Customers sometimes ask me this question from behind the counter.
"I want to give a friend some wine as a gift, but I don't know what to give them, so please tell me."
Every time I get that question, the first thing I do is applaud.
Such great taste. So much love. What a wonderful idea to give wine to someone you love.
That's because giving wine as a gift carries a "special wish" -- a wish that "please enjoy a happy meal with this wine."
"I received some delicious looking wine, so how about we come over to dinner sometime?"
The gift of wine may bring people together and host a party.
"I think I'll try making a dish that would go well with this wine for my next birthday."
Wine might be the starting point for you to try creating a feast.
The act of giving a nice wine implicitly conveys the message that you would like to enjoy a delicious meal with your loved one while enjoying that wine.
Surely, no one would give a gift with the hope that the bottle of champagne would accidentally be opened, hit by the ceiling light, shatter and cause a catastrophe on the dinner table!
So, by choosing wine as a gift, your level of affection for the other person is already very high.
Well, that's a long introduction, but what kind of wine should you choose to express your feelings to?
How do I choose in the store?
If there is a wine professional in the store, it is quick to consult with them. However, even if the professional knows about wine, he or she does not know the person you want to give it to. If you do not hear about that in detail, the store's recommendation may end up being an item that has to be sold.
That's a bit much, I thought.
I would like to say that it would be better to choose wine with more consideration for the person who will be giving it to it.
A gift shows that you are interested in and thinking about the recipient. The key is to think about what kind of wine the recipient likes.
So, here I'd like to give you some tips on how to choose wine depending on the type of recipient .
I tried to make the type look something like this:
- Type 1) Wine enthusiasts who love wine
- Type 2) People who aren't otaku but know a fair bit
- Type 3) People who can only see red or only see white
- Type 4) People who like sweet wine
- Type 5) People who have a connection to a particular country
- Type 6) Your spouse or someone close to you likes wine
If more than one applies to you, choose the one with the greatest weight.
Type 1) Wine enthusiasts who love wine
This one is easy. Anything goes. A true wine geek enjoys all kinds of wine, from standard to rare.
However, the price is easy to tell from wine enthusiasts. If you choose something too cheap, they will think you're getting away with it, and conversely, a high-end wine is effective in making enthusiasts bow down to you.
The safest option is champagne (it sounds cool to say champagne).
It doesn't have to be champagne, but any sparkling wine that costs over 3,000 yen.
Sparkling wines that cost over 3,000 yen are generally made using the same method as champagne, which is a secondary fermentation in the bottle .
Every geek knows the equation: bubbles from a second fermentation in the bottle = celebratory wine.
Type 2) People who aren't otaku, but know quite a bit
This is quite difficult.
People who know a fair amount about wine tend to have a desire for knowledge, so they tend to enjoy things they've never tried before.
But it's pretty difficult to find out what someone has been drinking.
Then.
It would be a good idea to stray from the conventional path.
Wow, something like this exists, I wonder what it tastes like! It stimulates your curiosity.
In terms of countries, minor European coffee producing areas, such as Hungary , Bulgaria , Georgia , and other Eastern European countries, or the UK, which has been gaining attention recently, would be good. Of course, New Zealand is also perfect (preferably outside of Marlborough, a major producing area) .
But, the safe bet is champagne.
Anyone who knows a fair bit about wine is bound to enjoy champagne.
Type 3) People who can only see red or only see white
It's fairly easy since you just have to avoid the bad genres.
If you can only have red wine, then go for Bordeaux or Burgundy. In New Zealand, Hawke's Bay or Central Otago.
If you can only have white wine, then New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is your only choice . I have written about its greatness in many places on this site.
▶What kind of wine is New Zealand wine? ▶Sauvignon Blanc
Well, there are very few red wine and white wine lovers who can't drink champagne, so I think champagne is a good option.
Type 4) People who like sweet wine
There are a lot of sweet white wines from Germany. Recently, the number of dry German wines has increased dramatically, but you can still find affordable sweet German wines at supermarkets and liquor stores in Japan.
Another example is Italian red sparkling wine, Lambrusco, which is often slightly sweet and easy on the wallet.
If you want a more high-end, authentic sweet wine, try ice wine or late harvest wines made in various countries. These are not wines that you can drink in large quantities, so a half bottle (375ml) is enough. They are quite expensive, but they are very satisfying.
In New Zealand, if it is labeled as a Classic Riesling, it is sure to be sweet. It is not widely available, but NZ lovers should do their best to find it.
Also, in NZ, some producers will list the label "RS" when you search for the brand on their website. This stands for Residual Sugar, and refers to the amount of sugar that remains dissolved in the wine. In my experience, when the residual sugar level exceeds 12g/l, many wines have a clear sweetness that can be detected at first sip. However, the sweetness that humans perceive is also affected by the level of acidity and alcohol content in the wine, so this is only one indicator.
By the way, regular champagne is also a little sweet, so even if you like sweet wines, champagne will be effective (avoid those labeled Brut Nature or Dosage Zero, as they are not sweet).
Type 5) People who have a connection to a particular country
For example, if you have someone who has traveled to New Zealand or gone on a working holiday, the best gift for them would be New Zealand wine.
If you enjoy touring France's World Heritage sites, choose French wine (Champagne is perfect), but if you're going to an American music festival, choose American wine.
This is truly appreciated.
This is because when you enjoy a meal with the gifted wine, it will surely bring back fond memories of your time in the country. There is a good chance that you will have a lively conversation about something that happened back then.
When the recipient finishes the meal and puts the bottle away, they'll stroke the bottle and think, "What a wonderful wine you gave me," remembering you as the person who gave it to them.
Type 6) Your spouse or someone close to you likes wine
The person who receives the gift doesn't drink it, but someone close to them enjoys it.
This is no longer subject to the survey, so...
If you stick with champagne you won't have any problems .
As you can probably tell from looking at types 1 to 6 above, it's hard to find a gift wine that is as convenient as Champagne.
The cheapest ones are priced at over 3,000 yen, so they are easy to understand and perfect for celebrations.
It has the widest range of food compatibility of any wine. Sushi, grilled meat, pizza, Chinese food, ethnic food, home cooking, hot pot... you name it. It also goes well with potluck parties with a wide variety of food.
It's the strongest , isn't it?
However, in my case, I would like to add a little twist to this and conclude by saying that a wine like this, which could be called the New Zealand version of Champagne (although that's a bit of a strange expression), would make a really cool gift. I hope this is helpful.
Osawa Wines Prestige Collection Method Traditional NV Brut 5,500 yen (tax included) ▶ Bokumo Wine
ps
Type 2: People who drink wine to satisfy their desire for self-expression
"I've had Au○swan before." "I was invited to a party hosted by a famous sommelier." "The wine I received the other day cost ○○ yen."
There are a few people out there who are only interested in the snobbish side of wine. It's best not to give wine to these people. Well, you can see why.
See you later.
