Christmas is right around the corner and if you’re anything like me, then you’ve still got some last minute gift shopping to do. Here are a few ideas for your wine-loving friends and family that are relatively easy to find, easy to wrap and won’t break the bank.
The first is an aerator called a Vinturi. An aerator is a device that you can pour (red) wine through to help the wine open up by increasing exposure to air, having the same effect as pouring wine into a decanter. I’ve worked with a number of aerators and the Vinturi is by far the best due to its ease of use, portability and the drastic effect it has on the wine. Basically, the Vinturi works much like a jet engine: it reduces the pressure of the wine while increasing speed, sucking air into the liquid. The result is comparable to decanting the wine for about thirty minutes or more. To learn more about it you can visit the company’s website at www.vinturi.com. In addition to buying just the Vinturi, consider the additional tower stand that holds the aerator over most wine glasses. It is not a necessity but it is a fun little toy. Remember that air is the friend of young wine and the enemy of older wine so do not use it on well aged reds.
The next gift idea is best for the wine lovers who usually take two or more days to finish a bottle of wine: a can of preservative gas. While this may sound a bit ridiculous at first, this is actually a great gift for a wine aficionado. A mixture of inert gases, such as argon and carbon dioxide, that are heavier than oxygen but do not interact with the wine, it can be sprayed into the bottle, forming a protective layer over the wine, keeping oxygen from further interacting with the wine and turning it into vinegar over the next night or two. There are a few brands out there, but the most common one I’ve seen is Winelife (www.winelife.com). While these preservative gases only really make a difference over a couple of days, despite their claims of saving a wine up to ten days, they are very useful.
My last suggestion is great if your going to a party at someone’s home (especially a New Years Eve party with all those champagne flutes): wine glass markers. Wine glass markers are something that are placed at the base of a stem to help identify each person’s glass. They can range from little paper circles that you can be write name on to little rings with a variety of charms. Mind you the charms can be something as simple as small beads of varying color or they have a theme, such as golf.
These gifts, with the exception of certain themes of wine glass markers, can usually be found in a decent wine store or even liquor store chains like Beverages and More, and sometimes in specialty stores like Cost Plus or Pier 1 Imports. If you don’t have a store nearby that sells these items, check online. It may be a bit late to ship an order for in time for Christmas, but New Years parties are coming up soon.
Happy Holidays!
