Buzz
Wine is a fantastic gift idea for newlyweds, as a housewarming present, for the host at a party, or for your boss. However, if you’re not well-versed in wine, picking the right bottle can be tricky. It’s essential to consider the recipient, the occasion for gifting, and how you plan to present the wine.
Steps
Select the Bottle of Wine
Think about wine options ranging from affordable to premium. You may be tempted to buy a cheap bottle, especially if you’re not an expert on wines. However, as the saying goes, you get what you pay for. That doesn’t mean you can’t find a great wine within your budget, but you probably don’t want to go for the cheapest, especially if you’ve never tried it before.
- Consider the recipient of your gift. Gifting a cheap wine to your boss might leave a bad impression, and similarly, you probably wouldn’t want to give the least expensive bottle to a close friend unless that’s the kind of wine you both enjoy.
- Additionally, if you’re known as a wine connoisseur, giving a low-cost wine to someone could be seen as an insult to their taste or simply as not valuing them enough.
- Your budget will determine the bottle you pick. For instance, a French Cotes du Rhône (also known as "Coats Do Roan") costs about $15 (over 350,000 VND). However, if you want wine from the Burgundy region, be prepared to spend more for a premium bottle, typically over $50 (more than 1 million VND). A reasonably priced yet excellent choice is Cabernet Sauvignon, with even the more affordable versions worth enjoying. If you’re looking at Pinot Noir, aim for a bottle priced at least $20 (over 450,000 VND), as cheaper versions won’t have the flavor you expect.
Consider buying wine according to the season. If you're not sure where to start, choosing wine based on the season is a smart idea. You don’t necessarily need to pick the same type of wine for summer as you did in winter. As summer approaches, you'll likely prefer a lighter wine compared to the heavier ones you enjoyed during the winter months.
- White wines like Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Riesling are excellent choices for the summer. Rosé and Merlot are also great options. These are light, refreshing white wines.
- In the fall, you’ll want a white wine with a more intense and rich flavor, such as oaked Chardonnay or Viognier. If you prefer light red wines, opt for Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, or sparkling wines.
- As winter sets in, you may lean towards stronger wines, as they pair well with hearty meals. Red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux blends, Syrah, Zinfandel, and Malbec are perfect for winter. For white wine, go for oaked Chardonnay, or consider a sparkling wine as well.
- In the fall, you’ll be drawn to wines with delicate fruit flavors, such as Chenin Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Unoaked Chardonnay, or Rosé. Riesling, Moscato, and Pinot Noir are also excellent choices.
Samuel Bogue
Director and Consultant in the Wine Industry
Director and Consultant in the Wine Industry
Pay attention to the grape harvest time. Samuel Bogue, director and consultant in the wine industry, explains: "Rosé wine is a classic choice for spring. Grapes are harvested in the fall, and undergo fermentation, aging, and processing before being available for sale in the spring."
Ask questions. If you're not a wine connoisseur, you may feel overwhelmed when faced with numerous wine bottles in the store, as hundreds of different bottles are displayed in front of you. If you feel lost, don’t hesitate to ask the shop owner for guidance. Based on your preferred price range, they can help you find a tasty and easy-to-drink wine, especially when you provide details like whether you want a sweet wine (dessert wine) or a dry one (non-sweet wine).
Don’t hesitate to choose something unique. If you already know the type of wine you need, selecting a unique wine is a great idea to introduce something new to your friends. However, avoid picking wines that lack a well-known brand or are so obscure that your friends won’t be able to find them again. It’s hard to excite their taste buds with a wine they won’t even be able to purchase again.
Nắm rõ khẩu vị của người bạn muốn tặng rượu. Nếu bạn mua rượu vang làm quà, tốt nhất là bạn nên biết người được tặng thích uống loại nào. Hầu hết những người thích uống rượu vang sẽ có khẩu vị riêng biệt, bất kể là họ thích rượu vang trắng khô hay rượu vang Rose sủi bọt hương trái cây. Suy nghĩ xem bạn đã từng thấy họ uống loại gì trước đây, và chọn loại tương tự hoặc giống như vậy.
- Trong trường hợp bạn không chắc chắn về loại rượu mà người đó thường uống là gì, cân nhắc về khẩu vị chung của anh ấy/cô ấy. Nếu hảo ngọt, họ có thể chuộng loại rượu vang ngọt. Còn nếu người đó có xu hướng tránh đồ ngọt, rượu vang khô có thể là loại họ thích.
- Nếu bạn vẫn không chắc chắn, hãy nhờ ai đó ở cửa hàng tư vấn loại rượu vang có tiếng tăm và giá thành hợp lý.
Chọn rượu vang bằng cách nhìn nhãn hiệu hoặc chai rượu. Tất nhiên, bạn sẽ không muốn chọn rượu vang mà chỉ dựa trên nhãn hiệu của nó. Tuy nhiên, khi rượu vang được dùng làm quà biếu, thì bao bì là vấn đề cần quan tâm. Nhãn hiệu bắt mắt, thiết kế ấn tượng sẽ được đánh giá cao hơn loại trông nhàm chán, đặc biệt là khi mọi người liệt kê loại rượu vang này vào loại giá rẻ.
Xem xét việc đăng ký đặt mua rượu vang định kỳ. Nếu bạn đang tìm kiếm món quà thiết thực cho ai đó, hãy nghĩ đến việc đăng kí dịch vụ đặt mua và giao rượu vang tới nhà họ. Thông thường, bạn sẽ trả tiền một lần hoặc theo tháng cho dịch vụ giao rượu vang trong khoảng thời gian nhất định.
- Một số người tặng rượu dựa trên sự lựa chọn của bản thân, trong khi số khác sẽ dựa vào sở thích của người được tặng.
- Một số người sẽ chọn thêm thực phẩm đi kèm với rượu khi đăng kí mua rượu vang.
- Kiểm tra cẩn thận để đảm bảo rượu được phép vận chuyển ở nơi bạn sinh sống, vì một số nơi sẽ không cho phép vận chuyển rượu tới khu dân cư.
Mua rượu cho tiệc tùng và bữa tối
Cân nhắc mua chai rượu cỡ lớn (loại 1,5 L) cho bữa tiệc. Chai rượu lớn (1,5 L) sẽ có dung tích gấp đôi chai rượu vang hoặc sâm panh. Lý do tại sao loại chai này phù hợp với bữa tiệc vì nó có vẻ ngoài ấn tượng. Thêm nữa, với kích cỡ gấp đôi, loại chai này sẽ chứa được nhiều rượu hơn so với chai rượu vang bình thường. Chủ tiệc sẽ cảm kích với suy nghĩ thấu đáo của bạn.
- Khi chọn rượu vang cho bữa tiệc, loại sủi bọt sẽ là lựa chọn thông minh.
- Nếu vẫn giữ ý định mang rượu vang tiêu chuẩn tới bữa tiệc, bạn hãy đưa nó cho chủ tiệc trước khi bữa tiệc bắt đầu để họ quyết định xem liệu họ có muốn dùng nó tại bữa tiệc hay không.
Purchase a standard bottle of wine for meals. On the other hand, when you're invited to a casual meal, such as a family gathering for four, a regular bottle of wine is perfect. This size will provide enough wine for everyone at the meal, which is why it’s often chosen.
- Ask the host in advance what dishes will be served. Then, you can bring a wine that complements the meal, such as white wine with fish. If you're unsure which wine pairs with which food, feel free to ask the salesperson for advice.
Splurge for special occasions. For weddings or other major celebrations like birthdays or Christmas, plan to spend extra on wine. For weddings, choose high-end wines to make the event extra special. If you're trying to avoid overspending, consider skipping the wine purchase altogether. It’s usually safer to buy something directly from the registry.
Ensure wine is the right gift. This means you shouldn’t buy wine if the host doesn’t drink it. For example, the host might enjoy alcoholic beverages but not wine. Another issue to consider is whether the host doesn’t drink alcohol for personal, health, or religious reasons. If you're unsure, it’s best to ask them beforehand.
Giving wine as a gift
Turn wine into a gift. You don't have to wrap the wine or place it in a basket or box. If the bottle itself is visually appealing, simply adding a bow or ribbon is enough. Additionally, most wine packaging doesn’t conceal the fact that you’re gifting a bottle of wine, which could defeat the purpose of your gift.
- Moreover, placing the wine in a box could heat the bottle, causing issues for more expensive wines. It's better if the wine stays cool. If it's an expensive wine that needs to be stored in a cellar, consider keeping it in a cool environment until you're ready to give it to your friend.
Consider adding accessories to the gift. If you want to make your gift extra special, consider including a small item alongside the bottle of wine. You could opt for a quirky bottle opener or a wine decanter. Another great addition would be a wine thermometer, so the recipient can serve the wine at the perfect temperature. Other suggestions include unique and eye-catching wine glasses or a wine rack.
Wait for the right moment. If both you and your close friend are wine enthusiasts, choose the right time to share your wine knowledge with them. Of course, you wouldn’t want to bother anyone who has no interest in wine, but if you know the person would enjoy it, wait for a moment when they’re free to engage and share.
