Uncork the season with gifts for wine geeks

The drag race that is the annual holiday shopping experience has now shifted into overdrive. Strategically fueled, as it is every year with a Thanksgiving feast, this year’s “Santa $500” (and that’s getting off cheap) is no exception to the driving rule of making it to the finish line without hitting the guardrail, careening off course, flipping and landing upside down.

Well, if you are interested in some advice from a pit-crew cork dork, I may be of some help to get you to the checkered flag without a winter wipeout or the dreaded Christmas crash. I would venture to guess that a good number of the people on your “difficult to buy for” list have some appreciation for wine. This may range from a novice who may be looking at wine for its many, well-publicized health benefits to the infatuated oenophile who is always in tune with the latest hot Wine Spectator reviews and trendy gadgets.

Here is a list and review of some great wine-related gifts that’ll be sure to put you in the winner’s circle. I’ll include a list of area retailers with their contact information at the end of this column to assist you in potentially acquiring some of these gift ideas.

A case of wine – Always a favorite gift that gives a perception of extravagance, and it keeps on giving. Of course, a bottle or two makes a fine gift, but a personally selected assortment of 12 bottles makes a statement and usually qualifies for a substantial discount. Just stop into a specialty wine shop or grocery store with a wine steward and ask for a bit of advice. Here’s a time-saving tip: call ahead and give them your budget and any other parameters and let the professionals put together a memorable gift for you. Who knows, they may even gift-wrap and deliver it for you. A starting budget should be around $100 to $120 ($10 per bottle) for interesting, quality wine that’ll have a bit of a shelf life – so the recipient will think of you many moons down the road when they pop that Christmas gift that kept on giving.

New stemware without the stem – The new Riedel “O” Collection is ideal for everyday use and will fit easily into most dishwashers. They’re fun, feel good to hold and look trendy but best of all, the designs of “O” are based on the class Riedel Vinum series of glassware that really does enhance the aroma and flavor of your wine. They are just lacking those pesky stems that tend to snap so easily when cleaning them. “O” is available in cabernet/merlot ($19.95 set of two), pinot/nebbiolo ($19.95 set of two), syrah/shiraz ($19.95 set of two), chardonnay/viognier ($17.95 set of two), riesling/sauvignon blanc ($17.95 set of two), chardonnay ($17.95 set of two), and a few other assorted gift sets at various prices.

Wine chiller (Sharper Image, $59.95) – The ultimate gift for the over the top wine geek who just can’t bare to contemplate serving a 1988 Krug Champagne above 46 degrees, or a 1961 Chateau Mouton Rothschild at any other temperature than 62 degrees. A stylish solution to tepid wine that eliminates the mess of melting ice and keeps wine at its optimal serving temperature for hours. It has a selection of 10 presets that range from 37 degrees to 122 degrees (for possibly warming up a fine sake) and a blinking LED that indicates when the wine is ready to be served. Over the top, you might be thinking? Yeah, probably, but hey, it is a pretty “cool” gift, and after all, it is the holidays. Speaking of over-the-top and wannabe wine geeks, here’s another fun idea from the Sharper Image.

Wine Master Electronic Pocket Guide ($29.95) – Not sure exactly what type of wine goes best with a particular entree at a restaurant? Wandering in a grocery store, or any other retailer of fine wine that doesn’t provide assistance, and want a little advice on what to buy? Well, ask the experts at Wine Enthusiast magazine the next time you’re stumped, by using this handy electronic pocket guide that contains more than 10,500 reviews on specific wines from more than 2,800 wineries. Other features include reviews and ratings of liqueurs and other spirits, helpful guidance on serving temperatures, storage and tasting terms. In other words, an instant wine expert in the palm of your hand.

Wine away – This product has been a godsend for me on many occasions, given the fact that we have light cream-colored carpeting and a few pieces of furniture that wouldn’t hide a red wine stain very well. It also took me an inordinate amount of time to figure out not to wear white shirts to an industry wine-tasting where spitting, not inebriation, is the rule. We used to sell a boatload of this magic potion at our wine shop, so it’s good to know that I’m not the only klutz. You can find Wine Away at most any retailer that handles wine or wine accessories, and the price ranges from about $5 and up, depending on what size you choose. Oh, and the small “purse size” makes a great host-hostess gift or stocking stuffer.

Screwpull wine openers – The lever model that was developed by Screwpull is still the Cadillac (if not the Ferrari) of wine openers. The patent expired and consequently the market was flooded with cheap knock-offs that simply do not work as well or last as long. Unfortunately, the hot rod of cork extractors will still set you back a pretty penny (around $140). You’d think that over the past several hundred years that every possible device or method to yank a cork would have already been implemented, but the genius at Screwpull steams on with a new Pocket Wine Opener ($29.95) that has patented another technological advancement that is brilliant in its simplicity. A self-pulling wine opener that requires just holding the bottle and turning the handle with one finger. The double-helix design extracts and ejects the cork with one continuous rotation.

Vivendi Decanter from Spiegelau ($39.95) – A beautiful and functional addition to anyone’s bar, this dazzling, non-lead crystal decanter has sleek, dramatic lines and a large base that maximizes the surface area for the wine to breathe. Although decanting wine may seem a bit cumbersome, it really does have a huge impact on both young and mature wines. With young wines, the exposure to oxygen helps to bring out the fragrance of the wine and to soften the tannins that can sometimes be a bit harsh. Older wines can have sediment that has collected in the bottle and can be strained into a decanter to enhance the enjoyment.

“Name That Wine” wine tasting party kit ($34.95) – This is a unique and fun new kit that has everything you need to host a professional-style wine tasting in your home. It’s kind of a “port-o-party,” if you will, that empowers the novice and challenges the connoisseur to put on an enlightening evening of wine, food, and fun for friends.

So, give the gift of wine this holiday season. It’s sure to perpetuate an attitude of gratitude, and you may even want to pull a cork or two for yourself and a friend during the process. It just may drop the dragster you’re driving into a lower gear and bring things down to a manageable speed.

Jeff Wicklund can be reached at 425-737-2600, or wick@colbyhospitality.com.