How to Take Wine to Your Host
Selecting the perfect wine is a celebrated art form these days. Choose a price point and work from there to find a delicious, complex wine that your host will enjoy.
Instructions
STEP 1: Look through wine magazines such as “Wine Spectator” and “Wine Enthusiast.” Specialized publications typically rate wines in a variety of price ranges to help you get the best deal for your money.
STEP 2: Decide upon white, red or sparkling to narrow your search. As a general rule, whites are preferable in the middle of summer, reds for winter and sparkling wines for any special occasion.
STEP 3: Visit a wine or beverage warehouse store and ask the resident sommelier to show you a variety of wines in your price range. Choose one based on appellation (where the wine is from), varietal (the type of grape) and aesthetic appeal of the bottle and label.
STEP 4: Purchase a wine bag in which to present the bottle to your host. These festive bags are long and slim, and fit a typical bottle of wine perfectly.
STEP 5: Wrap the wine in colorful gift wrap, tissue paper or colored cellophane paper. Tie a color-coordinated bow around the neck to secure the paper around the bottle and add the finishing visual touch.
STEP 6: Enclose a gift card.
Tips & Warnings
The host is never obligated to serve a bottle of wine that has been brought by a guest. Present the wine as what it is: a gift to be used at the host’s discretion.
Wine given as a gift should never be chilled. In the event that the host does choose to serve a white or sparkling wine during the party, suggest placing the bottle in the refrigerator for approximately 30 minutes, or in the freezer for approximately 10 minutes.
