Bottled Wine in Gift Box
From LoveToKnow Wine
Whether it's under a Christmas tree, next to the birthday cake or just out of the blue, bottled wine in gift box will always brings a smile to a wine lover's face. Cash is crass, flowers wilt and chocolate melts. But wine? Yes, wine works for almost any occasion and is my when in doubt gift. The only question that arises is picking wine for a gift is white or red?
The Gift Box
A bottled wine in gift box makes a statement about the gifter. It's easy to put a bottle of plonk in a brown paper bag and tie a string around the neck but that has issues. Now, if I received a brown-bagged wine my first assumption would be that this particular bottle was intended for a salad or for the coq au vin I'm making for dinner. Presentation is as important as the gift itself and it doesn't make sense to stuff a first growth Bordeaux totally naked in a bag and give it to someone. No, the best way to present your wine gift is in a box, a gift box. These can be simple and plain corrugated boxes,upscale wooden ones or a decorative gift box that can be holiday or event related.
Wine Selection Criteria
This is the tricky part, choosing the wine. It helps if you know of a specific wine or winery a person has affection for or at least the varietals they favor. Armed with that knowledge, you will need to consider your budget, keeping in mind if the person loves one of those tough-to-get collectibles, say a Dalla Valle Maya, you can expect to considerably crimp your disposable income. My personal criterion is to pick a wine that I've discovered that the giftee has never tried, try to surprise and delight them.
With some friends this is challenge but the effort is worth it when I get a compliment on a Spanish wine they've never heard of and I can hold my head a little higher. One caveat is I wouldn't try to convert someone. Chances are slim that someone will come over to the dark red side if you give an expensive Syrah to someone who only drinks Chardonnay. If they like Chardonnay, give them a Kistler.
One other cautionary note, be careful when giving wine to a business client or associate. If you don't have a clue of what to give, I always default to Champagne and a bottle of Dom Perignon, and while perhaps it's a hackneyed gift it is for a reason—it's always appreciated and never a mistake. And guess what? It comes in its own giftbox.
For more helpful ideas on choosing a wine gift, visit Best Gift Wines or Fine Wine at LTK.
Some Gift Ideas and Links
You can approach your wine gift task in a few ways. One is to buy your giftbox and wine separately. Wine gift boxes can be bought at many retailers or online and then you can pick and choose whatever wine that suits your fancy. Many wise wine retailers have bottled wine in gift boxes prep-packaged, taking the decision-making out of your hands or rather, your head. Another almost no-brainer is to visit a favorite winery's or online wine retailer's website and see what wine gifts they offer. Keep in mind the arcane and vexing interstate shipping restrictions for wine when deciding on this option.
The following are some good online sites that are helpful.
Giftbox Suppliers
Order your own gift and shipping boxes to create your own bottled wine giftbox.
This company is located up in Redwood country in Northern California. They beautifully handcraft double and single bottle wood boxes with a selection of woods to choose from. Not surprising, their wine giftboxes may be dearer than the wine you give.
Check out the Executive Wine Gift Box, throw in a bottle of Pride Mountain and make someone happy.
Engrave your own wood wine boxes to make a personalized impression.
Online Wine Retailers
I don't mean to namedrop but look here for those Pahlmeyer, Caymus, Silver Oak and Patz & Hall budget killer wines.
Try Vinfolio to find one of those rare wines...or try to sell yours here.
Wine, boxes and gifts.
Wineries
Check out the Three Kings Beringer sampling of Cabs, a sweet gift.
Look for the Celebrated Sparkling Trio for some Carneros sparkling wine made with Gallic expertise.
Hartford is one of my favorite Sonoma wineries for Pinot Noir or Zinfandel. For the holidays they offer a couple of different multiple bottle gift sets shipped in engraved wood boxes. Looking for a California sparkling wine gift? Check out the trio of Sparkling Wines from Domaine Carneros, Brut, Rosé and Le Reve Blanc de Blancs presented in a high class wooden display box. Price is $130.00.
Send a statement with a 2-bottle Rubicon giftbox handmade of rosewood from New Zealand and etched with the winery's logo. It's more a cabinet than a box. Another big production from Francis Ford Coppola. Nice at $430.00.
Box it up.
This page has been accessed 514 times. This page was last modified 23:29, 28 July 2008.
© 2006-2008 LoveToKnow Corp.
