Filcher, Filchers, Filching

Bordeaux, Burgundy; New World, Old World; Pinot blanc, Pinot Noir; Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc: the world of wine is a tough world to navigate for those who haven’t been wandering it for quite some time. Hence, buying the perfect gifts for wine aficionados is something of a Herculean task, especially given the wealth of often contradictory information about wines out there, not to mention the daunting selection that is available ubiquitously – from your average grocery store to your corner liquor store. When buying wine for someone who knows wine well, it’s best to leave it to the experts. That means going to a source that’s known for putting together some of the best gifts for wine connoisseurs. That doesn’t mean you should be ripped off, though. Several of the common-sense retail outlets for wine gifts – most of them branded by the big name wine magazines – will charge you a pretty petty… and that’s just for shipping.

The best way to give a great wine gift is to give one of many wine gift baskets from an online store that knows wine and doesn’t fool around with this year’s latest “great deals” or “bargain basement” wines. That means going to a store that’s going to put the ‘best of breed’ wines – along with a thoughtful arrangement of accessories and companions (corkscrew, cheese, what have you) – into a basket that will then be packed and shipped in a manner that ensures that the wine will not only reach its destination without having been agitated by handling or temperature along the way, but also will be a handsome gift to behold: one that wine lovers and their imitators alike will adore.

Although wine gift baskets are the best gift to give to wine connoisseurs, they are fancied by laymen as well. Who doesn’t like a rich and oaky cabernet to wash down a juicy steak, or a bottle of champagne to celebrate a promotion or anniversary? Indeed, few gifts say “congratulations” better than iconic French champagne and there are a couple of online gift basket stores who will pack Kristal, Dom Perignon, or Veuve Clicquot into a basket with some celebratory flutes and even a spot of fine caviar should you be willing to splurge and congratulate in a very decadent way. In all, wine gift baskets are a spectacular gift to give to the vintner and wine layperson alike – that’s something we can all clink our glasses to next time we’re due to give a gift!