How to Take Wine to Your Host

Selecting the perfect wine is a celebrated art form these days. Choose a price point and work from there to find a delicious, complex wine that your host will enjoy.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Gift Ribbons
• Tissue Paper
• Gift Cards
• Cellophane Gift Wrap
• Gift Bags
• Gift Bows
• Wrapping Paper
• Red Wines
• Sparkling Wines
• White Wines
• Wine Bottle Openers
• Tissue paper

1. Look through wine magazines such as "Wine Spectator" and "Wine Enthusiast." Specialized publications typically rate wines in a variety of price ranges to help you get the best deal for your money.

2. Decide upon white, red or sparkling to narrow your search. As a general rule, whites are preferable in the middle of summer, reds for winter and sparkling wines for any special occasion.

3. Visit a wine or beverage warehouse store and ask the resident sommelier to show you a variety of wines in your price range. Choose one based on appellation (where the wine is from), varietal (the type of grape) and aesthetic appeal of the bottle and label.

4. Purchase a wine bag in which to present the bottle to your host. These festive bags are long and slim, and fit a typical bottle of wine perfectly.

5. Wrap the wine in colorful gift wrap, tissue paper or colored cellophane paper. Tie a color-coordinated bow around the neck to secure the paper around the bottle and add the finishing visual touch.

6. Enclose a gift card.

Tips & Warnings

• The host is never obligated to serve a bottle of wine that has been brought by a guest. Present the wine as what it is: a gift to be used at the host's discretion.
• Wine given as a gift should never be chilled. In the event that the host does choose to serve a white or sparkling wine during the party, suggest placing the bottle in the refrigerator for approximately 30 minutes, or in the freezer for approximately 10 minutes.

[werdy_nerdy]

on 3/25/2007 I agree on being sensitive to non-drinkers. Likewise, don't pressure people to have a drink and just assume that they're being party poopers. Some people don't drink for medical, religious, or substance-abuse reasons, so if someone politely declines a drink, lay off.

on 1/5/2006 If you happen to like a certain cheap wine, and want to tell your friends about it by giving a bottle to them, it would certainly be acceptable. You can even tell them where you got it, how much it was, and that it is a steal. However, if it is really cheap, then bring another gift along with it, such as flowers, chocolate, dessert, a food dish, fruit, or something you know that they will love.

on 1/5/2006 If the hostess is the individual managing the majority of the preparations for the gathering, according to modern etiquette, flowers are a very inappropriate gift. It obliges the hostess to prepare the flowers in a vase which she has to locate, trim stems to allow the flowers to fit, sometimes making several sawing attempts at it, and preparing them for display while trying to greet guests and tie up final preparations at the same time. Do not bring flowers.

on 1/5/2006 In the offbeat chance that the host is French, do not give wine. In their culture, the host selects the wine that will be served at the occasion, and a giving of wine would imply that their wine selection is not good enough.

on 11/22/2005 When giving wine to the host or hostess, do not give white zinfandel. It is not a wine to be given to a host as a way to show appreciation for being invited. Most wine lovers consider white zinfandel a poor excuse for a wine, and I wholeheartedly agree!