practice than one would think. Here are some things to consider, along with our favourite gift selections, if you are planning on buying wine for friends and family this festive season.
Personal Preference
Now this one is seemingly obvious, but it is often surprisingly overlooked. While giving wine can be an exciting opportunity to show your friends some of your favourite wines, don’t try to completely convert them to varietals or styles that they don’t usually drink. There is nothing wrong with ‘familiar’ and unless your mother-in-law likes being taken on a wild wine ride, it may be best to stick with something you know she’s going to like.
You can achieve this balance of familiar and interesting by buying a well-known grape varietal and then making the drinking experience different; for example a comparative tasting or vintage vertical. For example, a comparative tasting of the Metzer Maritime Chenin and Metzer Montane Chenin.
Plus, you might want to even consider De-Alcoholised wines.
These wines are treated exactly the same way in the cellar yet are completely different – showing the true influence of terroir. Browse the full Metzer Family Wines range to find the perfect gift.
Limited Releases
Everybody loves things that are hard to find. We’ve seen this throughout history with first edition books, rare gemstones, and in wine too! These wines are usually a splurge given their rarity, but they certainly are extremely memorable gifts.
Take for example, the De Toren ‘Patronus’ Malbec. Imagine owning a bottle of wine that is one of fewer than 1000 bottles produced…
Not only is this wine rare but it is complex, interesting and, most importantly, utterly delicious. Packed with flavours of plum, ripe cherry and a hint of smoke, it is certainly one of the best Malbec’s we’ve ever tasted. Why not give it a taste?
Older Vintages
As with limited releases, people tend to gravitate towards and assign value to items that have acquired some age. Almost everybody knows that wine tends to develop interesting and complex flavours with age, but not everybody knows how to choose a wine that will age favourably.
We’ve done the hard work for you and are importing Grangehurst to the UK. Grangehurst truly believes in the value of ‘unhurried’ wine and therefore only releases their wines to market when they are completely ready to drink. A complex, 15 year old Cabernet Sauvignon for this price- we think this is a winner.
Why not try this range for yourself?
Presentation
Be honest… There is something about a beautiful label on a bottle wine. Even the biggest of wine afficionados can appreciate a label. Not only is this wine beautiful with its pitch-black label and black wax seal, but it is brilliant quality too. Brimming with dark fruits such as blackberry and sour cherry and complimented by notes of tomato leaf and a hint of churned earth, this wine is bound to impress. We love the label (and taste) of Torero Suit of Lights Carignan 2022.
Larger Formats
In a magnum format, there is less surface area of wine exposed to the cork (and therefore less exposure to oxygen, the ‘frenemy’ of wine) than a normal 75cl bottle. This is why magnums tend to age more slowly making for the perfect addition to any cellar. Why not give the gift that will keep on giving for many years to come? We recommend the De Toren, Fusion V 2019 MAGNUM.
Ratings and Reviews
If you’d like to buy a bottle of wine for a person who seems to constantly be talking about wine ratings and reviews, we’ve compiled a list of a few of our favourite winning wines to make your choices easy:
- The High Road Director’s Reserve 2019 received 98 Points and the Trophy at Investec Trophy Show 2023
- Eikendal Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 received 97 Points and the Trophy at Investec Trophy Show 2023
- Oldenburg Vineyards Rondekop ‘Stone Axe’ Syrah 2021 received 97 Points at Investec Trophy Show 2023
Freedom of Choice
If you’re not sure what to choose, or this person tends to be particularly fussy, then why not give them the freedom of choice by purchasing one of our gift cards? Visit our shop to make your online purchase.
This blog was edited and posted by Digital Squeak.
