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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

The holiday season is a time for celebration, and champagne is a popular beverage of choice for many. Whether you're looking for a high-end champagne to mark a special occasion or a more approachable option for casual gatherings, there are plenty of choices to consider.

Bubbles for the Holidays!!

CorkRules is built for wine enthusiasts who are constantly on the lookout for new and exciting wine experiences. People often find themselves lost in a sea of options when trying to choose the perfect bottle for any occasion. Look no further! CorkRules Wine App is here to meet all your wine needs and revolutionize the way you explore, learn, and enjoy wine.

CorkRules - The Uber Wine App

Learning about wine can be an exciting but challenging journey. With thousands of wine varieties, regions, and winemaking techniques to discover, it's no wonder that many beginners feel overwhelmed (as do we) when starting their wine education. However, numerous resources are available to help people build their wine knowledge, and wine magazines are among the best tools for aspiring oenophiles (wine geeks).

Our favorite wine magazines to help your wine journey:

Joh. Jos. Prüm is a celebrated family-owned wine estate located in the heart of Mosel, a serene region in Germany, renowned for its outstanding Rieslings. The Prüm family's wine-growing heritage dates back to as early as the 17th century, further solidifying their stature as one of Mosel's most revered wines producers. The estate's rich history, coupled with a well-preserved passion for meticulous wine craftsmanship, allows them to consistently deliver the grandiosity expressed in each bottle of their world-renowned Rieslings.

A Taste of Heaven: Joh. Jos. Prüm Graacher Himmelreich Auslese Riesling 2010

Paola Bea is a legendary figure in the world of Italian wine, particularly in Umbria. The family is renowned for their commitment to natural winemaking and has been instrumental in establishing the reputation of Sagrantino di Montefalco as one of Italy's most distinctive wines.

San Valentino Paolo Bea an Italian treasure

Back in 1998, renowned chef Mario Batali opened this gem in the heart of Greenwich Village. It quickly became one of the hottest spots in the city, attracting food lovers from all over the world. Fast forward to today, and the restaurant is now under the expert management of chef-owner Mark Ladner, who has taken Babbo to new culinary heights.

Babbo Ristorante in NYC! An Italian Classic!

Hey foodies! We recently had the pleasure of dining at Estiatorio Milos, a Greek seafood paradise nestled in the heart of Las Vegas, located in the opulent Venetian Resort. Let me tell you, this place is an absolute must-visit for anyone who appreciates quality cuisine and a warm, inviting atmosphere. As always, freshly caught fish is displayed whole on ice, it’s a symbol of the seafood pleasures ahead.

Estiatorio Milos, a Greek seafood paradise in Las Vegas

Hello, movie buffs and wine enthusiasts! Get ready to swirl your glasses as we introduce you to a new cinematic delight that will take you on an intoxicating journey through the picturesque vineyards of California wine country. It's time for another grape-infused adventure with 'Gap Weekend,' a film that promises to be this generation's answer to 'Sideways.'

Uncorking the Delights of 'Gap Weekend': Via California Wine Country

Maria Valetta, wine educator, and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas dare to review the wine list at Hell’s Kitchen, a Chef Gordon Ramsay restaurant in Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas. 

Wine List Review of Hell's Kitchen, Las Vegas

Maria Valetta

Hell's Kitchen, Las Vegas

Hell&rsquo;s Kitchen

RT): Hi Everyone, welcome back to CorkRules! The wine APP &amp; podcast that&rsquo;s here to help YOU navigate all your FAVORITE restaurant wine lists.

I&rsquo;m your host, Robert Tas, along with Maria Valetta, wine educator, and certified sommelier, also known as Maria The Wine Blonde on Instagram. Welcome back Maria

MV: It&rsquo;s time for us to raise some hell in this restaurant kitchen! Now that&rsquo;s a big hint&hellip;

RT: haha&hellip; that&rsquo;s a great clue about our Podcast wine list review today which is hot hot hot!!!!.....because We are talking all about wines at Gordan Ramsey&rsquo;s Hell&rsquo;s Kitchen, a restaurant in Caesar&rsquo;s Palace in Las Vegas. The floor-to-ceiling windows surround you in this expansive room of reds and blues, while the open kitchen fires up the heat with lots of red and orange flames. With Chef Gordan Ramsey&rsquo;s numerous signature dishes on offer, you are sure to find a favorite here but we highly recommend Chef&#39;s favorite dish, the Beef Wellington. So Get ready for a fiery experience!

Maria why don&rsquo;t you go ahead and fire off the best wines on this list&hellip;

MV: Hey I always like to turn up the heat so I say let&rsquo;s do that with a bottle of bubbly!

I always say There&#39;s no better way to get toasty while sipping on something

toast-worthy like some bubbles! So let&rsquo;s do it with the Gusbourne, blanc de blancs, 2011 brut, a beautiful example of an all-chardonnay sparkling wine made in the champagne method, however, this wine hails from the UK &nbsp;just like chef Ramsey Himself&hellip; although this beauty is grown and produced in London versus&nbsp; Chef who&rsquo;s home town country is Scotland. The Gusborne wine estate has received over 200 awards at international competitions for their wines. Incredible really. Just order it!

RT: Wow over 200 awards.. impressive REALLY .. time to start hunting down English sparkling for my wine cellar !

MV: I agree 100 percent&hellip;and while this runs along the lines of a premium option at Hell&rsquo;s Kitchen, a great value sparkling that they have from France is the JCB 

N&ordm; 21 by Jean-Charles Boissset, Cremant d&rsquo;Bourgogne, Burgundy, a mix of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir made in the champagne style but this is from Burgundy, not Champagne up more north.

RT: still a great option I think&hellip;. Now sticking with value wines can you point us in the direction of your favorites in White, or Rose, and red still wine categories?

MV: I can surely do that&hellip; I&rsquo;d say step away from chardonnay and try something fun like the 2017 Tahbilk, Nagambie Lakes Marsanne,&nbsp; from Central Victoria, , a white grape from southern Rhone France that&rsquo;s interesting enough also growing in Victoria Australia and not only is it grown here but it has been growing here since the 1860s and this winery has the largest Marsanne vineyard planted area in the world (I read this in Jancis Robinson&rsquo;s Grapes book a tomb of a book just on all the grae varietals out there) &nbsp;&hellip;. and yes she mentions Tahblilk&hellip;this producer one specific about this grape being grown in Australia so you know we have a quality wine here&hellip;

RT: Okay so anything Jancis Robinson mentions I would definitely try&hellip; I mean, she is an icon when it comes to wine&hellip;

MV: Oh yes&hellip; I do love her and maybe someday I&rsquo;ll also get your attention Robert&hellip;for my wine recommendations&hellip;

RT: oh stop,&hellip;..I didn&rsquo;t mean it like that&hellip; haha MARIA&hellip; you know how much I value your wine opinions &hellip; In fact I&rsquo;d love to hear YOUR RED PICK in the value category&hellip;

MV: HMMM&gt;&gt;&gt; Okay so my old world, value wine recommendation is the Domaine Tempier, Bandol, 2017 mourvedre/grenache/cinsault, red blend from the south of France

And my new world wine pick at Hell&rsquo;s Kitchen is the Foley Johnson, Rutherford, 2017 <s>95</s> Cabernet Sauvignon, a Napa Valley Winery with incredible views from the Foley Family Wines portfolio that&rsquo;s for sure going to be a favorite at the dinner table. In fact, I just did a reel on my Instagram from my wine-tasting visit at this winery, so get it if you get a chance check it out so you can see how beautiful it is and let me know what you think..

RT: Great call, I&rsquo;m a fan of both of those producers.

And so what do you suggest in the &ldquo;next-level&rdquo; category? I mean&hellip; Chef Ramsey likes it hot in the kitchen so we need some wines that can throw down!

MV: I get that&hellip; he&rsquo;s a force that I would not reckon with but I sure love his restaurants! So, let&rsquo;s see we need a wine to match all that heat&hellip; hmmm. Pinot Noir Fans rejoice&hellip; here&rsquo;s a vineyard that literally is the Kings of Pinot Noir Vines in Cali&hellip; the Gap&rsquo;s Crown Vineyard,&nbsp; so look for it on labels like in this case, with the 2014 Three Sticks Gap&rsquo;s Crown Pinot <s>$170..</s> won&rsquo;t totally break the bank, but it IS a wine worth talking about and spending the extra money on&hellip;so I had to mention it.. I collect Three Sticks wines &ndash; love them all.

BUT NOW for a big bang, high-end, hell raisin&rsquo;, great vintage wine&hellip; this is it&hellip; the Chateau Cos d&rsquo;Estournel, St. Estephe, 2000 825 a Bordeaux blend, and not a bad price given the wine we are talking about here and what you would normally see for restaurant markups

This is predominately Cab Sauvignon, this fantastic Bordeaux vintage is still showing beautifully after all these years&hellip; but you have to be the type of person who appreciates older wines and all those tertiary aromas and flavors that come with it.. I would recommend that you have this with chef Gordan Ramsey&rsquo;s signature beef wellington, let this be the highlight of you night.

&nbsp;

RT: Will DO&hellip; on that high note, thank you Maria for talking Wine at Hell&rsquo;s Kitchen at&nbsp; Ceasar&rsquo;s Palace&nbsp; Las Vegas, and thank you, everyone, for joining us on another episode of CorkRules. Be sure to download the app from the Appstore and start getting your personal restaurant wine recommendations directly to your phone. You can find more wine educational tips from Maria on Instagram @mariathewineblonde and on the CorkRules app.

MV: It&rsquo;s here! The CorkRules App! Download it for free today from the app store so you can browse restaurant wine lists, connect with your friends, and start drinking wines you love.&nbsp;

Have a favorite wine List? Let us review it here. Send us your requests at <a href="mailto:info@corkrules.com">info@CorkRules.com</a> You can find previous episodes on your favorite podcast platform and on The CorkRules app. Be sure to follow @CorkRules on Instagram for episode updates. Prices and selections subject to change, please drink responsibly.

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Gap Weekend: A Film Shoot in Wine Country

Alba Restaurant

Alba

10 Greek Street

L'Auberge Chez Francois

Andrew Edmunds

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Matteos Ristorante Italiano

Matteo's

Eddy V's Prime Seafood Restaurant

28-50 Wine Workshop & Kitchen

28-50

Contemporary osteria with sophisticated decor turning out refined Italian plates & Neapolitan pizza.

Storypoint Vineyards is the latest innovation from the esteemed Mondavi family. They craft wines that are approachable and expressive of the land. They believe food and wine should be enjoyed together, so they create wines that pair perfectly with your favorite foods. Their vineyards are located in California's most renowned wine regions and are tended by passionate growers dedicated to the land.

Viva Garcia

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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

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