For those looking to impress a wine enthusiast, finding a gift worth giving can take all year.
Malls and department stores offer little that would please an oenophile, and the staff at Best Buy doesn't know a thing about wine. The Internet can be overwhelming!
Relax.
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David White, founder and editor of Terroirist.com, can be read at Wines.com, one of the fastest-growing wine portals on the Internet.
Wine lovers are easy to please, regardless of your budget.
Here are my top picks.
Consider a wine club. Whether shopping for a novice or the next Iron Sommelier, everyone appreciates trying new wines.
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David White, founder and editor of Terroirist.com, can be read at Wines.com, one of the fastest-growing wine portals on the Internet.
TastingRoom.com is worth checking out as it literally brings the tasting room to your living room. Launched three years ago by a tech entrepreneur, the company transfers wine into miniature bottles, allowing consumers to sample a host of wines without having to purchase an entire bottle. Wine club memberships start at $30 per shipment.
If shopping for someone who enjoys wines from Napa Valley, consider the "Bordello Wine Club" from Vintner's Collective, a multi-winery tasting room in downtown Napa. The club is expensive - the average shipment runs $165 - but the collective is home to some of Napa's most celebrated, small-production winemakers. If you're shopping for a fan of Oregon Pinot Noir, there's a similar collective in the Willamette Valley called Carlton Winemakers Studio.
For novice wine drinkers, newspaper wine clubs are fun. These have proliferated in recent years, and the New York Times' selections tend to get the highest marks. That said, many retailers such as the Grapevine on Boca Grande have wines with better value.
Wine books also make good gifts.
If you're shopping for a budding oenophile, pick up a copy of Kevin Zraly's "Windows on the World Complete Wine Course." For good reason, it's been in print for nearly 30 years.
If you're shopping for a wine enthusiast who already has a stocked bookcase, pick up a copy of "Wine Grapes," the just-released guide to 1,368 grape varieties by Jancis Robinson, Julia Harding, and Jos Vouillamoz. The book is hefty - it clocks in at more than 7 pounds - and has a price tag to match, retailing for $175. But it's a reference book every wine geek must own.
A more affordable choice is "How to Love Wine," by New York Times chief wine critic Eric Asimov. Part memoir and part manifesto, the book thoroughly combats the poison of wine snobbery through an honest and personal evaluation of America's wine culture. It was my favorite book this year.
Actual wine also works. To make an impression, you'll want something that's recognizable but isn't easily found at the supermarket.
Champagne is always memorable, and in recent years, wine enthusiasts have gone gaga over "Grower Champagne," or wines made by the farmers who grow the grapes.
Just as we understand why an apple grown in Virginia tastes different from an apple grown in Massachusetts, we understand why a Sonoma Chardonnay tastes different from one produced in Napa.
Champagne is no different.
Grower Champagne conveys that sense of place. Egly-Ouriet, Pierre Peters, and Vilmart are three top Growers. Their wines are pricey but delicious.
Of course, if you go this route, don't hesitate to ask the knowledgeable staffer at your Gasparilla Island-area wine shop for advice. She might steer you toward something equally impressive such as a well-known Bordeaux or Super Tuscan.
Stemware and decanters also make great gifts. Look for brands such as Riedel, Spiegelau, and Schott Zwiesel.
Whatever you do, don't waste money.
I've never seen the point of a wine stopper and no wine enthusiast wants a kitschy, hand-painted wine glass. The latest gadgets, too, are typically a waste - cordless rechargeable wine bottle openers always seem more difficult to use than traditional waiter's tools.
