Which wine - or other drinks - to give as a gift
Or to take with you as a house guest
It’s perhaps more useful to talk about what doesn’t work as a gift than to identify what does. The types of wine to eliminate for a start.
It makes it easier, sure, if you know what someone likes but there’s always a danger in giving a wine of a certain type to someone who knows a lot about it. Bordeaux, burgundy or port, for instance. Even malt whisky.
It’s also not much of a treat to give them something they could and probably have bought for themselves. Even if supermarket own labels represent good qualité/prix (value for money), as the French, say, it somehow feels as if you’ve skimped.
There’s also a difference between a gift tailored to the taste of a specific person and a bottle or bottles you take as a house guest which are more like a contribution to the housekeeping
Cocktails are a good example. If you’re giving one as a gift you could give a premixed negroni or espresso martini. If your contribution to the proceedings is to rustle up cocktails for your host and fellow guests take the ingredients (ascertaining beforehand if there’s plenty of ice. Or maybe just take the precaution of taking couple of ice trays and a cocktail shaker)
When it comes to wine someone living on their own might - almost certainly would - appreciate a handful of half bottles (see my selection here) . If you’re staying with someone who has a houseful a full case or large box of wine would be more appropriate. Just dive into my recent under £10 recommendations. (Put the name of your nearest local supermarket in the search box and some suggestions should pop up)
Obviously your options are going to be a bit limited by this stage. Although The Wine Society is in theory taking orders until midday on Monday (December 23rd), assuming they have remaining slots in your area, most have stopped Christmas deliveries so you’re going to be constrained by what you can buy. But a good indy can point you in the right direction …
5 drinks that would make good gifts