Bringing a wine gift

As much as we would like to say this wine X is the wine to bring to any and all occasions, alas it is not so simple. Knowing the answers to some, if not all of the following questions will go a long way to helping you decide what to bring.

• What do the hosts enjoy drinking?
  Anything that you know about their preferences can help narrow the field, from reds to white, light bodied to full. Of course if you know they like only Chianti that will save you a lot of time.
• Will the wine be consumed that day/night?
  Typically bringing a wine gift is exactly that, a gift. One should not expect that the wine will be opened for consumption that evening. Of course, you know your hosts better than we do, so if you’ve already discussed bringing wine for the meal or appetizers, or you know that they always open the wine that night then you can plan accordingly. Regardless, unless they are collectors with a cellar and a penchant for aging wines, we recommend bringing a wine that is ready to drink, it can be painful to see a bottle meant for aging opened and consumed prematurely.
• If yes, what is being served? If no, do they usually like wine with meals? Before?
  If the wine is being consumed that night and you know what’s on the menu use our wine pairings guide to select the perfect wine. If you’re not sure, then choose a meal wine, or an aperitif wine based on your knowledge of the host.
• How fancy is the get-together? What is your spending comfort zone? Will what your budget get you a wine that will match the event?
  Knowing how much you want to spend is a great way to narrow down your choices. One of the reasons wine makes a great gift is its versatility; with a little planning you can almost always find something appropriate within your budget. If, however, you’re at all unsure, or know for a fact that, for instance, your boss likes first growth Bordeaux, then give us a call and we’ll tell you honestly whether or not a wine gift that is within your budget is right for the occasion.

Now that you are thinking more clearly about your wine gift, feel free to browse our site for the perfect wine, or check out these wines below that we know will be a hit.