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Wine gifting is a time-honored tradition that never goes out of style. Whether you&#39;re attending a dinner party, celebrating the holidays, or simply wanting to show appreciation, a bottle of wine can be an elegant and thoughtful gift. However, there are certain etiquettes around wine gifting that should be observed to ensure your gesture is well-received. Here&#39;s how you can master the art of wine gifting.

1) Bringing Wine to Dinner Parties Without Checking with the Host

When invited for a dinner party, it&#39;s customary for guests to bring along a token of appreciation for their host&rsquo;s hospitality. More often than not, this token takes the form of a bottle of wine. But what happens when you bring one without checking with your host first?

The key here is tactfulness and understanding its purpose as a gift rather than something meant for immediate consumption. Unless specified by your host beforehand, assume that the wine you bring may not necessarily complement the meal they&#39;ve prepared.

To navigate this scenario gracefully, consider choosing versatile wines like Pinot Noir or Sauvignon Blanc which pair well with various dishes. Additionally, upon presenting your gift make it clear that it&#39;s intended for them to enjoy at their leisure rather than during the event itself.

2) Making Wine Gifting Less Transactional

Gift-giving should always come from the heart and not feel like an obligatory transaction. This principle applies even more so when giving wine as it reflects personal taste and thoughtfulness.

A great way to add personal touch is by selecting wines from vineyards or regions you&rsquo;ve visited personally or have some connection with - perhaps one where you had an unforgettable vacation or honeymoon? Include a note explaining why this particular bottle holds significance; maybe share an anecdote about your visit there or describe why its flavors resonate with you. This transforms your gift into a story, making it less transactional and more personal.

Also consider the presentation (wrapping), removing price tags and make sure to replace the store bag. Yes, we&rsquo;ve heard it happens.

3) Being Different: Bringing Magnums for Holiday Parties

Holiday parties are the perfect occasion to go big and bold with your wine gifting. Instead of bringing a standard bottle, why not opt for a magnum? A magnum is equivalent to two standard bottles of wine, making it an impressive sight at any gathering.

Magnums aren&#39;t just about size; they also offer practical benefits. Wine in larger bottles matures more slowly and evenly due to the smaller amount of air relative to the volume of wine, often resulting in better taste. Plus, they&#39;re great conversation starters!

4) Gifts for Wine Nerds

Gifting wine to connoisseurs can be intimidating but fear not! There are plenty of options that will impress even the most discerning oenophile.

Consider rare or vintage wines from renowned wineries or lesser-known regions that produce exceptional vintages. Alternatively, you could opt for natural or biodynamic wines which have been gaining popularity among wine enthusiasts recently.

If you&#39;re unsure about their preferences, consider accessories like high-quality decanters, unique corkscrews or books on viticulture &ndash; these make excellent gifts that any wine lover would appreciate.

5) Elevating Your Gift of Wine

Presentation matters when gifting anything - including wine. Elevate your gift by investing in beautiful packaging such as wooden boxes or leather carriers which add an extra layer of sophistication.

Another way to elevate your gift is by pairing it with gourmet chocolates or artisanal cheeses that complement its flavors perfectly. You could also include a set of quality glassware along with the bottle &ndash; this thoughtful addition ensures they have everything needed to enjoy their drink immediately.

That&#39;s a wrap:

Wine gifting is much more than simply handing over a bottle; it&#39;s about expressing appreciation and creating memorable experiences through thoughtfulness and personal touch. By observing proper etiquette and adding a dash of creativity, you can ensure your wine gifts are always well-received and cherished.

#happyholidays #cheers

Wine gifting is a time-honored tradition that never goes out of style. Whether you're attending a dinner party, celebrating the holidays, or simply wanting to show appreciation, a bottle of wine can be an elegant and thoughtful gift. However, there are certain etiquettes around wine gifting that should be observed to ensure your gesture is well-received. Here's how you can master the art of wine gifting.

The Art of Holiday Wine Gifting: A Guide to Etiquette and Unforgettable Impressions

Wines from grapes grown in higher altitude areas with cooler climate has become quite the trend recently. This specific growing environment gives intense flavor but elegance and freshness to the final wines. To highlight and champion these conditions more and more winemakers are starting to use alto as a marketing and labelling term to show their grapes were grown in high altitude vineyards.

Decoding the wine label: Alto

Brut is a word often seen on labels for different kinds of sparkling wine. As you may have discovered when drinking these wines, it indicates that the wine is dry, meaning there is no perceived sweetness in the wine. But how about Extra Brut or Dry, what do they mean and are they the same as Brut?

Decoding the wine label: Brut

Semi-sweet Riesling, a type of wine falling out of style. It’s a shame, since these wines are perfect to pair with flavorful cuisines like Asian or Mexican, or simply drink as they come under the summer sun. The higher level of sugar left in the wine also means that the alcoholic fermentation was stopped before finishing, providing a wine with lower alcohol level and therefor easier grabbing a second glass of.

Decoding the wine label: Spätlese

Have you ever heard the word Xinomavro? Most have not. It is however a word on many sommeliers’ lips today, as it happens to be considered the grape variety with the highest quality in Greece, and one that is trending at the moment. The fact that Greece have been making wine for a long time comes as no surprise, but they have never exported an amount to make sure wine lovers around the globe tried it. With the growing wine tourism many have discovered these wines and are serving them in wine bars and restaurants in many countries today.

Decoding the wine label: Xinomavro

Chianti Classico, Valpolicella Classico, Soave Classico… Why do all these Italian wine regions have the Classico addendum and what does it mean? What is the difference for wines labeled as Classico?

Classico is a wine term in Italy seen on a few wine labels and it indicates that the wine’s from the historic center of the region, the heart. Using Chianti and Chianti Classico and their Sangiovese-based red wines as an example, Chianti is a rather large wine district within the Tuscany region. Chianti Classico is located withing Chianti as the central part and the one that originally existed. Back then this smaller region was actually called Chianti, but as the region grew the quality of the wine plummeted and the well-known characteristics of these red wines were watered down. The reputation took a hit and sales diminished. Eventually this led to the creation of Chianti Classico, which would be drawn from the original Chianti borders to recover the typicity of these wines. Today the quality of both Chianti and Chianti Classico have risen a lot due to modern techniques and knowledge about pruning, planting and temperature control in the winery.

Decoding the wine label: Classico

In the rarefied world of fine wine, where bottles can command prices equivalent to luxury cars, authenticity is everything. Laurent Ponsot's gripping memoir "FBI: Fake Bottle Investigation" reads more like a high-stakes thriller than a traditional wine book, chronicling his relentless pursuit of one of the wine world's most infamous counterfeiters, Rudy Kurniawan.

From Burgundy's Vineyards to the FBI's Most Wanted: A Winemaker's Quest for Justice

Chablis – one of the more popular styles of wine today and a region known by many. Most are familiar with the word Chablis and the light, fresh white wine with a touch of minerality it brings. Even though it’s a renowned wine, few knows what it really is.

Decoding the wine label: Chablis

Many grape varieties around the world of wine have names local to the region or country they’re grown in, even though they’re exactly the same. The most famous example would be Syrah in France where the same grape is named Shiraz in Australia. Another variety with two names is Pinot Grigio, or Pinot Gris.

Decoding the wine label: Pinot Grigio

Have you ever seen the term sur lie on a wine label? It’s not a grape and not a wine region, but a winemaking method used to give certain styles of white wine a rounder texture and a more complex flavor profile.

Decoding the wine label: Sur lie

The Surf Club Restaurant

Tina Johansson, WSET Diploma Graduate and Michelin restaurant sommelier, and Robert Tas take a trip to The Surf Club at Miami Beach,

Wine List Review of The Surf Club, Miami

Tina Johansson

The Surf Club

Cork Rules Script

The Surf Club Restaurant

&nbsp;

Music Intro

&nbsp;

RT: Hello and welcome to CorkRules!

I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Tina Johansson, WSET Diploma Graduate and Michelin restaurant sommelier.

&nbsp;

Hi Tina, thanks for being back with us on another episode of CorkRules, - a podcast where we help simplify and demystify the wine lists at some of your favorite restaurants. We talk with certified sommeliers and wine professionals who point out interesting bottles, classic food and wine pairings, hidden gems, value wines, or splurge wines that will take your dining experience over the top.

&nbsp;

TJ: Thank you Robert, happy to be back. The restaurant we&rsquo;re diving into today is The Surf Club located in Surfside, Miami Beach. The Surf Club Restaurant has one Michelin star, and as it&rsquo;s run by chef Thomas Keller I think no one is surprised. Those of you who&rsquo;ve heard about The French Laundry in California know exactly what I&rsquo;m talking about, and for those of you who doesn&rsquo;t yet, it&rsquo;s Kellers flagship restaurant and a truly iconic three Michelin star establishment. So yes, I&rsquo;m very happy to look into the wine list of The Surf Club today.

&nbsp;

RT: So am I, as you say Thomas Keller is an incredibly successful chef with Michelin restaurants from California to New York, and of course here in Miami. So in The Surf Club Restaurant the food is so called continental, meaning inspired by French and Mediterranean cooking and the design is Art Deco with a beautiful vintage bar you should try out before dinner.

&nbsp;

TJ: Yes, it&rsquo;s quite beautiful here. And the wine list is a sight to behold as well. It&rsquo;s a big list with focus on France but you can find good bottles from all over Europa and California as well. I would say the list is rather traditional with a lot of the big, famous names. Since the food menu offers many different options I think it&rsquo;s nice that the wine list does as well.

&nbsp;

RT: So do I! So what would be your pick to The Surf Club&rsquo;s classic Bay Scallop Crudo with buttermilk basil dressing and caviar?

&nbsp;

TJ: I would probably opt for a classic Chardonnay. They have the 2019 Henri Germain Meursault which is a beautiful wine with well integrated oak from Burgundy. Elegant enough not to overpower the scallop, but it has a bit of body to stand up against the buttermilk. I think this wine would go well with a lot of their other seafood dishes as well, like the oysters or the prawn cocktail.

&nbsp;

RT: Who can say no to Meursault? I know I can&rsquo;t. Sounds like a great pairing! And how&nbsp; would you continue the evening? I know they have som great meats on the menu as well, like filet mignon and New York strip steak. What are we drinking to this?

&nbsp;

TJ: Given the more elegant food at The Surf Club Restaurant I would pick a wine that is not too full-bodied. They have the 2020 Clos de la Roilette Fleurie which is great value for money in my opinion. Fleurie is one of the crus of Beaujolais in France and this producer makes a more structured style of the local grape Gamay. Quite dark fruit flavours and more tannins than the juicy style Beaujolais is know for. And, if you&rsquo;ve ordered many different courses around the table this is the kind of wine that could suit a lot of different plates!

&nbsp;

RT: I would probably not have thought of Beaujolais as a match with meat but you have me convinced! And finally, if we&rsquo;re here to celebrate &ndash; which is your bottle of choice? Which wine stands out a bit extra for that special moment?

&nbsp;

TJ: That would have to be a wine from one of my top regions when talking of gastronomic wine &ndash; Alsace. I would celebrate with a bottle of 2016 Trimbach Clos Ste Hune, a dry and quite oily and concentrated style of Riesling. Trimbach is one of the more well-known producers of the area, and this is their top wine, making it a benchmark wine for the entire region. A must try for wine lovers at some point!

&nbsp;

RT: Thank you for your delicious recommendations Tina, already looking forward to next time.

And to our audience, thank you all for joining us here on CorkRules.

&nbsp;

If you would like us to review one of your favorite

restaurants, please send us email to:Info@CorkRules.Com or visit our web website where we have a request form available and we will do our best to get it in the queue as quickly as possible.

&nbsp;

We are looking forward to being with you on another CorkRules episode soon. In the meantime, please check out our website for other episodes of your favorite restaurant wine lists wherever you get your podcasts. And finally, drink what you love and please make

sure you drink responsibly.

&nbsp;

END

BRAT

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Alba Restaurant

Alba

10 Greek Street

L'Auberge Chez Francois

Andrew Edmunds

Salt Seafood and Oyster Bar

Matteos Ristorante Italiano

Matteo's

Grgich Hills Estate is a family-owned winery dedicated to producing world-class wines using sustainable farming and winemaking practices. Their vineyards are located in the heart of Napa Valley, where the unique terroir and climate allow for the creation of exceptional wines.

Craft

Craft L.A.

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Jeune Et Jolie

Cucina Urbana

Rossoblu

Petit Trois

Cowboy Star

homepage

CorkRules application allows you to discover wines at your favorite restaurants, learn with friends and be confident with price transparency. Order wine with confidence at restaurants and retailers. Get personalized recommendations. #DrinkWhatYouLove

Palermo

Paladin

Pinot Grigio 2020

Pinot Grigio

Delle Venezie, Italy

Vietti

Moscato d'Asti 2021

Moscato Bianco

Moscato d'Asti, Piedmont, Italy

Famiglia Cielo 'Deor' Prosecco Frizzante, Veneto NV

Veneto, Italy

Angelo

Negro Arneis Roero DOCG 2020

Piedmont, Italy

Tenuta Olim Bauda Barbera d'Asti La Villa, Italy, Piedmont, Asti 2020

Barbera

Asti, Piedmont, Italy

Olim Bauda

Nizza Barbera d'Asti Superiore 2020

Barbera

Piedmont, Italy

Collazzi

I Bastioni Chianti Classico 2019

Sangiovese

Chianti, Tuscany, Italy

Inkarri Malbec, Mendoza 2020

Mendoza, Argentina

Sommariva

Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Brut NV

Glera

Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore, Italy

Two Angels

Sauvignon Blanc 2020

Sauvignon Blanc

USA

Omen Red Blend, Sierra Foothills 2020

Sierra Foothills, USA

Red 2021

Santa Ynez Valley, USA

Santa Margherita

Pinot Grigio Alto Adige 2020

Pinot Grigio

Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy

Argiano

NC (Non Confunditur) 2017

Cabernet Sauvignon

Tuscany, Italy

De Forville Piemonte Chardonnay, Italy, Piedmont, Piemonte DOC 2021

Chardonnay

Piedmont, Italy