WASHINGTON — Hopefully, you have finished all of your holiday shopping, but if you are still looking for the perfect gift for the wine lover in your life, here are a few suggestions that are sure to please even the pickiest connoisseur on your list.
I love wine books: books about wine travel, books about winemaking and books about pairing food and wine.
One of my personal passions is pairing food and wine. I think a good bottle of wine can enhance just about any meal, as long as it matches. A friend of mine recently gave me “Perfect Pairings: A Master Sommelier’s Practical Advice for Partnering Wine with Food” ($38.95) by Evan Goldstein, and I love it. Perfect Pairings combines in-depth explorations of the wide range of styles of 12 grape varietals and how they interact with food. Goldstein is a master sommelier and a respected restaurant industry veteran. He provides straightforward, practical advice for choosing the right bottle for each meal. As a bonus, the book includes 58 companion recipes developed by celebrated chef Joyce Goldstein that showcases each type of wine.
What you pour your wine into matters almost as much as the wine itself. A wine decanter not only is stylish, but also is an incredibly practical gift. Decanting serves two purposes: to separate a wine from any sediment that may have formed in the bottle as well as to aerate a wine to enhance its aromas and flavors before serving. They come in a variety of styles and shapes. Check out the selection at Wine Enthusiast. They range from $25 to $100.
Impatient connoisseurs who don’t have time to let the wine breathe in a decanter can let the Vinturi Wine Aerator speed up the process. Just pop this nifty gizmo into the wine bottle, and then pour the wine through the Vinturi into a glass. The nifty design draws in and mixes the proper amount of air for the right amount of time, allowing the wine to breathe instantly. You’ll notice a better bouquet, enhanced flavors and a smoother finish. It’s available at most wine shops for about $30.
I also love wine gadgets. A couple of weeks ago, we talked about storing leftover wine once it’s opened. The Vac-u-Vin is one of the most economical ways to store leftover wines. Simply put a rubber stopper in the neck of the bottle, then use the hand pump to pump the air out. The Vac-u-Vin reduces oxidation and keeps an open bottle of wine fresh for one or two days. For $10, it makes an ideal stocking stuffer.
