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Posts Tagged ‘wine gifts’

Our Top Five Wine Storage Product Obsessions

September 4th, 2010 Stephanie Warren No comments
  1. These Diamond Cube wine racks.  You can stack them to fit your space perfectly, and the shape is so unique and cool.

2.  This Vinotheque Wine Credenza.  It’s a beautiful place to display your family photos, it’s a buffet table, and it’s top-of-the-line, climate-controlled wine cabinet.

3.  This 6-bottle Monterey WineKeeper system.  Ok, so you’d probably have to be a restaurant owner to need this model, but that doesn’t mean you can’t dream, right?  This system would mean that you could open multiple bottles at once for a tasting, and then keep them fresh for weeks. And we have the more reasonably-sized ones, too, if you just can’t see giving up your microwave for this baby.

4.  This VintageView Floor-to-Ceiling Wine Rack.  There’s something to be said for the modern touches in wine cellars, and it’s pretty cool to be able to display all your bottle labels.

5.  This Eurocave Performance 3-Temperature Wine Cabinet.  The king of all wine cabinets. Three temperature zones. No bottle need ever be improperly chilled again.

Bringing Wine to a Dinner Party

April 16th, 2010 Stephanie Warren 1 comment

So you’re on your way to a dinner party.  You stop at a wine shop to pick up a bottle.  But then you stand there, bewildered.  Red or wine?  How expensive?  What do your hosts like?  What will go with their dinner?

Let us simplify matters for you:

First of all, you should not expect that your hosts will serve your wine at the actual dinner.  Remember that gifts should not come with obligations.  Especially if they’re wine lovers like you, they might have put a lot of time and planning into their wine selections, and your wine just might not fit with their planned menu.  It’s always polite to relieve your hosts of any obligation by saying something like, “You definitely don’t have to serve this tonight, unless you want to.  Put it aside and enjoy it another day!”  With this as your tactic, you don’t have to worry about pairing your wine gift with their food.  A bottle of wine that you’ve tasted yourself and enjoyed makes the best gift, and it can be a great conversation starter!

Another tactic is to call ahead of time and offer to provide wine for the dinner, or part of it.  If you don’t know your hosts well, this may be stepping on their toes, so use your judgment.  If you’re good friends with your hosts, they will probably be grateful to you for taking some of the planning–and expense–off of their hands.  If you’re going to bring wine to share, a great choice is champagne to be served with appetizers.  Champagne is almost universally liked (especially if you stick to a dry champagne, to please more palates), and it goes well with almost any kind of appetizer your hosts might serve, even those tough-to-match cheeses.  Just make sure you provide more than you think you’ll need–champagne goes fast!

If your host wants you to get involved, you can bring a wine that pairs with a specific dish or course.  But remember that pairing goes far beyond that simple “whites with fish or chicken, reds with red meat” rule.  If you want to learn more about pairing wine with food, click here to see our post on the subject.

Remember that picking out a bottle of wine to give shouldn’t be a stressful experience.  Put a little time and thought into it, and your hosts will be happy!

More Great Gifts from Vintage Cellars

December 12th, 2009 Stephanie Warren No comments

As the holidays draw closer, it’s time to get serious about shopping.  Here are some more great gifts by leather company Mulholland, available from Vintage Cellars:

Mulholland Leather Wine Case

Picture 2Mulholland is a maker and purveyor of fine leather products.  Their goods only improve with age, and will last for generations.  Mulholland’s line of leather wine bags was developed for the true wine connoisseur.  They are perfect for carrying wine to a party, a picnic, or even across the country.  Mulholland makes wine carrying bags to hold one, two, or six bottles.  The six-bottle carriers are also available in a rolling style perfect for transporting your beloved bottles through busy airports.  All carriers are made with a semi-rigid insulated nylon liner that maintains the temperature of chilled whites and champagnes, and protects red wines from temperature extremes.  Each comes with a handle and shoulder strap, and all are shipped with a free stainless corkscrew.

Mulholland Leather Flask

Picture 4For the wine lover who also enjoys fine liquor, Mulholland makes flasks from their premium leather.  These flasks are stainless steel and wrapped in one of Mulholland’s two leathers: the Lariat or the Latigo.  The Lariat is a strong, honey-brown leather that ages beautifully, acquiring a surface etched with marks from daily wear.  The Latigo is a rich, dark leather cured with natural vegetable extracts.  Its distinctive sheen makes it a beautiful material for all of Mulholland’s crafts.  Flasks are available in 4 or 6 oz styles, and include screw caps that are hinged to the flask’s surface, ensuring they will never be lost.  Mulholland’s flasks are crafted with the finest workmanship, and make stunning gifts.

Mulholland Leather Golf Bag

Picture 3It’s no secret that many wine lovers are avid golfers.  The ultimate golfing gift?  One of Mulholland’s all-leather golf bags.  Handcrafted from the signature leather that has made the name “Mulholland” synonymous with “fine leather,” a Mulholland golf bag is a gift that will last a lifetime.  Made of only the hardiest, most durable leather, a golf bag by Mulholland will acquire a unique patina of scrapes and scratches that will tell the story of your golfer’s years on the links.  These golf bags are divided into three sections and come with several accessory compartments, as well as adjustable shoulder straps, leather trunk handles, water-repellant rain hoods, and umbrella holders.  Consider gifting the golf lover in your life with the ultimate in beauty and function: a leather golf bag by Mulholland.

3 More Great Wine Gift Ideas for Wine Lovers

December 1st, 2009 Stephanie Warren No comments

Looking for the perfect Christmas gift for that special wine enthusiast?  Look no further: Vintage Cellars has tons of great wine gift ideas.  Make sure you check out last week’s Creative Wine Rack

Delia wine rackDelia Wine Storage makes unique, artistic wine racks with metal and glass.  These racks add a conversation-starting touch to any wine collection.  Many are small, and so are ideal for wine lovers in tight spaces.  If you know someone whose apartment won’t fit a wine refrigerator, or a wine collector just starting out, a Delia rack might be an ideal choice.  But these beautiful wine storage sculptures aren’t limited to those in small spaces.  They can also be used to spruce up a kitchen or add an interesting element to an existing wine cellar.

Delia makes a wide variety of wine racks, from wine trees to wine tables to wall mounts.  Their elegant, modern designs add a unique touch to any wine collection.  These artistic storage options are a great wine gift idea for anyone who appreciates functional art.  Make sure to check out full line of Delia wine racks.

KleanKanteen Wine Karafe

KleanKanteen

Picture this: you’ve hiked to the top of a forested mountain with your loved one.  You spread a blanket and relax to watch the sun set over the gorgeous panorama you’ve worked so hard to see.  You reach into your backpack and pull out your water bottle.

Something’s missing, right?  Life’s great moments deserve to be celebrated with a toast.  But those special moments don’t always happen near a kitchen.  What’s a hiking, camping, or picnicking wine lover to do?  Meet the KleanKanteen.  No more pretending your sports drink is Chardonnay or worrying about your wine bottle shattering in your backpack.  The KleanKanteen is a high-grade, virtually unbreakable container specifically designed to hold a standard 750 mL bottle of wine.  This food-grade stainless steel is free from all toxins. Best of all, it doesn’t retain or impart flavors like a traditional plastic beverage container, so it can carry a Pinot Grigio or a Zinfandel with equal ease.  The KleedKanteen Karafe can even be purchased with an insulating tote to keep wines at the correct temperature, even after a long walk on a hot tropical beach.

For any wine enthusiast who would love to take her passion outdoors, the KleanKanteen Wine Karafe is the perfect gift.

Know a wine purist who rejects “fancy” openers, preferring the subtle artistry and show of skill that comes with opening a bottle with a traditional Sommelier Knife? This professional wine tool and leather case by maker of fine leather Mulholland might be the perfect gift. This ages-old corkscrew design includes a knife, pull, and corkscrew, perfect for opening that bottle that’s been aging for 50 years the way it was meant to be opened. This Sommelier Knife comes encased in a pouch made of Mulholland’s fine leather.
Corkscrew and leather caseMulholland makes most of its luxury leather goods in two colors. The first is the “Lariat™,” known for its honeyed surface known for its uniqueness: each product acquires marks and scratches from use that become part of the beauty of the material. The second is the “Latigo™,” a darker stout color cured with vegetable extracts and polished with a high-speed glass cylinder. For the Sommelier Corkscrew and Case, Mulholland makes a third color: a rich, medium “Bridle Tan.”
For the wine collector who would love a high-quality tool that will last for generations, the Mulholland All-Leather Sommelier Corkscrew and Leather Case is a great gift.

5 Great Gifts for Wine Lovers

November 28th, 2009 Stephanie Warren No comments

Do you have any wine lovers on your gift list this Christmas?  Check out these great gifts for wine lovers from Vintage Cellars:

Pek Wine Steward

Pek Wine Steward

Many wine collectors enjoy opening a bottle to drink with a weeknight dinner.  But most often, they don’t want to finish the whole bottle.  They might try recorking it and stashing it in the refrigerator, but are invariably disappointed by the wine’s quality the next day.  After all, there’s no sense in buying and aging fine wine if you’re only going to enjoy two glasses.

Meet the Pek Wine Steward, the first device ever made that truly extends the life of an open wine bottle.  The Wine Steward works by replacing the air in the top of an open bottle with argon gas, protecting the wine against the harmful effects of oxidation.  For any connoisseur, the Wine Steward is an indispensable tool and a great gift.

Riedel Glassware

Picture 2Perfect wine deserves a perfect vessel.  There is no better maker of fine glassware than Riedel (contrary to popular belief, “Riedel” rhymes with “needle”), an Austrian company that has been producing glasses and decanters for eleven generations.  In that time, the name Riedel has become synonymous with quality.  The technical precision of their glass designs, with such characteristics as large bowl sizes for capturing aromas, make Reidel glasses the ideal way to enjoy wine.

Reidel makes a variety of glass designs, but one great holiday gift is the Riedel “O” Stemless glasses.

Stemless glassware is a trendyRiedel decanter and also perfectly usable way to enjoy fine wine.  In addition to its of-the-moment appeal, stemless glassware fits perfectly in a dishwasher or picnic basket.  Its sturdy design makes it a great gift for grandparents or families with young children.  ”O” Stemless glassware comes in several varieties specifically made for different wine types, from Pinot to Chardonnay.

Riedel Decanter

World-renowned glassware company Riedel also manufactures decanters: large, necked glass bottles that wine is poured into before service, allowing it to aerate.  Wine connoisseurs know that allowing the wine to come in contact with air before serving brings out its best flavors.  Younger wines and some older wines can greatly benefit from being decanted before they are enjoyed.

Besides being functional, Reidel’s decanters are true works of art, offered in designs that range from traditional to modern.  Browse the full line of Riedel glassware.

Rogar Wine Opener

Rogar wine openerA high-tech wine opener is a must-have for any wine collector.  Rogar makes professional-grade wine openers that open wine quickly and easily.  Those days of floating cork pieces are over.

Rogar offers a variety of wine openers.  The Champion can be clamped to a bar, and can re-cork your wine bottles as well as open them.   The Estate Wine Opener specializes in beauty and functionality, taking an antique design and outfitting it with modern technology.  The Professional Wine Opener is crafted to look like an antique corkscrew.  It is equipped with a plastic safety barrier around the auger, and automatically ejects the cork once the bottle is open. Hint: Table-mounted openers make great gifts for wine lovers who can never find their bottle opener!

Wine Barrel Furniture

Wine barrel furniture

Unique, functional, and vintage: wine furniture from Vintage Cellars is the ultimate gift.  Wine furniture from the Barrel Collection is made by Fontenay Wood, a company that constructs pieces completely from vintage wine barrels and tanks.  Beautiful tables and chairs are composed entirely of the medium for wine aging.  The curvature from wine barrels is crafted into elegantly arched table legs and chair backs, and the wood’s natural burgundy stain has been soaked into the grain from years of wine aging. These unique qualities make the furniture a natural conversation starter, and a great place to sit and enjoy a perfect glass.  Reclaimed wine barrels can also be made into countertops, doors, floors, or anything the imagination can shape them into.

Check back next week for more great gifts for wine lovers from Vintage Cellars.  Happy shopping!

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