Gift Ideas for Wine Lovers

If you are looking for gift ideas for your favorite "over 21" friend, colleague or relative, there are many options for wine lovers. A bottle of fine wine is a special gift, but not everyone has the skill (or bank account) to purchase a bottle of impressive wine. Or maybe you are looking for unique wine-related gifts. Fortunately, there are many gift ideas for wine lovers from which you can choose.

Wine-related gifts include stemware, serving pieces, complementary foods or recipes, wine keys and memberships to wine clubs, not to mention gift certificates for wine tastings, recipe demonstrations and more.

If you have a bit more money to spend, investing in a wine cellar, wine rack, or case (or bottle) of vintage wine, will be appreciated by wine lovers, provided you know where to shop and what to look for. Or, consider a wine tour or trip to the wine region as a gift for making memories. Combine a love for wine with travel!

Read on if you are going to be shopping for gifts for wine lovers this season.

Let's face it. If you have a wine loving friend, you might not be able to afford an impressive bottle of vino as a gift. But, a great gift idea for wine lovers is any type of accessory for drinking wine.

Wine keys, also known as wine openers, are always appreciated. If your gift recipient travels, camps, or is otherwise away from home, a quality corkscrew, butterfly opener or the like is very helpful. After a bottle is uncorked, air will change the taste, and eventually the quality of the wine over time. Preserve remaining wine in the bottle with a vacuum seal. During cocktail parties or other gatherings, a decorative wine stopper is a fun way to re-close a bottle between pours. Just remember that it will not keep air out over a longer period of time.

Stemware, otherwise known as wine glasses, can be a perfect gift for wine lovers. You might already know that there is a difference between red wine glasses, white wine glasses and glasses for champagne. But even within these general classifications, there is a difference between stemware for wines that need to "breathe" more - those that are wide and shallow - and glasses that allow bubbles to rise in a tall, deep glass. A wine aerator may also help accelerate the "breathing" process when a bottle is uncorked.

For the person who entertains frequently, wine charms may be appreciated. Usually wire-based, they come in a variety of colors or shapes and attach to the stems of wine glasses and help people keep track of their drink over the course of the evening.

Beyond wine keys and stemware, the next best thing for an oenophile (wine lover), other than a bottle of wine itself, is probably a book on wine varieties and/or vineyards. There are some beautiful picture books that will practically have you packing your bags for the countryside! If you are considering a book gift, include a wine journal or notebook for keeping track of wines tasted, vintages, dates purchased and more. Serious wine collectors keep track of bottles as they age, with plans not to uncork until they mature.

Other wine accessories include wine coasters on which to place a bottle of wine at the dinner table or wine racks to display bottles. Temperature-controlled wine storage units require a bit more investment, but smaller versions (holding 20 bottles or less) need not be professionally installed and may fit in a pantry, closet or garage.

Maybe you want to give the wine lover in your life a gift of wine itself. If you are not confident in your ability to choose a premium bottle of wine, consult a wine steward or other professional. You may find that a single bottle or case of wine can be easily selected, matching quality with affordability.

A gift certificate for wine tasting is always appreciated. Many cities and towns have wineries that offer free tastings during certain hours or on certain days. If you time your visit during the hours a professional vitener is present, you can learn a lot!

One of my favorite wine gift ideas matches wine with cooking. Sign up for a culinary experience in which your recipient can learn about recipes coupled with wine. Alternatively, you may wish to give the gift of a wine-making class. Along with home-based beer brewing, people are increasingly experimenting with making their own wines. My aunt and uncle purchase grapes from a vineyard and then crush them at home before transferring the juice to stainless steel barrels, following a directed process to create their own wine.

If you are a close friend or lover of the gift recipient, why not plan a weekend away in the wine country? Guided vineyard tours usually include tastings, instructional talks about the wine-making process, the region, and grape varietals.

Today's wine travel can be as low-key or extravagant as you wish. Pick up a guide book and locate wineries in the area. Wine regions are found on just about every continent around the world, except for Antarctica! Whether you drive, ride a bicycle or even go via horseback, a trip to the wine country may be just an hour or two away from where you live.

Wine travel packages may include spas, luxurious hotels, yoga retreats and more. As a marathon runner, I'm intrigued by several of the wine country marathons and half marathons in Oregon and California. Participants often receive wine glasses and tasting opportunities in addition to a finisher's medal.

Even if you do not drink wine, a trip through the wine country can be a visual treat. Why not give a gift to the wine lover in your life, as well as to yourself!

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