Wine Suggestions for Holiday Gifts
During the holiday season many people select wines as the gift for some of their friends. While this can be a fun experience, it can also be very confusing for some. The first thing you need to identify is the people that you are buying the wine gift for.
Are they new to wines?
Do they enjoy wines and have it daily?
Are they really into wines and know alot about them?
Those are three different categories of people and the wines you would select for those would also be different.
I will start with a selection of wines for people who are new to wines and are just starting out to enjoy them.
Blends: Red or White. These are probably the easiest wines for people to enjoy. You could just be starting out with wine, or you could be very familiar with wine. Blends are the one type of wine that would please almost anyone on your list. Most of the good blends will cost between $9.99 and $14.99. No need to spend more.
Some of the Red Blends that I have tasted and under $15 are
Bogle Essential Red
Apothic Red
Menage a Trois
19 Crimes Red Blend
Ca’ Momi Rosso
Some of the White Blends that I have tasted and under $15 are
New Age White
14 Hands Hot to Trot
Wolftrap Wite
Apothic White
Menage a Trois
You also can never go wrong purchasing some Sparkling wine as a gift. I stay
away from true French Champagnes, since they can be pretty pricey. But here are some nice Sparkling wines under $20
Note: Brut means bone dry, Extra Dry means there is a touch of sweetness to the wine
Korbell Brut
Freexenet Cordon Negro Brut or Extra Dry
Mionetto Prosecco
French Cremant
People that know their wines and enjoy them ($12-$25 range)
Reds
J Lohr Cabernet Sauvignon
Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Benzinger Cabernet Sauvignon
Block Nine Pinot Noir
Erath Pinot Noir
Penfold Shiraz
Whites
Simi Chardonnay
Ferrari Carano Fume Blanc
Chateau St Michelle Sauvignon Blanc
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio
Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi
Trebianno
People that really love wine and are have their own collections ($25-$??)
Reds
Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
BR Cohen Cabernet Sauvignon
Francis Coppola Claret
Decoy Pinot Noir
Earthquake Petite Syrah
Cakebread Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Justin Isocles Cabernet Sauvignon
Italian Barolos ($$)
Italian Super Tuscans (many $25 – $200)
Tenuta SanGuido Sassicaia (Super Tuscan – $200)
French Bordeaux ($25 – $1000) try to go with 3rd and 4th growth wines
Whites
Caymus Condundrum
La Crema Chardonnay
Landmark Chardonnay
Bonnet French White
Italian Gavi
Girard Sancerre
Dominque Roger Sancerre
Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey (Sauterne)
Château Climens (Barsac)
Château d’Yquem (Sauterne $$$$$)
Champagnes
Moët & Chandon
Veuve Clicquot
Taittinger
G.H., Mumm
Fortified Wines (Ports and Sherries)
Taylor Tawny Port 20 year old
Grahams Ruby Port
Dry Sack Sherry