I'm going to let you in on a secret. Most of the oenophiles I know aren't really into wine gadgets. The overwhelming consensus is that all they really want is a good bottle of wine, decent glasses and a corkscrew. In more or less that order.
So I say forget the trinkets like wine charms and bottle stoppers. In lieu of (or in addition to) a bottle of wine, there are a few wine themed gifts that I can stand behind. All of the following would be welcome under my Christmas tree.
DropStop Pour Spout
$4.95 plus tax(for a package of two), private wine stores.
This small, flexible and reusable disk is surely one of my favourite inventions. Just roll it up and pop it in the neck of the bottle. It allows you to pour without annoying drips on the table or an unsightly trickle on the label. Sound like cheating? I've swallowed my pride and use drop stops religiously. The perfect stocking stuffer.
Hungry For Wine: Seeing the World Through the Lens of a Wine Glass by Cathy Huyghe
$28.62 through Amazon.
I have a weakness for wine books. But they have to deliver on either an intellectual or emotional level and be well-written. Forbes.com wine columnist Cathy Huyghe satisfies all of these cravings with her first book, Hungry For Wine. This collection of 12 short chapters can be devoured in one single sitting; however, I preferred to savour it slowly. Each chapter offers plenty of food for thought as Huyghe focuses on one specific wine then swirls it around to reveal the greater social, cultural, economical, political or personal context. Perfect for wine aficionados of all ilk. You may not be able to order the paper version in time for the 25th but the Kindle version can be surreptitiously downloaded immediately for just $6.59.
Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux tasting
Tickets $95 (includes tax) available at BC Liquor Stores.
Treat your wine connaisseur to a classy night out. The Union des Grands Cru (UGC) is a collective of Bordeaux châteaux including many of the region's top names. On Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016, more than 40 château owners belonging to the UGC will make their way to Vancouver to show off the 2013 vintage. This is a rare opportunity to try the likes of Smith Haut Lafitte, Léoville-Poyferré, Pichon-Baron, Canon La Gaffelière and many more before the wines arrive for sale in October 2016. Pre-orders will also be offered exclusively to attendees. The tasting takes place from 6:30-9pm at the Fairmont Pacific Rim.
Coravin wine system
$385 plus tax at TheWineSyndicate.ca
I'm always skeptical about the latest wine contraptions so I didn't jump on the Coravin bandwagon until I experienced it firsthand. This device allows you to access wine from a bottle without actually opening it. A thin needle penetrates the cork drawing off the desired amount and replacing it with argon, an inert gas that preserves the remaining wine. Why on earth would you want to do that? Well those serious collectors in your life may be waiting for the right time to open a bottle. Coravin allows them to check in on a wine's evolution. It also enables them to enjoy just one glass of wine at a time without the rest oxidizing. The Wine Syndicate promises delivery within just three days. You still have time.
