On choosing wine as a gift
Here are tips in time for holiday gatherings
Following last week’s column on wine etiquette (whether you should open a bottle of wine brought by a guest), I had a welter of other queries. I’ll take them on in the next few months, but one that several people asked is pertinent as we enter various holiday seasons: How do you choose a bottle of wine to give as a gift?
The first thing, of course, is to make sure alcohol is welcome. Some people have strong religious or personal reasons not to drink alcohol. Between a fifth and a quarter of Canadian adults never drink. But assuming alcohol is acceptable, there are various things you might bear in mind.
Price is one consideration, and the good news is that there is wine at almost all price points. You can buy a decent bottle for under $12, and you can spend hundreds. If you’re looking for sparkling wine, which is often exchanged in the coming few weeks, try prosecco from Italy and cava from Spain in the $12-20 range, before you head to very good Ontario sparkling wines costing $20 to $30, and then champagne (generally starting between $40 and $50).
It helps to have some idea of the kind of wine your recipient likes. Recently, a few people have told me they drink only red or only white wine. I don’t understand that, but it’s a personal preference, and it’s worth knowing if you plan to buy someone a bottle. Then, some people have preferences for variety or region, such as Ontario rieslings or Chilean cabernets. It’s proper to accommodate them. I don’t think a present is the best medium for trying to convince someone they should get out of their varietal rut.
But then again (the nice thing about etiquette is that it can be flexible), if you try to be a little imaginative with presents, you might look for a bottle of wine that’s off the beaten track. In that case, try to find one that’s in the style the person likes. If they like sparkling wine, give one of the sparkling wines from different French regions, like a crémant de Loire or de Bourgogne. If they’re stuck on malbec from Argentina, give one of the terrific cabernet sauvignons from the same place. If they love sauvignon blanc from Marlborough, give a sauvignon from South Africa.
Combined, the LCBO/Vintages, the SAQ and Ontario winery retail stores offer us, in the National Capital Region, many thousands of possibilities. Think of a style, a variety, a region, and you’re almost sure to find it.