I’ve a friend getting married in a few weeks (sucker). They are big winos. I’d like to do something with wine as a gift. Monthly delivery, etc, but something somewhat unique.
Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks in advance!
How long do you want this gift to go on?
For a wine of the month type deal, maybe a year?
I don’t know about those monthly things but in terms of wine clubs, this is my all around favorite. The wines are very good. Classic Paso Robles region wines. They give you 8 bottle twice a year plus some kind of winery swag. Very fun winery to visit. They always have some event going on.
http://www.tobinjames.com/about.html
if you don’t want to do the gift that keeps on giving, another idea might be a special edition bottle like these etched Christmas bottle. I got a case of these to hand out at Christmas and I have to say they are beautiful. (and the wine is good too)
https://www.florasprings.com/store/index.cfm?fuseaction=productdetail&product_id=994
a nice set of 2 anniversary glasses. maybe older/antique, unique looking, something they would drink out on each anniversary, or more often if they choose.
a really good corkscrew if they don’t have one like a Rabbit
a Vacuvin wine preserver which allow you to stopper a bottle and create a vacuum in it to reduce oxidation and allow an open bottle to be good for few days. I often give these out when I give people wine.
What’s your budget?
How about something like a variety of single bottles that can be laid down now and would be ready for drinking for various anniversaries? One for their 5th anniversary, 10th, 15th, 20th. Though if you’re looking into wines that aren’t going to be at their best for another 20 years they start getting expensive. You also need a good wine merchant who can pick out some suitable wines for you and would be happy selling them singly rather than by the case.
Along the lines of the vacuvin, this is the latest gadget making the Christmas list for vinos.
I had the chance to sample it at a local wine shop. The owner had a bottle that he had been pouring from for over 3 weeks and a fresh opened bottle and I couldn’t tell any difference between the 2 bottles. But at $300 its on the pricier end. Hopefully , my wife has gotten the hints I’ve been dropping on this one.
Sunset magazine has a cool wine club that you could look into. or you could buy them a mixed case of wine one bottle for each month the first year they’re married. Label each bottle for the month they’re supposed to drink it and make the bottle of wine appropriate to the season. Big Reds for the colder seasons, maybe a port for February, and light and tasty whites for spring and summer. You could include a bottle of champagne for their anniversary month. Any good wine shop for grocery store with an upscale want to department should be able to help you assemble a case. I did this for my parents a few years ago and they loved it.
I’m a sommelier. My favorite recently received gift:
http://www.laguiole-imports.com/collections/chateau-laguiole
I have the Grand Cru carbon fiber version.
Thanks all for the great suggestions.
I had a similar situation and wound up talking to a local dealer about wine that would mature in 20 years, it was pretty expensive but I gifted it as something they’d keep around for 20 years and crack on their 20th anniversary. Throw in some glasses and you’ve got yourself a nice, thoughtful gift.
Several people mentioned buying wine that will mature in 20 years, but I wonder how that will work if they do not have a good temperature/humidity controlled storage space? Perhaps they do have that if they are into wine, but I believe proper storage becomes an issue it you want to keep wine for a long time. h
Along the lines of the vacuvin, this is the latest gadget making the Christmas list for vinos.
That is awesome!
My favorite winery, which was suggested by someone right here in the LR is Gramercy Cellars. They have a great variety of wine and I have yet to have a bottle I didn’t love. The OP could get a half case from there. I don’t think you need to be in the wine club to buy wine, but there are a few wines each year that you need to be in the club to get.
Jodi
I just added something to my santa list! That juniper wood handle is nice.
This is an excellent suggestion.
For the OP:
I’d also advise against getting a bottle to age 20 years. As has been mentioned, storage conditions are key for that. Also, with modern viticulture and winemaking techniques, there is no longer the need for extended bottle age there once was. While there are wines that will last decades, the likelihood that will continue get better past 10 years has greatly diminished. Wine is very subjective, so what I may think is a great bottle, someone else will say “meh” to. That’s why I suggested the high end wine key and also why I agree the coravin would be great.
Personally, I would shy away from wine and get them a nice set of glasses/gadget/accessory. Everyone’s wine tastes are different, you may end up getting them a bottle of a wine they don’t like.
-Mark
a box of Franzia. You can get them the 5 liter box. That’s 5 fucking liters.
If your price point is in the “at least pretty decent” range, get them a case. Give them two on their wedding night (one for the wedding night and one for the honeymoon), and label the rest “1st Anniversary,” “2nd Anniversary,” etc. through the 10th anniversary. Give them the ten labeled bottles soon after their return from honeymoon.
This assumes they have the resources to properly store a bottle for 10 years.