If you’re going to a New Year’s Eve party this Friday, a bottle of wine – whether sparkling, white, red or blush – makes a great gift.
Don’t worry about what kind. In the “real world,” if the hosts enjoy that particular type or style, they’ll likely put it away for their future enjoyment. If they don’t, they may open it up on the spot for your fellow party-goers to enjoy. They may even “re-gift” it. Rest assured, the bottle will be consumed by someone at some time; it won’t go to waste.
That said, if you want to make sure your hosts receive something they’ll enjoy, pair that bottle with a second gift. Here are three ideas…
1. With a bottle of Champagne or other sparkling wine, buy a pair of nice Champagne flutes. Opt for a simple, classic style, and avoid any fancy decorations since “art,” like wine, is a very personal thing.
2. With a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon or any other “big” red wine, buy a simple decanter. It’s amazing how much better a young Cab tastes after it has been decanted.
3. With Asti Spumante – a sparkling wine from Italy made from the Moscato grape – whip up a batch of gingerbread cookies or bake a gingerbread cake. That extra personal touch makes the gift even more special.
