Spoil the oenophile on your gift list

Erika Navarro —

The versatility of wine makes it the ideal complement to any holiday season or special occasion. That is certainly true when it comes to dining and entertaining, but it also applies to your shopping list.

Gift ideas for wine lovers

“Everybody is on the lookout for the perfect gift for their friends and loved ones,” says Marcel Morgenstern, National Sales Manager and Sommelier at PondView Estate Winery. “Like wine itself, there is an air of class, sophistication and elegance around wine gift ideas. With wine clubs, tours, gadgets and countless varietals, there are wine gift ideas that go well beyond grabbing the first bottle you see at the LCBO and dropping it into a gift bag.”

Marcel offers the following gift suggestions for the Oenophile on your list:

Wine Club Membership. There is no better convenience for the wine lover than to have different wines show up at their door. The My Niagara Wine Club offers some diversity, with four different wines from four wineries arriving every two months. Each of the six shipments is themed based on the time of the year, and will include food pairing suggestions so you can get the most out of your wine experience.

Icewine Shooters. Served in 70% dark Belgian chocolate cup, the idea is to sip and savour the Icewine and then “pop” the chocolate into your mouth. The pairing works magically because the wine is sweeter than the chocolate. The Icewine shooter is an excellent combination of two great flavours, whether as an accompaniment with your dessert, or all on its own.

Tour and tasting. Wine is more than just a drink; it is an experience. Part of that experience is getting out to the vineyard where the magic happens, having peek in the barrel cellar where tomorrow’s vintages are patiently waiting to be bottled and learning from the experts in the tasting room.

Reserve Wines. Wine makes an easy gift, whether for the host and hostess of a neighbourhood Christmas gathering or for that hard-to-buy-for aunt and uncle. But for the wine lover who is high on your list, go for a higher-end reserve wine. Premium, small batch wines that are hand harvested are a true reflection of their terroir, and are ideal wines for laying down and aging for a few years.

Wine Gadgets. When considering all the gadgets and paraphernalia, keep your focus on those items that truly enhance the experience of the wine. In other words, absolutely stay away from the tacky items like a wine sippy cup. But a two-step waiter’s corkscrew and a wine aerator make for great stocking stuffers. A crystal decanter remains the best way to open up the wine before enjoying the first glass.

Please visit www.pondviewwinery.com for more information.

About PondView Estate Winery:

Drawing on more than three generations of winemaking experience, PondView Estate Winery is one of the newest additions to the Four Mile Creek appellation in the heart of Niagara’s wine country. Family owned by Luciano and Adriana Puglisi, PondView crafts exceptional Ontario VQA wines rooted in an Italian heritage. Luciano’s enthusiasm and respect for the winemaking process, alongside his dedication and commitment to excellence, earned him the prestigious title of Grape King in 2008, awarded by the Ministry of Agriculture to the finest vineyard operator in Ontario. The secret to the success of PondView Estate Winery is the long-held belief of the Puglisi family: Great wine is a harmony of earth and vine.