Wine Gifts for Everyone on your List

Wine will not solve all your problems, but in a city full of wine and food aficionados, we can safely say the fermented beverage is no longer the elixir of kings, nor is it the lubricant of the masses.

Indeed, in the past decade, wine has reached a level of respectability that can make it an ideal gift for a wide assortment of friends and acquaintances.

In the spirit of the holiday season, and the inevitable gift-giving frenzy, here is our "case" for some wines you can wrap up and gift with the confidence that they will never be re-gifted. Of course, there is nothing stopping you from taking the same wine home and putting it in your cellar, or better yet, serving it to friends over the holidays.

The only real question is how we match up taste, style and -- most importantly -- cost for each person on your gift list. It takes a bit of work, but with a little research and some help from a talented salesperson, you should be able to match the right bottle to the right person.

That said, finding the right wine requires the same due diligence as it does to find any other gift. Planning ahead is the key to success, although few of us ever find the time. Which is why I'm suggesting you take a few moments now to cut this column out of the paper (or if you are online, hit the print button) and head to the nearest specialty wine shop or government liquor store and get the job done early.

The great thing about wine is that money doesn't have to be the focus of the gift, especially if you do all the homework. A good example is the 2009 vintage in the Rhone Valley. If you can track down a vintage report raving about the 2009 harvest in the Rhone and include it with your gift, it means you can choose a top-rated Cotes Du Rhone Villages that will only set you back $20 to $30 -- but in a great year, it is a wine of interest to collectors or just someone in the office who likes to drink rich, smooth, tasty red wine.

This year, we have come up with some scenarios that may help you find the right bottle for a friend or co-worker. It goes without saying that you should never spend more than you can afford. The cost of most wine is irrelevant if you take the time to select something thoughtful for the recipient. If you have the funding and you want to amp up your wine gift, consider wrapping up a book on wine or, even more useful, adding a simple decanter or box of proper-shaped glasses. Most private wine shops have a selection of glasses and decanters to choose from. Simple is best, and if you can match the glasses the intended recipient is already using, it makes an even more useful gift.

BIG, RICH AND RED CROWD-PLEASER
The co-worker who loves rich, soft, red wines. This is likely to be a huge sector of the wine market because red wine, particularly soft red wine, is highly prized. The go-to wines here are Merlot, Malbec and Shiraz or most any red blend that is dominated by any of these three varieties. Think California, Australia, Chile or Argentina and spend $20-$30.
Benziger 2008 Merlot Sonoma County, California, United States | $30
Clos de Los Siete, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina | $25

EARTH-FRIENDLY PICKS FOR VEGETARIANS
The vegetarian and vegan crowd are always looking for wines made with little or no intervention, thus wild fermented wines and wines fined with no animal products are appreciated at any time. Australia's Yalumba winery has made a major commitment to the environment using sustainable practices and using organic and biodynamic practices where possible. We present two excellent options and encourage you to check out more at www.yalumba.com.
Yalumba 2011 Organic Chardonnay, South Australia, Australia | $17
Yalumba Y Series 2009 Shiraz Viognier, Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia | $16

WINES FOR A SPARKLING OCCASION
You are on a mission to get your friends to drink more sparkling wine before, during and after dinner. The plan is to get everyone to keep a bottle or two of sparkling wine in the refrigerator that they can pull out at their leisure. Frankly, my experience is that sparkling wine drunk outside of birthdays and anniversaries always seems to taste just a bit better. So with the holidays advancing, we suggest some sparklers you can pull out and serve at your whim. Did we mention they taste better with food?
Gosset N/V Grand Reserve Brut, Champagne France | $75
Codorníu N/V Reserva Raventos Brut, Penedès, Catalunya, Spain | $19

HOSTESS GIFTS
The hostess gift gets plenty of attention over the holidays, and over the years, I have learned a few things about this offering that may help you make the right selection. Most importantly, the gift is for the host, not the people attending the party. Do not expect the host to open the wine you just gave them-- in fact, you should insist they put it away to enjoy on a future occasion. How much to spend is the big question. We say consider what you might spend on flowers or chocolates and use that as a guide; certainly $20 to $30 is more than appropriate. If you know what kind of wine your hosts prefer, take your lead from that, but consider something on the edge of their comfort zone.
Taylor Fladgate 2007 Late Bottled Vintage Porto, Douro Valley, Portugal | $16 (375 mL)
Bottega Petalo N/V Il Vino dell' Amore Moscato, Veneto, Italy | $18
WINE WITH A SENSE OF PLACE
Many people in the wine business have been trumpeting terroir or the story of wines with a sense of place. The theory is wines made from the same grapes using the same oak can taste, well, the same, unless the winemaking and grape growing is focused on revealing the terroir or at the very least the vineyard site. You don't have to be a wine geek to explore terroir, but wines with a sense of place are perhaps best given to the curious wine drinker.
Sette Ponti 2009 Crognolo, Tuscany, Italy | $35
Henri Bourgeois 2010 La Cote des Monts Damnés Sancerre, Loire, France | $37

FOOD-FRIENDLY BOTTLES FOR THE GOURMAND
Most wines are better with food, and after three decades of pounding away at consumers about which wines go with which foods, it is safe to say there are some wines that mesh effortlessly with food and exhibit a versatility that consumers should laud and not miss. Champagne and Riesling come quickly to mind, as do northern Italian and southern French reds. Here at home, a wide range of aromatic white blends are also quite food-friendly. Any would make a great gift for the gourmand.
Pol Roger NV Brut Reserve, Champagne, France | $66
Dr. Loosen Wehlener Ürziger Würzgarten 2011 Riesling Kabinett, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany | $25
Ornellaia 2009 Le Serre Nuove Dell' Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy | $60
Château Beaucastel Coudoulet de Beaucastel 2009 Rouge Côtes du Rhône, Rhone Valley, France | $35

M. Chapoutier Domaine de Bila-Haut Rouge 2010, Cotes du Roussillon, France

Price $15 | Score 89/100

UPC: 03391181381031

Another great version of this wine made from bio-dynamically grown fruit in Roussillon. Love the peppery, licorice, black raspberry jam and chocolate, gamy aromas. The attack is smooth and polished but in a fresh, elegant style with more chocolate, tobacco, pepper, black cherry, licorice root and smoky, meaty flavours -- all with plenty of acidity and length. Love the value in this electric red.

Little Yering Pinot Noir 2010, Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia

Price $16 | Score 87/100

UPC: 00659284000581

Consistently spicy with a mix of celery salt, carrot, earth, strawberry and rooty aromas. Soft, round and

fresh, the palate is accessible with ripe strawberry jam, candied orange, spicy, carrot, rooty flavours and a warm, slightly tart finish. A solid, affordable, entry-level Pinot.

Pierre Henri Morel Signargues Cotes du Rhone Villages 2010, Rhone Valley, France

Price $23 | Score 90/100

UPC: 003380651201030

This wine is a winner from the get-go if you like Grenache. The nose is an intense mix of white pepper and raspberry with bits of plum and licorice. The palate is similar with soft, fruity notes carrying the mid-palate and more earth, black tea and incense marking the finish. It is perfect with mushroom pasta dishes or Osso buco-style meat dishes. Ready to drink now but will hold easily through 2015. Terrific value and heading for organic/biodynamic certification, too.

Trivento Golden Reserve Malbec 2009, Mendoza, Argentina

Price $23 | Score 90/100

UPC: 7798039590625

This wine has always been accommodating in the glass and perhaps underrated given its Concha Y Toro, Chilean roots. Round, soft, dense and savoury sweet, its spicy, black fruit and blueberry flavours pack a punch through the finish. It is all 100-per-cent estate-owned vineyards, and you can feel it. Fine quality for the price. Best with steak or old hard cheeses.

Yalumba The Scribbler Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz 2009, Barossa Valley, South Australia

Price $26 | Score 90/100

UPC: 009311789002019

Yalumba is a fan of the cab shiraz blend first made there in 1962 and The Scribbler, now in its fourth year of production, is coming into its own, especially helped by the fine 2009 Barossa vintage. The nose is aromatic and fresh with floral highlights flecked with licorice. Earlier versions were fairly acidic but the 2009 is rounder and fuller and much more enjoyable on the mid-palate, with minty, cherry, smoky fruit flavours --all with a smooth, glossy texture. The finish is long and smooth. Serve now with your favourite cut of meat or cellar another five years.

Bollinger Special Cuvée N/V, Champagne, France

Price $72 | Score 92/100

UPC 3052853075909

Special Cuvée is no ordinary multi-vintage champagne. It is both barrel and stainless steel fermented and aged from five to 15 years before release. The base blend is a 50/50 mix of two vintages. It is a complex, rich sparkler with fine bubbles and plenty of pear, grilled toast and nutty notes. Dried fruits and peach notes mark the refined spicy, brioche and nutty finish. A spectacular food wine from charcuterie to chicken or sashimi. The blend is 60/25/15 Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and meunier. The denomination Special Cuvée was created as a way to avoid calling what is an amazing champagne 'non-vintage.' They were right.