Gift Giving Ideas Start Now

By / Wine + Drinks / November 5th, 2014 / 3

Giving wine as a gift is a risky proposition. Unless you know exactly what your recipient wants you’re basically flying blind in the dark; not to mention the pricier wines seem to be front and centre this time of year, so that makes it doubly hard.

I know it’s maybe a little too early to be talking gift-giving wine, but if you start early you can still pick up some bargain wines that taste like you spent way more than you did … and a couple of bottles for you own consumption is also a nice perk.

Occasionally, throughout the month of November and December, I’ll be pointing you in the direction of wines that would make great gifts, for yourself, um I meant someone on your list.

Codorniu Seleccion Raventos Brut Cava, Spain ($15.95)

It’s rare when you find a delightful, crisp and mineral driven sparkler with this kind of length and mouthfeel: lemon-lime, green apple and great acidity – this all occasion bubbly is a real bargain.

Olivier Ravoire 2011 Cairanne Cotes du Rhone-Villages, France ($18.95)

I have often found Rhone wine to deliver bang for the buck and this Villages version is no different: chocolate, raspberry, cherry, vanilla, fig, licorice and a great backbone of acidity helps this one to deliver in spades.

Orestiadi 2008 Ludovico, Italy ($19.95)

This Sicilian wine packs a wallop at just under $20: cassis, plum, mint, vanilla and raspberry – it’s so full of flavour you’ll make everyone believe you paid a heck of a lot more than you did … shhhh, it’s our little secret.

For more wine suggestions, see our other #WineWednesday posts.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michael is an award-winning journalist: Promoting the Promoters Award Cuvée 2010 and Ontario Wine Awards Journalist of the Year 2012.  He is also a national and international wine judge - Ontario Wine Awards, All Canadian Wine Championships; Best of Riesling — Germany; Essencia do Vinho — "Top Wines of Portugal".  He is currently the President of the Wine Writers Circle of Canada and the wine columnist for Ottawa Life and Grand magazine as well as regular contributor to Tidings, and Grapevine ... his reviews have also appeared in the LCBO Vintages magazine. Michael has also added a YouTube channel to his activities where he reviews bottles of great Ontario wine on a weekly basis. In whatever he does, it is Michael’s desire to educate, inspire and encourage others to grow their own love and enthusiasm for wine – and to realize that it is their palate that ultimately makes the decision.

Comments are closed.

North America’s Longest Running Food & Wine Magazine

Get Quench-ed!!!

Champion storytellers & proudly independent for over 50 years. Free Weekly newsletter & full digital access