Cheers to these great gifts for wine lovers
Put a ribbon on a bottle of wine or wrap up the latest wine reference book. Either one should please the wine lover on your holiday gift list.
But what bottle of wine and which reference? And, you might ask, is there a corkscrew that a wine geek will really appreciate?
To help with your decision-making, a few gift suggestions are in order. Some, like the Stolzle wine glasses, are personal favorites of mine. Others, notably the Lingua Franca wines from Oregon, are new to the Milwaukee market.
Here’s this year’s rundown of wineinspired presents:
About $50 a bottle. This jolly-good Chardonnay from Oregon is both powerful and elegant. If you’re familiar with French white Burgundy — not as fruity and oaky as Chard from California — then you have an idea of what this bottle brings to the table.
It will age nicely in the cellar for several years. But to enhance the flavors right now, decant it just before serving.
If you’re thinking red, there’s the which sells for about $38 a bottle. Decanting will help set the complex flavors free with this young red, as well.
The backstory on these wines is that renowned wine expert Larry Stone — who, among other things, was the sommelier at Charlie Trotter’s restaurant in Chicago — is one of the founders of this Willamette Valley winery.
Ask for Lingua Franca wines at Milwaukee-area wine shops or purchase at the website.
About $27.50.
Made in France, this beautifully simple waiter’s corkscrew is the one sommelier Larry Stone has been using for years. “It’s the best,” he said, without hesitation, during a recent visit to Milwaukee.
There are no bells or whistles here, you just lever the cork out like a pro.
“If you’re a sommelier, you’d better have the strength to pull out a cork,” he said with a smile, adding that he occasionally lubricates the hinges with camellia oil.
These stainless steel corkscrews are usually available only to the trade, but to get your hands on one, email your request to Jim Mackey at the Wine Appreciation Guild, Jim@wineappreciation.com. He’ll send it out for $27.50 plus shipping.
“Wine Folly: Magnum Edition” by Madeline Puckette and Justin Hammack (Avery, September 2018, $35).
With page after page of bright graphics The Lingua Franca Pinot Noir is a smooth red.
and clear explanations, this is one of the best and most lively introductory wine references ever.
It's organized by wine region and grape varieties, and the authors are masters at simplifying complex information. They’ve got helpful details about every grape from Agiorgitiko to Zinfandel. And with each wine-growing region, there are maps that include — thank you! — those pesky sub-regions that are sometimes hard to place.
You’ll also find insights on topics such as the history of wine, wine terminology and worldwide wine production. (The U.S. is fourth after Italy, France and Spain.)
To get an idea of their intelligent and entertaining approach, visit winefolly.com.
“50 Ways to Love Wine More: Adventure in Wine Appreciation” by Jim Laughren (Crosstown Publishing, 2018, $26.95).
OK, the person on your gift list already really appreciates wine.
But this paperback, with its friendly, unpretentious style, offers ideas and information about ways to “adore” — as author Laughren puts it — wine even more.
Chapters include “Introduce a BeerDrinking Friend to Wine,” “Volunteer to Work Crush” and “Remember and Associate,” which gives tips on boosting “scent consciousness” for keener wine tasting. About $47 for six white wine glasses or $49 for six red wine glasses. This book can help even seasoned wine aficionados appreciate the beverage more.
No worries if someone in your household is kind of clumsy when it comes to glassware. These affordable all-purpose wine glasses will make the attrition less painful.
The 13-ounce white wine glasses are the ones I use for everyday swirling and tasting, for both red and white wines. Dishwasher-safe, they have a sleek, contemporary look.
If you want something slightly larger, and geared for red wine, they make a 17ounce version.
Look for them on Amazon.com.
For a finer-quality all-purpose wine glass, Larry Stone pointed to
They list for about $59 for two at the Riedel website, although you might find spot them for less on Amazon. stackable,
$9.99 for a six-pack. These handy, plastic wine glasses — perfect for tailgating or picnics — were invented by Wisconsin-based wine educator Jessica Bell. Designed with two snap-together parts, the top half curves slightly inward to help avoid spills and enhance aromas. They are BPA-free and reusable.
Look for them at various Milwaukeearea shops or on Amazon. About $25 in various colors.
For cooling wine on-the-go, this nylon-covered sleeve, with its inner gel packs, looks good and works well. The Le Creuset’s new nylon wine cooler sleeve has inner gel packs. compact design means it stores easily in the freezer. It fits a standard-size bottle, as well as a sparkling wine bottle.
$14 from Uncommon Goods.
How to clink your glass? Anatomy of a wine bottle? It’s all here in the infographics on this cotton tea towel. Pair it with a bottle of your favorite for a thoughtful host/hostess gift.
The mail-order company also offers a beer lover’s towel and a tea lover’s towel. Anne Schamberg is a freelance writer who lives in Waukesha. Email her at aschamberg@gmail.com.