It is time once again for the unveiling of this year’s list of cool gift ideas for wine lovers. I spend the year shopping, testing and evaluating for this list---setting aside anything that has a special “wow” factor or is simply intriguing and unusual. My suggestions from last year’s guide, are still worth checking into as well. Everyone loves to receive a gift that gives the impression that you put some thought into it. I hope my efforts will save you some time hunting for that just-right gift. And, if you have personally stumbled upon a clever idea that I missed, comment on this post.
The Corvi Concrete Wine Cooler. This wine cooler is an intriguing piece of art as much as it is a functional item. Crafted from concrete (but very lightweight—it’s ultra-thin concrete), and designed by Francisco Corvi, the cooler should be placed in the freezer prior to use. Because of the concrete’s density and mass, it will remain cool for ages ---just put a coaster underneath it, as it does sweat over time. Those who own a cellar can simply place the bottle into the Corvi and the wine will hold its cellar temperate for a long time. You can also purchase several coolers and stack them together to create a funky, unusual wine rack. $75
For the Napa Cabernet Lover: The Stags Leap District Winegrowers Association Appellation Collection. This is a one-of-a-kind gift offering from Napa Valley that features wines from single appellation. The set includes a total of 17 bottles of 2010 Stags Leap District-designated Cabernet Sauvignon from each of the appellation’s member wineries. The wineries included are: Baldacci Family Vineyards, Chimney Rock Winery, Cliff Lede Vineyards, Clos Du Val, Hartwell Vineyards, Ilsley Vineyards, Lindstrom Wines, Malk Family Vineyards, Pine Ridge Vineyards, Regusci Winery, Robinson Family Vineyards, Shafer Vineyards, Silverado Vineyards, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Stags' Leap Winery, Taylor Family Vineyards, and Terlato Family Vineyards. Order www.stagsleapdistrict.com/appellationcollection. For additional information, contact the Association's Executive Director Nancy Bialek at (707) 255-1720. $1,599.00
A Wine Club Membership---see my full updated report on the latest club offerings and select one that best suits your recipient.
The Fat Cork Club---THE perfect gift for your Champagne lover. Founder Bryan Maletis, a former brand manager with Laurent-Perrier, works in partnership with Jean-Pierre Williamsen, chief exporter for a multitude of grower Champagnes, to deliver bubbly lovers exclusive, hard-to-find offerings. The club provides three levels of membership. I like the two bottles every other month for $99 (includes shipping). Before sending you a single bottle, they’ll provide a taste survey to assess your preferences so you don’t end up with a style not to your liking. Members are also invited to attend special tastings at their Seattle-based facility—and the team will even make introductions and set up tasting appointments in France should you wish to visit Champagne.
My Cellar Master----Give your wine lover a unique wine tasting education delivered right to the door with a themed wine pairing. Each theme is a set of two of the same grape varietal with distinctly different styles—wine are selected by Master Sommelier Eddie Osterland and a group of select tasters. Osterland deliberately chooses wines that are “dynamic examples that showcase the salient features of a wine.” Currently they offer 25 different pairings from Oregon Pinot Noir to German sparkling wines. Each set arrives with tasting notes, a history of the wine/varietal and food pairings. Osterland also recommends his pairings for business contacts and clients –he’ll include a letter written on your company letterhead in the shipment, a nice touch.
The latest wine gadget: Just new on the market this fall, GENESIS is the first single bottle preservation and dispensing system designed for both still and sparkling wine. Once a bottle of wine is opened, it begins to suffer the effects of exposure to oxygen. The typical shelf-life for opened wine is three to four days and for sparkling wine it is more like two days. This system inserts an inert gas into the open wine, ensuring a pristine, fresh taste each time you reopen the bottle. According to the company website, “oxygen is removed and replaced with WineGas, ensuring wines are pristine from the first drop to last. GENESIS also dispenses preserved wine, allowing wine lovers to enjoy just a glass of their favorite wine or multiple varietals at a time.” The complete system retails for $499 + shipping and can be ordered at as well as Amazon, Wine Enthusiast and Napa Styles.
Money is no object gift: A methuselah bottle of 1990 Louis Roederer Cristal and six magnums of 2003 Chateau Lafite-Rothschild.There are only 2,000 of Louis Roederer’s 1990 Cristal—which were produced to honor the third millennium. Described by Robert Parker as “A classic of power and finesse, richness and delicacy, it may be the greatest Cristal I have ever tasted!” The 2003 Chateau Lafite-Rothschild vintage has been tasted and reported as a perfect 100-point wine four times. As added extravagance, Benchmark Wine Group will provide white glove delivery of these wines to the buyer’s home or the restaurant of their choice. Also included is an exclusive tasting, featuring wines from the Benchmark Cellars, for twenty of your closest friends. The tasting is also paired with a selection of culinary delights. Price: $35,000.
Follow me on
