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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

Materia Ristorante

Samantha Hohl, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas visit Materia Ristorante, a beloved location that offers fresh and seasonal Italian cuisine, distinctive wines and European hospitality in a charming dining room. 

Wine Review of Materia Ristorante, Connecticut

Sam Hohl

Materia

Materia

RT: Hello and welcome to CorkRules!

A podcast where we review a wine list from your favorite restaurants. I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Samantha Hohl, wine educator and certified sommelier

&nbsp;Hello Sam, great to have you back for another great wine list.

SH: Hello Robert!

RT: Before we jump in, let&rsquo;s talk about CorkRules.

We created CorkRules to demystify wine list&rsquo;s because we know from experience, that sometimes wine lists can be intimating, and even a little daunting.

Our aim is to help prepare you to navigate that list, find those hidden gems, value wines or that special bottle that will take your dining experience over the top.

RT: So, sit back and listen as we review your favorite wine list.

Cork Rules

Materia Ristorante

Overview

Materia Ristorante focuses on Tuscan-inspired fare located in historical Litchfield, Connecticut. They are serving up fresh Italian dishes made with thoughtfully selected local and seasonal ingredients, and of course, have an Italian wine list to compliment these beautiful plates.

Where to start 

As we mentioned, this wine list is definitely part of the charm of this Italian-inspired experience. The approachable two-page list offers some beautiful Italian favorites and I&rsquo;m excited to talk about a few bottles that jumped out to me.&nbsp;

The 2017 Elvio Cogno Montegrilli would be a great place to start. This is a Nebbiolo from Langhe in the Piedmont region, and what&rsquo;s unique about this Nebbiolo is that they don&rsquo;t barrel age it so that they can showcase the true characteristics of the grape. The winemakers wanted to differentiate it from Barolos, known for a big presence with those earthy, leathery, and dried fruit profiles. No oak aging on this so it&rsquo;s going to be super fresh and vibrant which can be a really nice way to start off the meal. It&rsquo;s got notes of crushed red berries and subtle floral tones, complemented by soft tannins and a long finish. Now, I would go with the Fluke crudo with almond sauce and tomato brodo. This pairing would be very cool because the lightness and vibrancy of this red wine wouldn&rsquo;t trample over the raw fish, and the tomato broth in the dish is going to be such a delicate compliment to the balanced acid in this wine.

Value

The beauty of this list, and many Italian wines in general, is that there are affordable wines in many styles. This list has something budget friendly for everyone!

A bottle of white that I&rsquo;d check out is the 2018 Inama Foscarino Soave Classico. Inama is a team of 3rd generation family winemakers in the Veneto region who strive to produce wines that honor how they view their land. Foscarino is made with the ancient varietal Garganega from their vines that are over 40 years old. Soave Classicos also tend to have nice aging potential, so the couple years on this wine are going to add some great depth of flavor.

I love this choice because it&rsquo;s refreshing and complex. This bottle is going to be bright with notes of stonefruit, tree nuts, delicate flowers and a touch of salinity. Try it with the Burrata ravioli with citrus and lobster sauce.&nbsp;

Another great choice would be the 2017 Il Bugiardo, L&rsquo;imperfetto, Valpolicella Classico Superiore. This dry red blend from Valpolicella is made using the classic &ldquo;ripasso method&rdquo; which means the first fermentation is with the freshly picked grapes, afterwards they get a second fermentation with&nbsp; skins from Amarone- which is a concentrated red wine made from partially dried grapes. This process results in a full, rich, wine with notes of black cherry, herbs, and vanilla. This is going to be a match with the pasta stuffed with braised beef and with Parmigiano fondue.

Celebratory

If you need something to really elevate your night, I&rsquo;d go with the 2017 Tua Rita Per Sempre. This is 100% Syrah from Tuscany, not only a little ode to the menu&rsquo;s Tuscan inspiration, but a really beautiful representation of Syrah. When we think of Syrah we might immediately imagine that black pepper earthiness, lots of tannin. But this bottle is going to have balanced tannins and acidity, with all that juicy bold black fruit that Syrahs are known for. It&rsquo;s also going to slide into those spice notes, which are complimented by the richness and fruitiness. This is a really beautiful vintage that&rsquo;s going to bring lots of flavor in a really pleasant and enjoyable way. To top it off, try with their roasted beef tenderloin with potato puree and roasted shallot pepper sauce.

Sam, thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Materia&rsquo;s wine list. I can&rsquo;t wait to go try your great suggestions.&nbsp;&nbsp;

To our audience, thank you all for joining us here on CorkRules.

If you&nbsp;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.

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.

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

Thank you.

&nbsp;

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BRAT

Bocca di Lupe

Gap Weekend: A Film Shoot in Wine Country

Alba Restaurant

Alba

10 Greek Street

L'Auberge Chez Francois

Andrew Edmunds

Salt Seafood and Oyster Bar

Matteos Ristorante Italiano

Matteo's

Vidal is a family-owned winery that has been producing premium wines in the Rueda region of Spain since 1920. The winery is known for its dedication to sustainable farming practices and for producing wines that express the unique terroir of the region.

Christos Steakhouse

Lilia

French Louie

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

Schweizerhof Zermatt - Cheese Factory

Laurent-Perrier

Grand Siecle Champagne (Grande Cuvee) NV

Blend

Champagne, France

Cave Saint-Mathieu

Tulum 2018

Adrian et Diego Mathier Cave Nouveau Salquenen Molignon Fendant 2020

Valais, Switzerland

Hetszolo, Bistro Furmint Dry, Tokaj 2018

Tokaj, Hungary

Germano Ettore Roero Arneis DOCG, Piedmont 2018

Piedmont, Italy

Matteo Braidot

Pinot Grigio 2020

Pinot Grigio

Hetszolo, Szamorodni Sweet, Tokaj 2015

Tokaj, Hungary

Albino Armani

Prosecco NV

Glera

Prosecco, Italy

Gerald Besse Martigny Johannisberg, Valais 2020

Valais, Switzerland

Cos d'Estournel

Cos d'Estournel 2001

Cabernet Sauvignon

Saint-Estephe, France

Roero

Cantina del Nebbiolo, Arneis DOCG 2020

Piedmont, Italy

Adrian et Diego Mathier

Sang de l'Enfer 2020

Cuvee

Valais, Switzerland

Delea

Apocalisse Bianco del Ticino 2018

Blend

Ticino, Switzerland

Gustave Lorentz

Vieilles Vignes Riesling Alsace Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim 2018

Riesling

Alsace, France

Gerald Clavien Cave des Deux Cretes Dole Blanche 2017

Valais, Switzerland