The Art of Wine Gift Giving: How to Select and Present Wine Gifts for Your Host
Giving wine as a gift to your dinner party host is always an excellent idea. It’s one of the easiest gifts to give (and the best to receive!) It’s perfect for any occasion, whether it’s a birthday get-together, housewarming, or even just because. People do have questions on how to give wine as a dinner party gift that will be well received.
However, there is an art to gifting wine.
To make it easier, we’ve put together this handy list of dos and don’ts to help you select the perfect wine for your host.
Do
Think About Who Your Host Is
The first thing to ask yourself when gifting wine is what kind of wine is appropriate for the occasion? A deep, full-bodied red wine, a crisp white, or a dry sparkling wine? Or perhaps a deliciously sweet dessert wine, a classic Italian wine, or maybe even a vibrant Australian wine?
The key is to remember that wine is a very personal gift. Use this to your advantage and match the flavors of the wine to your host’s personality.
The world of wine is an exciting one and filled with a wide array of options. From a citrus fresh Chardonnay to a spicy Shiraz. Don’t be too worried if your host is a bit picky, the diversity available in wines will leave you spoilt for choice.
Pay Attention To The Season
Whenever you’re buying wine as a gift, consider the season. For example, if you’re gifting wine to someone around Christmas Time, a warming Shiraz or Syrah, or a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon may be best, as it will likely complement the meal very well. On the other hand, if you’re going to a summertime garden party, a fruity Chardonnay is definitely the way to go.
Include A Personal Note
Everyone loves personalized notes as they really show that you’ve gone the extra mile to make an effort and show your appreciation. Add a short note to your gift, and be sure to sign your name so your host knows who the wine is from. They may receive numerous bottles as gifts and not remember who gave them what after the party.
You can also go the extra mile and package your wine in an elegant gift bag or add a ribbon to the neck of the bottle.
Present The Wine To Your Host On Arrival
The polite thing to do is to bring a bottle of wine to the party, and then to present it to your host as soon as you arrive. This is a good way to show your appreciation for the time and effort they’ve put into hosting the event.
Don’t be disheartened if they don’t open the wine in front of you as there could be many reasons for this. For one, they may already have selected wines to pair with the meal, or perhaps they’d just prefer to enjoy the wine at a different time. Plus, the point of your gift is exactly that. It’s intended for the host to enjoy, not for the party to share!
Don’t
Buy The Cheapest Wine
Of course, the value of the bottle of wine is not the most important factor, but some people do link how much you spend on a gift to how you feel about the recipient of the gift. Avoid picking out the cheapest wine possible, as this could send the wrong message. Instead, try to get the best quality bottle possible within your price range.
Be Afraid To Ask For Help
Shopping for wine is a complex art, especially when it comes to gifting. Don’t be afraid to approach someone working at the store you’re shopping at to ask for help. It can be overwhelming to be faced with endless bottles of wine and the need to pick just one.
Ask for help if it’s available and explain what the occasion is. Local wine shops usually have someone on hand to help out in situations like this, and they may even offer wine tastings too. Take full advantage of whatever assistance is available, it will help you to choose the ideal bottle for your host.
Be Too Adventurous
As tempting as it may be to try something new, this isn’t always the case with wine selection. Many people are very particular about their taste in wines and wouldn’t like to be forced to try something new. It really pays to know your host and the recipient of this wine. Because you don’t want a perfectly good bottle to go to waste simply because it’s not to your host’s liking.
If they love big, bold, and expressive reds, for example, then buying a creamy Chardonnay is not exactly the best idea.
Conclusion
A bottle of wine is always an appropriate dinner party gift. Especially if your host has gone all out and hired a private chef. It’s a wonderful way of showing your gratitude for the invite. Plus it expresses how much you appreciate being part of the occasion.
Use this guide on how to give wine as a dinner party gift to ensure that you always give a gift your host remembers, and you’ll likely be invited back!
