Holiday Gift Giving

By: Ken Mageau

Article Category: Wine Life

Most of us have at least one or two wine geeks on our Christmas shopping list. They’re usually the hardest to shop for because you want to give them something they’ll truly enjoy and won’t consider re-gifting. I’ve got a few ideas to pass along that might help allay those Christmas Blues.

Wine lovers always appreciate a nice bottle of wine. Remember: it doesn’t have to be expensive to be outstanding. The most important thing is to know whether they prefer reds or whites. If you can, find out which particular grape they most prefer — cabernet, zinfandel, etc. — any type of grape that makes it easier for your wine clerk to help you pick out a great bottle in your price range.  Wine accessories are always a surefire hit as well. I’ll go over some basic items you should be able to find locally.

For the true oenophile, subscriptions to either Wine Spectator or Wine Enthusiast would make very memorable gifts. These are monthly magazines that rate sampled wines, from the very expensive to the very cheap, but devoted wine lovers will look forward to these coming every month. Information for both magazines is easily found online.

For the not-so-demanding people, a wine aeration unit like a Vinturi makes a perfect gift. It’s easy to use; simply pour your wine through the Vinturi into the glass and it’s the equivalent of decanting your wine for an hour-and-a-half. Speaking of decanting, another nice gift idea might be a decanter itself. These are used to allow red wines to “open up” by infusing them with oxygen. The process really makes a difference.

Any wine lover would appreciate a fine set of Reidel stemware. These are goblets made in Austria and are made for specific types of wine. These are top-of-the-line stems and truly add to the enjoyment of any vintage. New corkscrews always make welcome gifts. They come in all shapes and sizes and can be electric or mounted on a table, or can use compressed air or brute force to do the job. They’re all available locally, so have some fun and pick one out.

I’ve never mentioned beer in this column before, but in the spirit of the holiday season, we may as well mention some gifts for them as well. Beer lovers are different from oenophiles in that most are more concerned with quantity over quality. These gift ideas are not for such folks. A true beer geek has either brewed or wants to brew their own beer, so brewing kits and supplies make great gift ideas. Just google “brewing supplies” and loads of items will come up. The kits are the best place to start, but they’re not found locally, so online is the way to go. A subscription to Beer Advocate would be an excellent gift for the lover of craft and imported beers. The magazine offers ratings for tasted brews and brewing tips.

For those who would rather rate their own tasted brews, a membership in a monthly beer club is a great idea. These usually come in the form of a mixed six-pack of seasonal and hard-to-find beers. And last but not least, a four-pack or six-pack of a really great craft or imported beer you’ve chosen yourself. Some great gift beers even look like wine bottles and come equipped with a cork and cage. These are usually found in a bottle shop rather than your local supermarket.

I hope I’ve given you some different and useful ideas for this season’s shopping.

I’d like to thank you for checking out this column and hope you all have a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season.

Always remember: life’s too short to drink lousy beer & wine,

Ken

Ken Mageau is the owner of The Flying Corkscrew, purveyors of fine wine, beer, and cigars, located at 1877 S. Patrick Dr. in Indian Harbour Beach. Call (321) 773-8757, or visit www.brevardwines.com