THURSTQUEEN HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE - FIND THE PERFECT BOTTLE OF WINE FOR EVERY TYPE OF PERSON ON YOUR LIST THIS YEAR
The holidays are nigh, Thurstqueen. And before you waste any time on that Black Friday, Cyber Monday nonsense, I’d encourage you to think long and hard about your choices and give some folks on your holiday list a bottle of wine.
Wine is a friggin’ great gift - for folks who drink anyway. Yet with all that in mind, wine is also highly personal. It’s important to really think about who you’re giving that bottle to, what their overall vibe is, and what kind of wines they generally enjoy drinking. I’ve taken the liberty of breaking down some of the types of wine drinkers I run into on my daily travels so you can use this handy dandy guide to help brighten up their spirits as we roll into December.
THE TRADITIONALIST YOU’RE TRYING TO IMPRESS
LOOK FOR: PASO & WASHINGTON CABERNETS
We all know this person. Your boss that constantly brings up his - or her - multiple wine subscriptions to different estates in Napa. They tend to favor bigger, bolder reds that usually come with a heftier price tag. These are often the most intimidating people to buy wine for because you know they can tell when a bottle of wine is good and when it’s not. (Or at least they think they can.)
Anyway, if you’re on a budget I suggest steering clear of Napa Cabernets, as those usually have fairly hefty price tags. Stick to Paso Robles Cab instead. Paso Cab is plenty friendly - from its warmer climate - and usually oh so drinkable. You’re likely to get more red fruit from Paso Cabernet and a richer, rounder texture than some of the stuff further North.
Be sure to check out Washington as well. Washington Cabernets tend to be a bit more cerebral and restrained, skewing closer to the cooler climate Cabernets of Napa and Bordeaux. If the traditionalist tends to prefer bold fruit - you may want to steer clear of Washington and go for Paso instead. But if they’re all about peppery flavors and complexity - Washington is where its at.
THE “BIGGER IS BETTER” DRINKER
LOOK FOR: ITALIAN BLENDS, SPANISH REDS
You probably know this person. You know this person because the first thing they will tell you is something akin to, “I like big reds.” or “I like big red blends.” Awesome! These folks are generally cool with drinking pretty much anything, as long as it’s powerful, red, somewhat high in alcohol, and usually friendly enough for you to get glass after glass of the stuff.
For these folks, I highly suggest Italian Red Blends from Tuscany that are a mixture of international and indigenous varietals - something like Sangiovese intermingled with Merlot. These larger than life, robust, yet accessible blends are crowd-pleasing (and just the right amount of different, cuz who wants to drink another random Bordeaux blend.)
There are also some great budget-friendly wines from Spain for the big red drinker in your life. Consider trying red wines from the Spanish region Toro. Toro is known for producing massively powerful expressions of Tempranillo. These wines scream for a nice, juicy steak and are usually fairly priced.
THE WINO WITH WANDERLUST
LOOK FOR: UNEXPECTED COUNTRIES THAT ARE HIDDEN GEMS
This is my favorite type of wino, an individual who is open to trying new things. These folks are curious, may have an affinity for travel and like to be surprised. I’d suggest giving these folks wines from up-and-coming regions that are slightly off the beaten path.
Consider giving them orange and white wines from places like Slovenia and other parts of Eastern Europe, like Georgia, for a little something different. If they’re a red wine drinker, I’d suggest giving them a bottle of a bottle of Kékfrankos - a lighter-bodied red wine also known as Blaufrankisch - from Austria or Eastern European places like the Czech Republic or Slovakia.
Other interesting options for these experimental drinkers would be white wines from Lebanon made up of Merwah, Mexican wines made up of Italian varietals like Barbera and Nebbiolo, and some Armenian wines.
THE POET
LOOK FOR: ANY TYPE OF PINOT NOIR
Cerebral, sensitive, maybe a bit introverted perhaps? I’m pretty sure everybody has some sort of poet or artiste in their lives. And such a complicated and nuanced personality demands for an equally complicated and nuanced sort of wine. Paul Giamatti’s character in Sideways pretty much is the perfect example of this type of individual.
Now I know what you’re thinking - Pinot Noir is expensive, right? Here’s the thing, not all Pinot Noirs are super pricey, and you can find some great value Pinot if you know where to look.
Be sure to check out Pinot Noir from places like Oregon, Washington, the Alsace and even Chile. These are all regions that have cooler climates, and produce Pinot Noir with that distinctively French sensibility for a fraction of the cost.
THE LIFE OF THE PARTY
LOOK FOR: BUBBLES OF ANY AND ALL KINDS
If there’s a person in your life who just adds a little sparkle - consider purchasing them a bottle of bubbly. Bubbles are surprisingly versatile, and go with a lot of different food. Fried food? Check. Salad? Check. Steak? Um, yeah that works too. They also have that distinctive celebration factor, you know? I know every time someone gifts me with a bottle of bubbles, I can’t help but feel a little special.
Not everyone has the budget to fork out the dough for a bottle of Champagne, I get that. This is why you should check out Cremants from places like the Loire or the Alsace. Cremants are done in the exact same style as Champagne, yet are made outside of the Champagne designation and sometimes with different grapes besides your usual Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier.
If you’re looking to take a trip to Italy, Franciacorta is also a really classy Italian version of Champagne and, like Cremants is also a great value. Franciacortas is typically made with three varietals: Chardonnay, Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir) and Pinot Bianco (Pinot Blanc.)
For folks who like bubbles on the sweeter side, grab them a bottle of Sekt, an ultra bubbly, ultra drinkable beverage that is popular in Germany and Austria. Sekt can be made with a variety of grapes, including Gewürtztraminer or Gruner Veltliner. That slight residual sweetness makes it the perfect spice-lover’s dream.