Wine Gifts for the Wine Lover

With Christmas fast approaching, I’ve been spending a lot of my free time searching for the perfect gifts for a few difficult relatives.  Not that they are difficult--it’s just that there are always a couple relatives who either live simply or buy what they want when they want it.  It’s too bad they aren’t wine lovers; then I’d have no problem.

Wine-related gifts are a quick way to add something “classy” to stuff a stocking or add a dash of panache beneath your tree.  Consider these possibilities for the oenophile among your friends or family.

1.    Good Glasses.  Using the right glass improves the aesthetics of the winetasting experience by focusing the aromas of the wine and placing the sip in the right place in your mouth. And, let’s face it, who doesn’t find a drink more enjoyable out of crystal than a Dixie cup?  You could spend a lot of money buying every shape of glass made (there’s one for every type of wine made), but that’s not practical for most of us.  So, consider

the all-purpose Riedel Ouverture Red Wine Glass--about $20 for a two-pack.  If you want to spend a little more, add a two-pack of the Riedel Ouverture White Wine Glass for about the same price.  Both are made of lead-free crystal, and though the manufacturer says they’re dishwasher-safe, I would strongly recommend hand-washing with a little bit of vinegar.  That will help stop hard-water stains that can dull the brilliance of the wine in these beautiful glasses

2.    Wine Openers.  There are a lot of good choices here. My favorite inexpensive wine openers are the waiter’s corkscrew (which looks a little like a pocket knife) or the two-prong corkpuller.  Both are easy to use, under $10 and lightweight.  I particularly like the two-prong opener, which doesn’t actually look like it should open bottle).  The $35-$70 “Rabbit” corkscrew also works well and quickly, but I do not recommend most other corkscrew-style openers.  I particularly dislike the one with “wings” that you push down after twisting the corkscrew into the bottle--I’ve seen those things “eat” too many corks, leaving unpleasant bits of cork or foil in my wine.  And while we’re on the subject of foil, that problem can be entirely eliminated with a $5-$10 foil cutter that every wine-serving household ought to own.

3.   Good Closer/Preserver.  Oxygen is “Wine Enemy No. 1.”  To preserve an open bottle of wine, you need to eliminate or at least reduce the exposure to oxygen.  You can do this with a Vacu-Vin wine saver type of device (brand is not important) that includes a closer and a pump that removes most of the oxygen from the bottle (typically about $10-$20; additional stoppers are a couple dollars).  For less work, buy a product such as “Private Preserve Wine Preserver” (again, brand is not important), which delivers a jet of safe, inert gas (typically nitrogen and/or argon) from a spray bottle costing $6-$10.  Simply compress the nozzle a couple times and then quickly replace the cork.  The gas displaces any oxygen and extends the life of your wine for a few more days.  By the way, the new bottle, filled with gas that is far lighter than oxygen, will feel empty.  Fear not: You are getting something for your money!

4.     Aerator. Wine experts are divided about the benefit of aeration.  Many believe it is a silly concept; others think it can help tame an otherwise young or especially tannic wine.  I’m in the latter camp, but I admit that I’ve found most of the aerators on the market to be difficult or messy to use and quite expensive.  You can get as much good by pouring a newly opened bottle of wine into a glass or crystal decanter (but avoid lead crystal because the lead can leach into the wine).  Buy an attractive one for under $20.

5.      Chiller.  Most people agree that there are ideal temperatures at which to serve most wines, so unless you’re lucky enough to have a large, temperature-controlled cellar or you always plan ahead, chillers can come in quite handy.  Up until last Christmas my personal favorite chiller was a kitchen sink filled with ice water—both a practical and virtually free way to achieve chill.  Bottle-hugging, refrigerating “rapid chillers”—typically $35-$100—work reasonably well, too, but not much faster than an ice bath, so why spend the money?  Last year, I got a “Ravi Instant Wine Chiller” (about $40).  This smallish device is kept in the freezer, inserted into wine just before serving and when the wine is poured through it, chills either red or white to the correct temperature.  I recommend it, especially if the wine-lover in your life likes whites

6.     Books/Magazines.  There are many books and magazines about wine, so finding the right ones, the ones that can entertain and educate, can be tricky.  For the beginner (or even the advanced beginner), I highly recommend Kevin Zraly’s “Windows on the World Complete Wine Course,” – about $10-$25, depending upon which edition you buy.  (Although the more recent editions will have more updated information about particular vintages or specific wines, I wouldn’t turn down an older edition if it’s what you can find and/or afford.)  For more advanced oenophiles, give Karen MacNeil’s “Wine Bible” ($10-$20, depending upon whether it is new or used).  I re-read sections of it on a regular basis, and no matter how many times I do that, I always learn something new.  Among magazines, the Wine Spectator is my favorite, being well-written and trustworthy.  It’s not cheap at about $50 for one year, but you can save a little by purchasing a multi-year subscription.  In addition to good wine advice, you also get some terrific recipes with wine pairing tips.

As you shop this holiday season, just remember that all hobbies come with their share of toys, promising that the possessor of this-or-that gadget will be cooler, savvier and hipper than anybody else.  In the end, not every gadget will quite achieve everything the advertising hype promises, but that’s beside the point:  It’s the quest and the opportunity to try something new that makes the gadgets enjoyable, so good luck and Merry Christmas to you and my wine-loving readers, friends and family.

And now, I hope you’ll excuse me.  Unfortunately, I only have a short time left to purchase that perfect gift for my beer-drinking brother and my teetotaler grandma.