Posts Tagged ‘bottle of wine’

Nothing says “I love you” like a little romantic atmosphere. A bottle of wine. Some chocolates. Candlelight. Wine gift sets can make for excellent gifts for this Valentine’s Day. Smart buying can reveal some amazing choices that will leave your partner absolutely delighted. Even better, it’s the kind of gift that the two of you can share together.

Wine gift sets meant for Valentine’s Day often have that Valentine’s Day feel to them. Companies that craft these gift sets and gift baskets will wrap them up in pink and red boxes with foil for shine, heart accents for love, and more. They can contain anywhere from a single bottle of wine and some chocolates to being a full wine gift set with cheese, crackers, and multiple bottles of wine.

Many people have their preferences in music just as they have their preferences in wine. When you get home after a long day at work, you may want to kick back with a glass of wine and put on some tunes. But can music help enhance the taste of your wine?

Interestingly enough, a study by Heriot Watt University in Britain found that people believe there is a difference in taste when certain music is played. In fact, 60% of people believed the taste changed when music came into the picture.

The sounds in the music somehow seemed to echo the flavors and tastes in the wine. Cabernet Sauvignon was most affected by “powerful and heavy” music whereas a bottle of Chardonnay tasted better with music that was “zingy and refreshing.”

Wondering what to try (music-wise) the next time you sit down with a glass of wine? How about “Live and Let Die” by Paul McCartney and Wings with Cabernet Sauvignon, “What’s Love Got To Do With It” by Tina Turner for Chardonnay, “Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay” by Otis Redding with some Merlot, or “Orinoco Flow” by Enya with Syrah.

So the next time you see a bottle of wine, don’t be too surprised to see the label include a few musical recommendations as well!

Looking to try some brand new cheeses with your wine? Cheese, quality crackers or bread, and a good bottle of wine are always an excellent way to snack. Cheese is great if you just want something simple to eat while you enjoy a glass of wine. Try some of these for a nice change of pace.

Blue Castello is from Denmark, a soft cheese for easy spreading. Pour a glass of Chenin Blanc or Sauvignon Blanc when partaking of this cheese.

Boschetto al Tartufo Bianchetto is certainly a mouthful to say! Though it has a long name, this soft cheese can make for an excellent choice on your palate. Bochetto al Tartufo Bianchetto is straight from Italy and works best with Barolo or Sangiovese.

Bucheron is yet another soft cheese that hails from France. If you manage to get your hands on it, be sure to pick up a bottle of Chardonnay to match, or perhaps a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc.

Cambozola is soft-ripened which can make for some interesting flavors and textures as you eat. Its homeland is Bavaria and works well with Chardonnay.

If you want to drink some Champagne or Gewürztraminer, then by all means look into purchasing some Chevre cheese from France.

Cotija cheese is fun to say and to eat. Coming up from Mexico, this semi-hard cheese is nicely paired with Chardonnay or Riesling.

Crème fraiche isn’t your typical cheese. In fact, it’s often used in or around desserts for a sweet bit of change. Its origins are in France and because of its dessert design, should be treated with dessert wine.

Want to get a wine gift for a friend or family member? Wine gifts are always an excellent choice for people who love a delicious bottle and all the goodies that can come with it. But what if you don’t know what to get? What if you find yourself short on cash? That’s where you can team up for additional wine purchasing power.

Bringing in a second person to your idea can help them if they’re struggling with a gift idea. Likewise, you can easily split up wine gift power any way you like. If you hoped to purchase an expensive bottle, you can split the price of the wine. Likewise, you can split the price of almost anything else, from a yearly wine club to a fancy wine gift basket.

If you aren’t sure what to buy yet, you can combine your knowledge with a partner and see what neat gift ideas you can come up with. Perhaps you can make your own wine gift basket and one person can purchase a bottle or two while the other gathers together tasty treats or wine accessories to match. Whatever you decide, if you ever find yourself struggling alone with wine gifts, don’t be afraid to find some extra help!

People who love wine will be thrilled to receive a cool wine gift on their birthday, Christmas, anniversary, or other special occasion. But what do you do when you have absolutely no idea what kind of wines make them happy, or what sort of food to offer with a bottle, or even what sort of wine accessories they might already own?

True, you can always ask them with subtle questions or be direct, but where’s the fun in surprise then? They’ll already know what you intend to get them.

Isn’t it great that we live in an age where gift cards can aid in our search for the perfect gift?

If you intend to give someone a wine gift, you can skip the sneaky questions and wrong choices by seeking out gift cards. Look for gift cards for stores that specialize in wine or online locations that offer amazing wine choices. Do they have a favorite restaurant they like that serves wines they love? See if that location offers gift card options. There is a good chance that no matter where you go, you will be able to obtain a gift card. Gift cards for wine are an excellent choice because it puts the decision in the person’s hands, that way you know they’ll be able to find something they like.

You’ve decided that the best gift for your friend or family member would be a bottle of wine. But is just wine enough? Perhaps there are one or two other little things you could add on just to make it a little more special.

A high quality wine stopper is always an excellent choice. When the person is finished with their wine, they can use the stopper to help keep it as fresh as possible. They’ll be pleased to know you thought of them just a little bit more when it comes to keeping their gift delicious.

A foil cutter can be a fun and handy little tool to add with a bottle of wine. For some people, you may have to tell them what it is, but once they know, they’ll be excited to have a nifty extra gadget to help them open up their new bottle of wine.

If you know they don’t have a good corkscrew of some kind, then a high quality version to help them open up their wine will be appreciated. There are several different types, so take a peek at them and see if there is one that suits your friend or family member the best.