If you’re looking for ideas to surprise someone, check out our suggestions with some options that make great gifts, on any occasion.
For those that really enjoy the world of wine, the right accessory can be the perfect complement to take wine tasting to the next level.
New York Magazine made a list of 29 items winemakers and sommeliers recommend as gifts. Among the options listed are various decanters. As we explained in the blog “What does a decanter do?”, this accessory allows the wine to come into contact with oxygen, opening the wine and allowing you to better appreciate the aromas and flavors.
The first thing to know is that decanting is used primarily with older red wines that have accumulated sediments, or young red wines that are very closed, so the added contact with oxygen softens the wines and reveals their true aromas. And what about for white wines? White wines are only decanted under very specific conditions of aging, acidity, or variety, and are usually taken on a case by case basis.
For a large-bodied red wine like Cabernet Sauvignon, you should have a wide-based decanter that can trap all of the sediments. For a Merlot, with medium body, a medium-sized decanter is recommended. For lighter-bodied wines like Pinot Noir, a medium decanter is best, but be sure to chill it prior to using it.
Some decanters are really perfect, esthetically, but are often not effective in catching and retaining the sediment. You should also consider factors like ease of pouring, because wine can easily come out too quickly. The decanter should be comfortable to hold, and not too heavy.
Another useful accessory is the corkscrew. Ideally it should be completely metallic, as they tend to be more durable. It should also have two steps, that make it easier to remove the cork smoothly and help prevent the cork from breaking (especially in older wines). It also helps avoid the loud pop and sudden influx of oxygen into the wine.
The website Fine Cooking explains that having a good corkscrew will help avoid having to use a lot of force, while also simplifying the task.
Lastly, another great wine accessory to gift is a drip stopper. This small gadget helps the wine from dripping down the bottle after serving, leaving the label or the table wet with wine.
If you’re not convinced of the idea of gifting a wine accessory, you can always opt to gift a bottle of wine. However, if you don’t know what someone likes to drink, gifting wine can be a rather complicated task. There are some varieties that are universally liked, and can work for people of all ages and tastes.
Even though times are changing, and men and women have varied tastes, women do often prefer white wines like Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay, or lighter-bodied red wines like Pinot Noir. Men tend to prefer red wines with more body, like a Cabernet Sauvignon. Either way, both men and women are more open these days to trying something new, so gifting a different wine may be the perfect opportunity to try something they haven’t had before.
For people who don’t have very defined tastes, Viñedos Veramonte’s winemaker Sofía Araya recommends Cabernet Sauvignon, as it’s always a welcome classic. The same applies to Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.
“But if you want to be a bit more daring, I think in Chile we’re making some very good Syrah. It’s a more aromatic variety, with fruit like blueberries, black fruit, and berries, which makes for a very attractive wine.
Another option is Carmenere, when well ripened and made well, is a rounded and smooth wine. It may be a nicer option for someone just starting to drink wine,” Araya commented.
If you want to get someone a gift, be sure to consider these wine accessories. All of the options are useful and will surely be well received. Now when it comes to gifting wine and you don’t know the person well, make sure to give classic, well-known varieties.
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