|
 Thinking
Outside the Bottle
Wine gifts that go beyond the usual gadgets
Since I already own just about every wine gadget, I can imagine
what a pain in the ass I am to shop for. Some gadgets I use
regularly, like Vacu Vin stoppers, but some just pile up on
the counter, like the gaggle of extremely cute yet useless
wine charms my craftier friends bear as gifts. Then there’s
the battery-operated corkscrew oddly resembling a vibrator—the
thought of using it puts a smile on my face, although my old-school
Screwpull opener gets me there quicker. The best gifts, however,
are the thoughtful ones; even if inexpensive, they’ll show
that you took the time to be creative. To come off as someone
who thinks, here are my gift suggestions for the wine lovers
on your list, whether they be newbies or connoisseurs.
Budding Wine Lovers
Plastic ice cubes: These odd items have been around for years,
yellowing in kitchen drawers. Here’s a new use: quickly chill
down whites and roses without watering them down. They come
in all sorts of shapes, from palm trees to penises, so you
can “personalize” the gift. Prices are from $2.95 to $14.95
per dozen, and you’ll find the best selection online by Googling
“plastic ice cubes.”
 Wine
journal: For jotting down preferences and prices, record what
your foggy mind might not. Great idea for anyone wanting to
figure out their taste trends. It should be small enough to
fit in a purse, pocket or Palm case. Cheap, too. I buy mine
at Walgreen’s for $2.99.
Gift certificates to wine tastings: Tastings are all the rage
and everyone should taste a variety outside their comfort
zone. Wine shops (where legal), restaurants and other groups
regularly hold tastings—ask about advance purchases. As they
say, it’s the gift that keeps on giving. Check localwineevents.com
or local newspaper listings for tastings. Costs $10 to $20
per tasting.
Wine starter kit: Fill a re-gifted holiday bag with: Screwpull
wine opener ($25), Vacu Vin Wine Saver ($9), Vacu Vin Rapid
Ice Wine Chiller ($9 for two), two good Speigelau or Riedel
red wine glasses ($20), and an inexpensive bottle of wine
($10). If you’re feelin’ the love, add a foil cutter, which
efficiently slices the bottle’s seal for $8 more. Online or
at wine and kitchen stores everywhere.
Current Wine Lovers
 Wine
in a cardboard box: For the trendy, hip drinker who’s not
afraid of being judged, but also as a gag gift for those who
think wine should be revered. A box provides 20 glasses of
pretty decent wine for up to three months, all for about $20.
At wine shops everywhere.
Wine aroma kit: This is for true geeks learning to train their
nose to distinguish wine aromas (professionals often use it
for training). Companies charge more than $100 for what you
can build for less than $20. Fill film canisters or small
glass bottles half-full of each of the following: coffee beans,
cinnamon, cloves, raspberry jam, tobacco leaves, black cherry
jam, dirt, grapefruit and lemon rinds, dried mushrooms, and
leather. The idea is to smell the wine, then smell the essences
to see if they are similar.
Mixed case of sparkling wine: A slightly more expensive gift
that I’d covet. Assemble 12 sparkling wines, not just French
Champagne, from all around the world and put a big bow around
it: Spanish Cava, Italian Prosecco or Spumante, German Sekt,
and Australian and American sparkling wines.
—Taylor
Eason
This article first appeared in Creative Loafing, Atlanta’s
alternative newsweekly.
2004
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