When attending a wine tasting event, most guests feel that it is a show of appreciation to bring a wine tasting gift. This shows the host that his or her efforts were appreciated and the guests are happy to attend the event. It may not be possible to present a wine tasting gift when the event is being held at a hotel or a restaurant. However, if it is being held in someone’s house, the gift will be noticed and appreciated.

Kind of Wine Tasting Gift to Present

There are many forms of gifts that guests can present to their hosts to show that they appreciate the event. The wine tasting gift should be related to wine but not necessarily wine. When hosting a wine tasting party, the host has more wine than they need and therefore bringing a bottle of wine may not have an impact on the guest. One of the most common gifts that most guests bring is wine glasses. Wine tasters have a certain liking for wine glasses and never seem to get enough of them as a wine tasting gift. The glasses should preferably be unique and have a certain story behind them so that they can be used as mementos or collectors items.  Read more...

For virtually any occasion, such as special moments and holidays, wine makes a great gift.  From informal meetings to wedding celebrations and bashes, wine is a gift that is truly hard to beat. There are several different gifts you can get that relate to wine.  No matter who it may be that you are giving the gift to – wine is something that is truly appreciated – a gift from the heart.

Among the several gifts of wine that you can give, is personalized wine.  There are several companies that offer personalized wine and champagne gifts, complete with custom made designs and labels.  For corporate events and parties, a personalized wine gift is an ideal way to showcase your gratitude and give a gift that truly shows how much you care.

If you prefer, there are also ways that you can create your own personalized gift.  First of all, you’ll need to select a wine label from one of the numerous custom wines available.  Next, you will need to personalize your text by adding your own messages and ideas.  Last, you’ll need to select a container or wrapper that is best appropriate for your gift of wine.  You should be as creative as possible, as it will help to make your wine gift to have a bit more impact.  Read more...

Differing countries have varying standards…

…as to what qualifies a wine as a vintage wine. In the United States, a wine must be made from at least 95% of the grapes harvested in that particular year. Other countries can be as low as 75% by volume.

Vintage wines tend to be of exceptional quality as only the best grapes are used in the wine making process. These wines are made in a single batch so the consistency of the vintage is even. Vintage wines are made with the utmost care as wine makers know that they will be judged by the quality of their vintage. Also, very few vintners wish to label an inferior wine with the vintage label as they know this would hurt their wineries reputations.

Wine collectors will love a good vintage wine as they are highly prized parts of collections, especially vintage red wines that increase in value and flavor as they age. Provided they are properly stored, wines can continue to increase in value for many years. This can make vintage wines an investment that often doubles and triples in value.

One thought for a unique gift and investment option combined is to purchase a fine red wine vintage for the birth of a child. Do some research first to be sure that that wine has a good history of aging well. Be sure that the wine is stored properly and you will have a wine that will be likely to be quite valuable when the child is older.  Read more...

We know that you could save thousands of dollars if you make your own wine to serve your guests at your wedding. And if you do decide to do that, not only can you save money, you can also stamp your homemade wine with your personality to make the event that much more special. Let’s look at some things you might want to think about and plan for:

What’s Your Style?

Traditionally, white wine comes in clear bottles, while red wine generally is bottled in bottles with a green tint to them. Other tinted colors such as brown are also used to bottle red wine. There are also a variety of shapes of bottles but the most commonly sold at home winemaking supply shops is the standard “Bordeaux” style bottle. It is quite possible that your local wine supply shop will only carry green and clear Bordeaux bottles, so you may not be aware that there are a variety of bottle styles and colors that you can choose from. How about Cobalt Blue colored bottles for your red wine? You might be able to match the wine bottle color to your main colors of your wedding reception.

Perhaps you have a favorite bottle but can’t locate it in the retail market – something like the unique shaped bottle that La Fiore Chateauneuf-du-Pape comes in. Find a restaurant that sells that wine and ask them to keep those bottles for you instead of throwing them into their trash or recycle bin. All you’ll need to do is rinse them out and sanitize them, and you can then fill them with your wine.  Read more...