Have you been invited to a last minute lunch or dinner? No problem: a bottle of wine is the perfect gift. What are the tricks for choosing the right wine to give as a gift?
A bottle of wine is always a very welcome gift. It seems to be the ideal gift so as not to show up empty-handed when you are invited to a dinner at a friend's house but also to a more informal dinner where perhaps you don't know the guests. How to choose the right wine to give as a gift? Let's discover together 3 tricks to apply when choosing the bottle of wine to bring as a gift for a special occasion.
What wine to bring to a dinner?
You have been invited to dinner by a dear friend or your best friends are celebrating an anniversary and the best gift you can give them is your presence. In this case, breathe: you are safe. When people invite you to dinner you can easily buy a good wine without overdoing it: you have nothing to prove, on the contrary. The advice is to choose a simple and sincere wine, like friendship. A white or a red can be the right option for a dinner invitation made by acquaintances. He says "let's not take ourselves too seriously" and always wins. If they are people you are familiar with, then ask bluntly for a hint about the evening's menu and act accordingly. White for fish dishes, red for cured meats and meat. Be careful if the meat is delicate, you need a good rosé. The bottle of wine chosen as a gift must be sufficiently "expensive", don't skimp on friends!
Formal dinner with acquaintances: which wine to bring?
If the situation requires it, or if the dinner, even if it is between acquaintances, requires some particular occasion - such as an anniversary, for example - or something more formal, then the attention to the choice of wine to bring as a gift changes. Become more mature, more attentive. Since the hostess lacks the confidence to request the menu (etiquette is very important here) in this circumstance, the bottle of wine is not the most appropriate choice. There is always one thing, however: if you really want to stay this way so as not to waste time looking for a more sophisticated gift, then opt for a good bottle of wine to accompany the dessert or aperitif. A light white or a good prosecco are the ideal wines to accompany these two opening and closing moments of the dinner, especially if presented in a fine and elegant package.
Choosing the right bottle of wine to give as a gift
Wine is never an obvious gift, especially for a dinner. Whether formal or informal, an invitation is always an invitation and you should never show up empty-handed: do you agree? To choose the right wine to give to your guest, however, you need a guide. Here are some suggestions for you!
How much to spend on a bottle of wine?
A good wine does not necessarily have to cost a fortune. A bottle of wine must be chosen based on the occasion and the bond that binds us to the person (or family) to whom we are giving it as a gift. What you need to take into consideration when buying a bottle of wine as a gift is the cellar, the bottling technique and the production year. If you choose an IGT or DOC red, a good spending limit is 15 euros, otherwise for a good white or rosé you can even spend 30 euros and make a decent impression. If you really want to buy something valuable, there are also more expensive wines in the upper range that go up to 100 euros per bottle, usually these are particularly old champagnes or sparkling wines. Spend the right amount, the wine will be equally tasty when shared with the heart.
What is the moment you want to celebrate with wine as a gift?
Another rule to "submit" is the decision of the moment to celebrate. Lunch, dinner or aperitif? Based on the time of the invitation, you can then calmly choose the bottle of wine to accompany the toast. A bottle of a good red is ideal for dinners in colder periods, where perhaps it is easier for meat or, in any case, hot dishes to be served. If, however, the moment is (so to speak) "summer" then go for a white wine that is not too full-bodied: it is perfect for accompanying cold foods and fish-based dishes. Again, if the moment is an aperitif then something with an energetic and sparkling flavor is certainly the winning choice: a nice bottle of sparkling wine or sweet rosé and you won't go wrong. Don't forget that the wines that end the evening are always the best!
To whom should you give the bottle of wine chosen for the occasion?
The dilemma is often "who does the gift I brought go to? Him or her?". The answer is... it depends! If the occasion to be celebrated is a birthday or an anniversary that definitely concerns one of the two hosts then the answer is simple: give the chosen bottle of wine to the person celebrating and never talk about it again. If, however, the occasion of the celebrations is an anniversary or an important decision (such as the purchase of a house or a new job, for example) then the hostess for gallantry is the recipient of the gift. and the gift is to be given to a woman, always opt for a sparkling and carefree wine. Women will appreciate it. If the one to conquer is a man, then the choice doesn't become more complicated, just longer: as we know, men are great connoisseurs. Play on the vintage or on the bouquet of sensations it offers and you won't go wrong. Obviously, we are being deliberately ironic: a good bottle of wine is always a good bottle of wine! And which one do you prefer?
